Agape' MCC News & Updates
June 22, 2021
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View our 06/20/21 "I've Been Meaning to Ask...what do you need?" worship experience by clicking on the image below:
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Sacred Reading - Job 2:1-3
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all these troubles that had come upon him, each of them set out from his home—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to go and console and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they raised their voices and wept aloud; they tore their robes and threw dust in the air upon their heads. They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.
Contemporary Reading - Unlearning Hands - written by: rev. sarah are
I used to always ask,
“How can I help?” but
maybe I can’t help.
Maybe these hands are too small.
Maybe the boat will sink anyway.
Maybe your heart has been broken
and grief has moved in, making itself
at home in your life.
Maybe what you need from me
is not a solution
or a plan
or a fix-it strategy,
but something else,
something more.
I’m learning to unlearn
my desire to fix.
I am learning to unlearn
centering myself
in the story of your pain.
When I asked before,
“How can I help?”
What I really meant to say
was, “What do you need?”
What do you need?
My hands might be small,
but they can still hold yours.
Sunday June 27 - "I've been meaning to ask...where to we go from here?"
Sunday July 4th - Shorts and Flip Flops Sunday!
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Come in! We are open!
Join us for Sunday morning worship in our
Agape' MCC Sanctuary at 10:30AM
With recent changes to the CDC Guidelines, we have updated our COVID policy:
- we will no longer check temperatures as you enter the building
- fully vaccinated attendees will not be required to wear a mask or socially distance
- We ask that those who are not vaccinated to please continue to wear a mask and socially distance when possible.
- Please be supportive to those wearing masks for various health reasons.
We are working on a plan for the return of Children's Sunday School and hope to have more information on this in the near future. The plan for our children will follow current CDC guidelines for classroom safety. Watch this space for additional information.
Join us for Sunday Morning Worship
at 10:30AM on Facebook Live. We will continue streaming our worship services as part of our Sunday worship experience.
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Spirit Cafe'
It's Hybrid Live/Zoom Wednesday at the Spirit Cafe!
Please join us for a time of connection and laughter while we host game night this Wednesday in the Agape' Social Hall or join us via Zoom at 7:00PM.
Enter the meeting ID: 816-8960-6902
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50 years of ministry is a big deal and we are planning extra special events to celebrate our 50 year journey. Activities will include a gaming
night for the youth (and young at heart), a Sundae Sunday, Fall Festival, Wine and Cheese Happy Hour, capping it all off with a very nice sit down dinner. We heard a rumor that our very own world renown Evangelical singing duo
(Pearl and Ethel) will make a guest appearance.
Event dates, location and times will be available soon. Stay tuned!
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Questions
How many questions do you think you have asked and/or answered in your lifetime? How many have you answered this week?
Questions are interesting. They help us grow, know more, and become better humans. They inform us. Our answers help show the world who we are. We share ourselves through our replies.
Never stop asking questions.
Be curious.
Br vulnerable; answer the question or ask it if you want. Show the world your beauty.
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The Queer History and Evolution of Metropolitan Community Churches: |
A journey from being the “Gay Church” of the late 60s and 70s, to the “Church with AIDS” in the 80s and 90s, to the “Queer Church” of today and tomorrow #QYFDAY - June 30th
As part of Queer Youth of Faith Day, join in for a panel conversation with MCC Founder, Rev. Elder Troy Perry; MCC minister and AIDS activist, Rev. Elder Jim Mitulski; and current minister and leader, Rev. Tijuana Gray. Moderated by Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos.
Watch also for more news about this on MCC's social media. Learn more about Queer Youth of Faith Day below and check out the music.
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QUEER YOUTH OF FAITH DAY June 30, 2021
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#QYFDAY is the first multi-faith celebration of queer youth. This year’s #QYFDay will feature various programming throughout the day including podcasts, panels, and musical performances. The event is primarily sponsored and hosted by Beloved Arise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and empowering LGBTQ+ youth of faith. MCC is a sponsor.
As part of #QYFDay, Beloved Arise released their multi-faith album Serenade. This is the first-ever album dedicated to queer youth of faith, and these songs serve as anthems for #QYFDay. Check it out!
More than one in three LGBTQ+ youth identify with a religion. But sadly, these young believers are often pressured to choose between their faith and the freedom to live and love authentically. As part of PRIDE month, Beloved Arise dedicates June 30 to celebrate and support LGBTQ+ youth from all faith traditions — and we uphold the human right to believe, to belong, and to be loved.
We rise up and join our voices to say:
We see you. We celebrate you. We take pride in you.
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Pathways of Healing and Reconciliation |
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Announcing Three Pathways
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
Psalm 133:1
We call upon the One who knew us before we entered into this plain. We call upon the One who knows each tear we cry and every pain we feel. We call upon the One who joins us in our joy and times of celebration. We call upon the One who led others before us on this journey and laid the groundwork so that we can do the work of today. Blessed One, guide our work that it would be healing and fruitful for us today and for those tomorrow.
Ashe, Amen, and May it be So.
The Commission on Pathways of Healing and Reconciliation was established by the Governing Board to help MCC address racism and other issues that were highlighted during and after General Conference 2016.
One of its tasks is to:
- Design and offer a pathway for individuals to move towards healing and reconciliation on elements that have fractured relationships in recent years.
The Commission has now established 3 different pathways, which will be available during the month of July, to hear your personal experiences of racism and other issues within MCC. The Commissioners will use these stories to identify themes and will recommend areas for organizational change, so that MCC can become more racially equitable, inclusive and diverse.
You may
- Complete a short survey, which will provide a snapshot of what MCC is doing locally and as a denomination to address racism
- Submit your written or video testimony of your personal experience of racism or other issues within MCC
- Make an appointment to speak with a listener and share your story. This will be recorded, with your consent, and also submitted to the Commission for its work. We have listeners in different countries, from a variety of backgrounds and who speak different languages. You will be able to choose with whom you talk.
The Commissioners want to hear from as many people as possible around the world. Your story is important to us, so please consider using one or more of the pathways. We need your input to help us to really understand the current reality in MCC and what needs to be done for MCC to fully live into its core values of inclusion, community, spiritual transformation and justice.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow, MCC Detroit, USA (Co-Chair)
Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston, Moderator UFMCC (Co-Chair)
Rev. Cathy Alexander, MCC Staff
Mr. Kedric Brown, Resurrection MCC, Houston TX, USA
Ms. Clare Coughlin, Governing Board UFMCC
Mr. Juan Garcia, MCC of Washington DC, USA
Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw, MCC Tampa, USA
Mr. Richard Norman, Good Hope MCC, South Africa
Ms. Ivana Warwick, ICM Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Creator of all things,
We come to You with praise and thanksgiving for Your Presence in and through us. In dark times when we weep at what we witness, turn our tears to rainbows so we may see from Your Perspective and not our perception. We only see dimly and Your Ways are beyond our understanding. Yet, despite and because of our humanness You love us, for You are Love. So, we hold fast to Your Command to love one another. May we live from Your Love which is woven into the very fiber of our beings and share it with all whose lives we touch.
It is in Your many Names we pray…
Amen
PRAYER SUBMITTED BY:
LILLY
Preferred gender: she/her
Title: MCC Ally (1995-present)
Resurrection MCC, Houston, Texas, USA
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July Birthdays
June 28 - Jacob Ashton
July 03 - Max Roberts
July 04 - Graeme Haub
July 05 - David Wynn
July 06 - Ty Reed
July 06 - Kim Pena
July 17 - Linda Gray
July 19 - Lilia Orander-Cruz
July 21 - Bailey Shackelford
July 29 - Patti Stephens
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