MCC Impact - April 2011 (Volume II)

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Impact Newsletter April 2011 - Volume II       HELPING OTHERS SunCoast Cathedral MCC (Venice, Florida) collected $429.61 USD for restoration in New Zealand following the earthquake and $397.96 USD for the people of Japan. MCC Newcastle-upon-Tyne (England) is engaged in a letter-writing and petition campaign to urge their MPs (Members of Parliament) to help the homosexual people of Uganda by denouncing the odious legislation, which would bring death to any gay or lesbian person. MCC of Greater Dallas (Texas) is assisting a client of the AIDS Interfaith Network with peel, heat, and eat meals. Because of physical disabilities, he cannot even mix or add water to food items. MCC Sacred Journey (Hendersonville, North Carolina) will be participating in Western North Carolina's AIDS Project's Dining Out for Life next Thursday. Various restaurants in the area will donate 20% of their proceeds that day to support HIV/AIDS prevention, education, advocacy, and services. MCC Fredricksburg (Virginia) collects at least 112 pounds of food each month for the Fredricksburg Area Food Bank, which delivers food to people living in remote areas. MCC/ICM Los Angeles (California) is collecting used jeans to benefit the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. The Jeans for Life program helps people living with HIV/AIDS around the world. OUTSTANDING PEOPLE Grand Marshalls Galore! Rev. Elder Troy Perry will be the Grand Marshall of the largest Pride in Florida (in St. Petersburg) in June. Rev. Pat Bumgardner has been invited to be the Grand Marshall for the New York City Pride Parade. Rev. Roland Stringfellow and the Honorable Rev. Vickie Kowalski are both nominees for Grand Marshall for the San Francisco (California) Pride Parade. Tennie McCarty of Exodus MCC (Abilene, Texas) was interviewed on the Joy Behar Show, featured on CNN Headline News, and appeared on Oprah's network (OWN) as the "unconventional therapist" in the series "Addicted to Food." She was also named the Outstanding Woman of the Year by the Abilene branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women). The Installation Service for Rev. Harry Knox as Senior Pastor of Resurrection MCC (Houston, Texas) will be Sunday, 1 May, at 3pm. Special guests include Rev. Elders Nancy Wilson and Troy D. Perry. Musical guests will be Jason & deMarco and the Resurrection MCC Worship Arts Department. A reception will follow the service with hors d'oeuvres and a presentation highlighting 39 years of ministry at RMCC. Rev. Elder Perry will preach at both services on Sunday morning. Rev. Axel Schwaigert from MCC Stuttgart, Germany, was the guest preacher recently at MCC in the Valley (North Hollywood, California). Jeff Smith is the new Music Director at Open Circle at The Villages MCC (Oxford, Florida), and Carol Bentley will serve as Assistant Director, working primarily with the band. Rev. Dr. Cindi Love is one of 12 recipients of a fellowship to the Harvard Business School for Senior Executives for state and local government officials. She is the first person to be selected for this honor that is not a state or local government official and the first ordained minister to be honored. She currently serves as Executive Director of Soulforce. CHURCH EDUCATION In May, Pikes Peak MCC (Colorado Springs, Colorado) will begin Dave Ramsey's 13-week study, Financial Peace University. The goal is to help people get out of debt so they can live more freely. Using the principles taught in the class, the average student pays off $8,000 USD of debt in the 13 weeks of the class. Most pay off more than $20,000 USD of debt within the first year. With 7 out of 10 American living paycheck to paycheck, average giving in churches that use this program has been shown to increase significantly. For more information on this program, contact Rev. Wes Mullins. On Tuesday night, the youth ages 14-18 at Vision of Hope MCC (Mountville, Reading, and York, Pennsylvania) gathered for Feast, Fellowship, and Food4Thought at the Mountville location. More than 30 people from MCC London (Ontario, Canada) gathered for a retreat on spiritual growth. Using materials from the Size Summit, participants traveled through the following modules: 1) What are you driving? (What's your spiritual type?), 2) Acquiring a satellite (worship), 3) Where are you now? (spiritual locations), and 4) Where do you want to go? (getting directions), during which they offered workshops on full body prayer, spiritual gifts inventory, inclusive language, world religions, meditation, healing the soul, and Bible study. A follow-up weekend retreat is planned for 30 September - 2 October. MCC Austin (Texas) is offering a workshop on Boundaries so that participants can better learn how to say "no" and set limits on the time, resources, and energy spent on others, while still being Christian. Wednesday evenings find the folks at Redeemer MCC (Flint, Michigan) studying Oneness - Great Principles Shared by All Religions by Jeffrey Moses, providing a wonderful way to help people realize how much Christians share with other faith communities. aChurch4Me? MCC just began a Wednesday evening series at the pastor's home on Sexuality and Spirituality. One of the classes being offered currently at King of Peace MCC (St. Petersburg, Florida) is Gender and the Divine, a three-part workshop, led by Rev. Jake Kopmeier. It explores the cultural concept of gender and its challenges, theological foundations, guidance around gender, and how to help educate the community to appreciate gender variance.  ACTIVE CHURCHES The Transgender Ministry of Central Texas MCC (Waco, Texas) will host a screening of The Teena Brandon Story on Saturday evening. Afterward, Baylor University professor Dr. Jon Singletary will facilitate a discussion of the movie and trans issues. A number of our churches are busy planting flowers and making their yards colorful. At MCC Toronto (Ontario, Canada), those people are known as the Garden Faeries! Holy Covenant MCC (Brookfield, Illinois) will hold their annual Walk-a-thon on 7 May. They have two routes of three and five miles. Dogs and children are also welcome to walk and to get their own sponsors! Church of the Trinity MCC (Sarasota, Florida) will join with other area religious communities for the Gulf Coast Affirming Interfaith Network's Interfaith Service on 10 May, during which they will honor young victims of bullying and celebrate the diversity of humanity with a palette of faith traditions. Eternal Joy MCC (Dayton, Ohio) increased their membership 13% by taking in eight new members this month. The annual Gong Show at Divine Peace MCC (Pontiac, Michigan) has now become A Night at the Movies. Congregants and their friends will perform kid-friendly music, skits, comedy acts, dance numbers, etc. Join in the fun at 7pm on 14 May! Karen Reynolds and Oona Love will perform in concert at MCC Knoxville (Tennessee) on 30 April at 7pm. Admission is $10 USD.  MCC of the Palm Beaches (Palm Beach Gardens, Florida) will present Voices of Pride, a combination of The Gay Men's Chorus of the Palm Beaches and the Sanctuary Choir of MCC PB, in a concert to benefit the MCC Food Pantry. Patriotic, inspirational, and campy music will be included on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Tickets are $25 USD. Beginning next Sunday, Appalachian MCC will move to a morning worship time with children's Sunday School at 10am and Morning Worship at 11am. Every month, MCC Pueblo (Colorado) is offering a free movie night to the LGBT community. The Miracle Easter Sunday offering at All God's Children MCC (Minneapolis, Minnesota) went to purchase five computers, a floor-care machine, bass and guitar amplifiers, a drum shell, and organic and local food for their Community Meal. They also paid their insurance deductible to repair water damage. First MCC of Atlanta (Georgia) is providing an outreach every other Sunday afternoon in Macon, Georgia, a prayer and study group led by Bill Murphy. MCC Washington, DC, will be celebrating its fortieth anniversary 13-15 May. On Friday evening there will be a celebration of dancing, food, fun, and song at the HRC Equality Center. On Sunday, MCC Founder Rev. Elder Troy Perry will bring the message. For more information, visit MCCDC's Facebook page. MCC Manchester (England) will spend all day on 7 May creating a vision for their church for the next five years with specific plans for the next year. Restore! Revive!! Rejoice!!!, the capital campaign of Sunshine Cathedral MCC (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) has surpassed the $500,000 USD mark. To date, they have replaced one roof, installed new air conditioning units in the Senior Day Care Center and in the chapel, added safety railings on the second floor, built an entry stoop for the worship center, and reduced their mortgage by $125,000 USD. Joy MCC (Orlando, Florida) will be having a special event each Saturday for the next several months to do fundraising for the church, as well as provide a time of fellowship. There will be dinners, concerts, brunches, and many more activities. On 1 May, the youth ministry of MCC Richmond (Virginia) will present the church's first effort in adding praise dancing to their worship services. Couples Bunco will take place next Saturday at LifeJourney Church MCC (Indianapolis, Indiana), while the Singles meet for dinner at O'Charley's. Goin' Cruisin'! Gentle Shepherd MCC (Phoenix, Arizona) and MCC San Diego (California) have paired together again to offer a cruise on Carnival's Spirit next year. They will depart San Diego on 4 February 2012 for eight days along the Mexican Riviera with ports of call in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. The prices, amazingly, begin at $569 USD. Rev. Elder Troy Perry will be a special guest. For more information, contact Rev. Elder John Gill. Harvest MCC (Denton, Texas) will have a monthly Fun and Games Night beginning next Friday.  "Take Me Out to the Ball Game!" The Whosoevers, the softball team from MCC Charleston (South Carolina), is playing in the Weeknight Women's Church League. The ReCharge midweek service at MCC Omaha (Nebraska) has changed from a quiet meditative style to a traditional mid-week worship with familiar hymns, a responsive reading, a brief reflection on familiar scriptures, prayer and communion. It will be lay-led beginning next month. Many of our churches are having yard or garage sales next month, but MCC of the Rockies (Denver, Colorado) has a different twist. BAM! It's a Book, Art, and Music sale featuring used books, DVDs, CDs and albums. Church ministries will benefit, including their food pantry, which feeds 300+ people each week. MCC Tampa (Florida) will have a booth at Pride on 7th Street next Saturday. MCC of the Spirit (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) will join others for the Commonwealth Interfaith Service: Prayers for Justice and Peace at Pine Street Presbyterian Church on Monday evening. MCC Topeka (Kansas) has opened a new store with new or nearly new items, and even some delicious baked goods! Mark Ridolfi, editor of the Quad City Times, will perform a song he wrote in support of diversity and marriage equality during the worship service next Sunday at MCC Quad Cities (Davenport, Iowa).   Making the Impact! HELPING OTHERS OUTSTANDING PEOPLE CHURCH EDUCATION ACTIVE CHURCHES IDAHO LATINO/A QUEER COMMUNITY NETWORK GATHERING EURO PRIDE 2011 TRANSITIONS WANT TO BE ON TV? ROYAL WEDDING IDAHO The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) is on 17 May every year. Many of our churches hold special events or engage in educational opportunities in their communities. What is YOUR church doing to observe IDAHO this year? Please send your plans to JudyDale@MCCchurch.net for inclusion in a future edition of the MCC IMPACT. For free promotional materials and ideas, click here. LATINO/A QUEER INDIVIDUALS NEEDED Christopher Bauchman, a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Pacific University School of Professional Psychology, is conducting a study for his dissertation that examines the relationship between spiritual beliefs and practices to psychological well-being in the treatment of Latino individuals who may also identify as a sexual minority. If you are Latino/a, 18 or older, and a member of the queer community in the US, please take this less than 15-minute confidential survey. You may receive an iTunes gift card for your participation. For additional information, contact Christopher at cjbauchman@pacificu.edu or Dr. Robin Shallcross, Faculty/Research Advisor, at shallcrr@pacificu.edu. NETWORK GATHERING The North Central US Network (Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin) will meet 14 May at MCC Illiana (Portage, Indiana). Rev. Elder Diane Fisher will share about the latest developments within MCC. There will be a brainstorming session on how the Network can assist in the development of lay leadership. There will also be a workshop on estate planning for the LGBT community. EURO PRIDE 2011 After seeing the trailer to internationally-renowned theologian John McNeill's documentary, Taking a Chance on God, the board of directors of EuroPride 2011 decided to hold the world premiere of the documentary at EuroPrideFest on 9 June. Both Rev. McNeill and his producer, Brendan Fay, will be present in Rome, Italy, for the occasion. Over 20,000 visitors from around the world are expected 1-12 June. The showing of the documentary will be one of the major events at the festival. It will be shown in a park so that as many people as possible can view it. The next day, they will follow up with a panel discussion on human sexuality.  Please email Jason O'Neill if you plan to attend, so that we can let John McNeill know to look for you there. More details about EuroPride 2011 can be found here.   Florin Buhuceanu has been asked to sit on a panel during Euro Pride. It is the Conference on Faith and Homosexuality held on 10 June. He will be representing "the situation of GLBT Christian people in Eastern Europe and the case history of MCC." TRANSITIONS Rev. Margarita Sanchez de Leon has accepted the position of Provisional Pastor for MCC South London (England) effective 1 May. She has been serving as Pastor of MCC East London. Under the guidance of their Elder, Emmanuel MCC (Spokane, Washington) decided to close at the end of last year after 28 years of ministering to the LBGT community in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. They want to express their gratitude to all who supported them through the years. Rev. Cecilia Eggleston and her partner Monica have moved back to Newcastle, England, for her to resume the pastorate of MCC Newcastle effective 1 May. Rev. Pressley Sutherland, who has been the interim support pastor, will be there 14-15 May to lead the "Sex and the Scriptures" workshop and will facilitate their MCCN Community Retreat in the near future. Rev. Michael Hydes has just returned to New Light MCC (Hagerstown, Maryland) following a three-month sabbatical. DO YOU WANT TO BE ON TV? Michael Warwick of Cuba Casting is looking for same-sex couples engaged to be married sometime from August until the end of the year who are willing to share their story and participate in a really fantastic documentary about the first year of marriage for a major cable channel. They want to feature many different kinds of weddings/ceremonies. They will film the couples periodically through their newlywed year, probably three times, including some family events (holidays, births, etc.). The couples must be willing to honestly and openly communicate about each other and the experiences of this important first year. They want to get the best view of what marriage looks like today in the US through a diverse mix of stories and couples. For more information or to volunteer, contact Michael at MarriageProjectCasting@gmail.com or 310-993-5524. THE ROYAL WEDDING MCC Bournemouth (England) will be celebrating the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton with a day of events at the church. They will begin at 10am on the 29 April with coffee and pastries and then watch the wedding together on the big screen in the Sanctuary. The afternoon will feature BBQ, Bingo and live music.

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MCC Issues a Call to Prayer Regarding the Tornadoes in the U. S.

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Dear MCC Members and Friends, Today our thoughts and prayers are with all those whose lives have been lost or changed forever by the devastating and unprecedented tornados that have occurred across the southern United States. As the Elder for the Networks in this part of the U. S., I have been attempting to contact our members and churches. At this time, we believe all our members and churches are safe, but areas around some of them have experienced severe damage, and lives will be impacted by these tragic events in many ways.   Please join us today in this prayer adapted from a service following hurricane Katrina: God of Love and Compassion,   When the trees bow and snap under the weight of the wind, When the rain destroys rather than nurtures the earth, When the streets are littered with wet teddy bears, broken dishes and shattered dreams, When it seems the future and all it promises is blown away in an instant, Then it is only to you, O God, that we know to turn for comfort and hope.   Hear our prayers as we share the brokenness of those who are suffering and show us the ways we can be your messengers of healing and hope.   Amen   If you are aware of specific situations to which we need to respond with disaster relief,  please contact me.   Faithfully, Rev. Elder Ken Martin RevKenMartin@MCCchurch.net

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Emergence - The Official Newsletter of MCC PAD Conference

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Metropolitan Community Churches Tearing Down Walls.  Building Up Hope. There are only 22 days before we gather together to celebrate the 8th MCC Conference for People of African Descent, Our Friends and Allies in beautiful Washington D.C.   I encourage you to register for conference and book your hotel room now as the deadline to receive the conference rate is TOMORROW 28 April. You will only be charged a one day deposit.    I also encourage you to visit the PAD Conference website to stay up to date on workshops, plenaries and special guests..     Speaking of special guests, we are excited to have as Conference special musical guests - Min. Charlene Moore (City of Refuge, San Francisco) and Umojo Drumming Orchestra ( Unity Fellowship of Washington, DC).     We are delighted to have great participation from seminaries from around the country. The following schools will be present or have financially supported the PAD Conference.  Brite Divinity School, Chicago Theological School,  Claremont School of Divinity, Drew University Theological School, Episcopal Divinity School, Howard University School of Divinity,  Iliff School of Theology, Lancaster Theological Seminary, Meadville Lombard Theological School, Pacific School of Religion, Starr King School for the Ministry, Vanderbilt Divinity School, and Wakeforest School of Divinity.        This conference is one you don't want to miss. Take a look at the evolving schedule by clicking here..So come and be blessed by what God has in store for you.    Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for speaker , special events and workshop updates.   Note: Next newsletter we will have additional information on parking options.   See you at the PAD Conference!    Peace, Rev. Elder Darlene  Programming Is Now Set     The Full Conference Plenary and Workshop Schedule is now online  Click here. Where Are You From?       When preparing for the PAD Conference we sometimes get the question "Why should I come to this conference? What's in it for me?"  Sometimes the best way to answer these questions is to hear the answer from someone's story. Let's hear from Rev. Cedric Harmon of City of Refuge - Washington, D.C.   "Where are you from?" is a question heard so often when we meet someone for the first time that we don't even take serious notice of its various meanings. Are we being asked simply from where have we arrived? Is the questioner asking about our place of birth? Is it an inquiry about our place of native origin? Why are we being asked? Will our answer result in some form of judgment or stereotype of us?  To read more click here.  Looking for a Roommate during Conference - Go to the Forum If you have a room  and would like to share or are looking for someone willing to share a room, visit the MCC PAD Forum by clicking here. Conference Pillars   Rev. Y'Lon Dozier Mary Ann Lawson MCC of Northern Virginia  Connie Meadows and Haviland Houston  Joan Saniuk and Sharilyn Steketee  Cassandra White & The Resurrection MCC Gospel Ensemble  Conference Parking Options Valet parking at the Fairmont Washington , 2401 "M" St., NW, Washington, D.C. .20037, ranges from $12-30 during the day and is $40.00 overnight.  Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, DC, 474 Ridge Street N.W. Washington, DC 20001 has graciously offered several free parking places for PAD Conference vehicles. Information on how to apply for these spaces will be posted on Facebook and the website soon.   MCC DC is a 10 minute taxi ride to/from the Fairmont or a 15 minute ride via Metro. If you take the Metro - MCC DC is located  2 blocks east of the Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center Metro station. Take the  Metro to Foggy Bottom on the Orange or Blue lines. At the top of the escalator you will be facing 23rd Street. Turn Left onto 23rd Street. At the next corner, turn Left onto "K" Street. Walk one block to 24th St., make a right onto 24th. The hotel is 4 blocks North, on the left, after you cross "M" Street, at the corner of 24th and "M" Streets. (The lettered streets will become higher in the alphabet from "K" to "M"). So FIRST drop off your bags at the hotel and park at MCC DC.   Another option is parking at the East Falls Church Metro Stations which is only $4.50 per day. Other Metro Stations have similar rates available in Maryland and Virginia.     Stay in touch via Facebook, Twitter and the website for additional parking options.  Attention Clergy Did you know you receive CEU's while attending the 2011 MCC PAD Conference?    This is also a great opportunity for you to connect with other faith leaders from around the world and establish relationships. To see who is attending, click here.  Join the Conference Mass Choir  Want to sing?   Join the PAD Conference Mass Choir with Ms. Cassandra White, (Conference Music Director). Links will be available soon for you to download the Conference music. To join the choir, complete the worship volunteer form and return it to CassandraWhite@MCCchurch.net. Emergence April 27 2011 Conference Programming Where Are You From? Looking for a Roommate? Conference Pillars Park Here? Attention Clergy! Join the Mass Choir Now Reserve Your Room TODAY! Conference Dance! Feel the Love Winner PAD Cruise Raffle! Volunteer! Partners -- PAD Conference & HRC's Clergy Call Quick Links Connect With Us Support Our Sponsors RESERVE YOUR ROOM TODAY!  Reserve your room today! The deadline to reserve your room at the conference rate is April 28, 20111. Don't delay, make your room reservation today! Dance the Night Away with DJ Huggy Bear!  We are excited to announce a post Conference dance on Saturday May 22, 2011 from 10:30 PM until 1:00 AM. Conference registrants should wear their badge to enter for free. All others are welcome for a $5.00 cover. Feel the Love, Share The Love Winner Announced!   It Is Norma Sharpe     There were 11 Registrants between April 11 and April 17th. All these names were put in a container and the winner drawn is: Norma Sharpe! She opted to Share the Love with Pat Mouton! Sail Away on the  2012 Valentine's Cruise! How? Win the Raffle    Sailaway on the Carnival Imagination for a Valentine's Day Getaway. Enjoy the comfort a a Balcony Suite Stateroom as you sail the Western Caribbean. Tickets are only $5.00 or $20.00 for 5 tickets.  Proceeds benefit the PAD Conference as Linda Hardy Travel donated the cruise.    The drawing will be held on Saturday 22 May during the PAD Conference. For More information on the 2012 Valentine's Cruise, click here or email 2011padcruiseraffle@mccchurch.net     Travel Services Available       Linda Hardy, a member of New Life MCC of Hampton Roads in Norfolk, VA wants to assist you with your travel needs to the 2011 MCC PAD Conference and beyond.For a travel quote contact Linda via emal at  GlobalTrvl2@aol.com, or via phone at (757) 597- 4102, or via fax at (707) 248-7348 or on her website at www.LindaHardy.GlobalTravel.com      Download the quote request form and let Linda handle your travel needs.   Volunteer! With 450 + people in attendance, Kareem, while fabulous, can't provide all the hospitality, security, worship and workshop assistance alone. Kareem explains his needs here. Would you consider lending him a hand? If you are able to volunteer at Conference, let Kareem know by filling out the volunteer form and emailing it to him at PADVolunteers@MCCchurch.net. .   Partners - PAD Conference and HRC's Clergy Call May 22 - 24, 2011 Washington, DC A Faithful Movement for LGBT Justice It's time to register for Clergy Call 2011! We call on all clergy and faith community leaders to support justice and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.  Join us in Washington, DC from May 22 - 24, 2011 to have your voice heard by Congress on critical issues affecting the LGBT community. For more information, go to http://www.hrc.org/clergycall2011/    Quick Links! Register - Click Here Hotel - Click Here Volunteer - Click Here Vocalists, Dancers, Choir & Musicians - Click Here Advertise - Click Here Sponsor - Click Get Married - Click Here Schedule - Click Here Spread the Word - Click Here   Connect With Us!    Our Sponsors                                            \                                                                                                                                           Help Spread the Word!  Use the following printable poster graphics to help spread the word about the 2011 PAD Conference!  Click the image to open the original file, or right-click to download!

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