27 November 2020
Greetings!

Peace and Greetings to you!

While Thanksgiving looked very different for so many of us this year, I hope and pray that each of you had a blessed and safe Thanksgiving.

This Sunday we begin the Season of Advent in our church community, just as many other faith traditions will observe. This is a time when we take time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at the Second Coming. The term “Advent” is a version of the Latin word meaning "coming". The term "Advent" is also used in Eastern Orthodoxy for the forty-day Nativity Fast, which has practices different from those in the West.
 
Advent is a season and a time for us to come to the manger through our intentions of hope, peace, joy and love. This year, as we continue to live in this time of pandemic, and will engage in our Advent/Christmas Sermon Series: Christmas at the Movies.

Over the next several weeks, through Christmastide, we will take that journey to Bethlehem, taking place over 2000 years ago. But we’ll take that journey through some of the old classic Christmas movies, as we engage in the Christmas story claiming the Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, as we bring Jesus once again within Us! I invite you to take time to watch these classic Christmas stories, so you can engage each week in our sermon series.

A few reminders to keep in the back of your head, that this coming Tuesday, December 1st, we invite you to engage in two special events that will be happening. The first is #GivingTuesday 2020, as charitable organizations around the world are inspired and partake in Giving Tuesday. It is our hope that individuals in our community, like millions around the world will engage in helping non-profits around the world, such as ours. More details can be found further down in this week’s Weekly.

It’s also World AIDS Day! Designated on December 1st every year since 1988, is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease. While we will remember and commemorate this Sunday, in our worship, we take time to honor and remember those that we have lost, while celebrating those who continue live life to the fullest! Watch for details in the next few days on how you can connect to a nationwide World AIDS Day Ecumenical Interfaith Service that MCC Churches around the world will be partaking in. 
 
I invite you to join me this Sunday for Worship ONLINE starting at 11:00AM Central Time, by connecting with us through our YouTube or Facebook links for our SUNDAY WORSHIP WATCH PARTY. As we begin our Advent/Christmas Series: Christmas at the Movies, come and worship with us as we light the first candle, the candle of HOPE and engage in: A Miracle on 34th Street.

Please also take time to read through the Weekly to see other ways you can engage in our community of faith through programs and ministries that we are offering. While we are still in a virtual mode, the church is still alive and well as we move into our 50th year of ministry in the Greater Milwaukee Community.

As always, the board and I hope that you will continue to share your church, Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church, with your friends and family, by inviting them to join our weekly Virtual Worship Services that are premiered every Sunday on Facebook and YouTube starting at 11:00AM Central Time. Please let us know you’re worshipping with us by leaving a message in the chat box during worship.

Blessing oh HOPE and FAITH to you!

Rev. Tory
Scripture: Mark 13:24–37 (The Inclusive Bible)

But in those days, after that time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness, the stars will fall from the sky and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Promised One coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then the angels will be sent to gather the chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Promised One is near, right
at the door. The truth is, before this generation has passed away, all these things will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it- neither the angels in heaven, nor the
Only Begotten – no one but Abba God. Be constantly on the watch! Stay awake! You
do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like people traveling abroad.
They leave their home and put the workers in charge, each with a certain task, and those who watch at the front gate are ordered to stay on the alert. So stay alert!
You do not know when the owner of the house is coming, whether at dusk, at
midnight, when the cock crows or at early dawn. Do not let the owner come
suddenly and catch you asleep. What I say to you, I say to all: stay alert!
Join Us Sunday for WORSHIP ONLINE
through Facebook and YouTube

We invite you to join us for Sunday Worship, by joining us at our Facebook and YouTube Channels for our
WEEKLY SUNDAY WORSHIP WATCH PARTY!

Connect with us starting at 11:00AM on our Facebook Page
or YouTube Channel Links to our Facebook and YouTube pages
are below.

THIS SUNDAY WE BEGIN OUR ADVENT/CHRIST SERIES:
"CHRISTMAS AT THE MOVIES"

As we begin the Season of Advent, and come to the manger through our intentions of hope, peace, joy and love, we also continue to live in a time of pandemic. We invite you to engage in the classic movies of the season as we being our series with:

"Miracle on 34th Street"
A REMINDER
Make your 2021
Tithing Pledge before November 29, 2020!

Our Annual Stewardship Campaign runs from November 1-29, 2020!

While we understand that we are in this time of pandemic, we hope and pray that you will continue to support YOUR CHURCH in 2021!

We thank you if you've already made your pledge for 2021. If you are still
praying and contemplating on what you are able to pledge for 2021, we hope
that you will partake in this Stewardship Drive and making your pledge
before November 29, 2020.

You can complete your pledge card by clicking on the image below, that will take you to our virtual pledge card, where you can complete your 2021 Pledge Card Virtually!
POZ Spirit Gathering has gone Virtual starting
TUESDAY
DECEMBER 1, 2020
at 7:00PM

POZ Spirit is back and will be gathering on, Tuesday evening, December 1, 2020
at 6:30pm via Zoom!

POZ Spirit is a group for men who are HIV/AIDS infected, providing a safe, respectful and supportive environment. POZ Spirit is where individuals have the opportunity to form friendships, while having the opportunity to network, share resources, while providing peer support and education, along with having discussions on any personal and relevant issues.

We hope you’ll join us on December 1st and take the opportunity to connect with those in our group. If you haven't joined us in a while, please consider joining us, as we have new people who have joined us over the last several months!

Connect with us on
December 1st at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88487848985
Join Us Tuesday, December 1,2020
for #GivingTuesday 2020

Each year many charitable organizations around the world are inspired and partake in “Giving Tuesday.” This year is no different, as Milwaukee
Metropolitan Community Church, once again takes part in Giving Tuesday.
Falling on December 1, 2020, also World AIDS Day, it is our hope that
individuals in our community, like millions around the world will engage in helping non-profits around the world, such as ours. 

This is also the time of year, Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church would have been having our Annual Fundraising Gala: A Night of Cabaret. But like most organizations in our community, our fundraising event had to be canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, affecting major donations and income, which helps sustain and operate our programs and ministries.

We know that these are difficult times for many people, as well as being challenge to consider yet one more financial contribution. Therefore, instead of running two fundraising campaigns, we are collectively combining our Annual Fundraising Appeal with Giving Tuesday. 

Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church, being the third oldest LGBTQI+ organization, here in Milwaukee, first established in 1971, continues to be a Vibrant ~ Inclusive ~ Progressive Community of Faith, beginning our 50th year, here in the greater Milwaukee community.

Whether you have attended, sponsored, or even partaken in our annual event in years past, we are sending this appeal to you now, with the hopes that you will consider making, either a first-time donation, or what you might of contributed financially at our gala fundraisers in previous years. 

When you give to Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church, you are giving and helping maintain our programs and ministries, which include, but are not limited to our HIV/AIDS Program and Ministry, Transgender Support, Working with our LGBT Homeless Youth in conjunction with our partner LGBT Organizations, as well as our Prison Outreach Ministry within Wisconsin and the United States.

With your help, Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church continues to build bridges and strengthen lives through the programs and ministries that we offer, not only within the LGBTQI+ Community, but beyond, while also providing a welcoming, safe, secure and loving environment to ALL God’s Children, here in the Greater Milwaukee are.

As a Vibrant~Progressive~Inclusive Community of Faith, we continue to impact the lives of so many in our community. We pray and hope that you will be generous in giving this year for Giving Tuesday, allowing us to continue the programming and ministries that we offer. 


Thank you for your consideration as we appreciate your continued support to Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church 
Don't FORGET to
join us for
Theology-on-Tap ONLINE the First Thursday of each month!

Don't forget that Theology-on-Tap is back … but ONLINE! Join us for our next gathering, Thursday Evening, December 3, 2020 at 6:30pm via ZOOM to take part in our discussion!

Grab your favorite beverage and some snack type foods for an evening of good discussion. 

For questions and more information, feel free to contact the church office by calling 414-383-1100
or by email at info@milmcc.org

Connect with us on December 3rd at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86055363676
Join us for our Virtual Fellowship Gathering
December 6, 2020
at 12 NOON

If you missed out in partaking in our past Virtual Online Fellowship, don't worry, you can always join our next gathering on December 6th!

Rev. Tory and the Board of Directors invite you to join them, on Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 12 Noon, immediately following online worship for our virtual get together and enjoy some congregational fellowship and social time.

We know that we all miss being together with one another, and having that ability to give one another a hug, pass the peace or have that ability to socialize with one another after Sunday Worship each week.

DON'T BE LEFT OUT! Connect with us on December 6th at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82834642928
As your Board of Directors, we would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank our Pastor and those on staff for the incredible job they have been doing in coordinating worship online via our Facebook and YouTube outlets. We are extremely grateful for the many long hours, ingenuity and dedication that it has taken to keep our community of faith connected with one another and the world.

Since we have been unable to pass the offering plate during this time of pandemic, our giving is tremendously down. If you auto-give, through your financial institution, we THANK YOU. But, if you typically place your gifts in the offering plate each Sunday, we ask that you please consider the options we have available for giving to the church, until we are able to be back in-person again.

There are several ways YOU can make either a one-time donation or even a recurring donation. Here are the ways you can make that happen:
  1. Through our Secure Online Giving Portal, or either of our two PayPal links. You can go to our Secure Online Giving Portal and/or our PayPal Giving Link for your regular offering or one time giving. You can also go through our regular PayPal Link if you’re wanting to start and set-up a recurring monthly giving for your offering. Click on either of the links below to make that happen.
  2. You can mail your offering via check or credit card by using one of the pre-printed offering envelopes that have been distributed to all our members. Simply insert your check in the envelope or complete the information on the inner flap, should you choose to donate by credit card, and return it by mail. If you are in need envelopes, please contact the church, either by leaving us a message or emailing us at info@milmcc.org. We will be happy to send some to you.
  3. You can send your offering via check in a regular addressed envelope to: Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church, 1239 West Mineral Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204.
  4. You can go to our website at www.milmcc.org/donate to do your giving as well.
Click link above to do a regular
offering or one time gift through our Secure Giving Portal
Click link above to do a regular
offering or one time gift
Click link above to set up a monthly recurring gift
As a board, we are praying with you, and for you. We look forward to the day when we can once again gather and worship together. In the meanwhile, please continue to follow the social distancing guidelines outlined by health officials to keep you and your family safe.

Please prayerfully consider making a gift to support your church, so that we can continue to meet the needs of the congregation.

Peace and Blessings,
Milwaukee MCC Board of Directors
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