2011 Fellowship Sunday Offering - Supporting MCC's International Task Force

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

Tearing Down Walls. Building Up Hope.   The first MCC service was held in Rev. Troy Perry's home in Huntington Park, California 2011 Fellowship Sunday Pacesetters   1.   Church of the Trinity MCC        (Sarasota, Florida) - Rev.        Charles Tigard, Pastor   2.   Cornerstone MCC (Mobile,        Alabama) - Open Pulpit   3.   Emerald City MCC (Seattle,        Washington) - Rev. Ray        Neal, Pastor   4.   Exodus MCC (Abilene,        Texas) - Rev. Margaret        Walker, Pastor   5.   FirstCoast MCC (St.        Augustine, Florida) - Rev.        Ruth Jensen-Forbell, Pastor   6.   Gentle Shepherd MCC        (Phoenix, Arizona) - Rev.        Gale Rawson   7.   Heartland MCC (Springfield,        Illinois) - Rev. Dr. Tony        Thieman-Somora 8.   Holy Covenant MCC        (Brookfield, Illinois) - Rev.        Danny Spears, Pastor   9.   Holy Cross MCC        (Pensacola, Florida) - Rev.        Sandy O'Steen, Pastor   10. Imago Dei MCC (Glen Mills,        Pennsylvania) - Rev. Janice         Bowker, Intentional Interim         Pastor   11. King of Peace MCC (St.         Petersburg, Florida) - Rev.         Dr. Candace Shultis, Pastor   12. Living Springs MCC (Bath,         England) - Rev. Kieren         Bourne, Pastor   13. MCC Brisbane (Australia) -         Rev. Dr. Leigh Neighbour,         Pastor   14. MCC Charlotte (North         Carolina) - Rev. Catherine         Houchins, Pastor   15. MCC Elizabethtown        (Kentucky) - Rev. Cathy         Porter, Pastor   16. MCC Los Angeles        (California) - Rev. Dr. Neil         Thomas, Pastor   17. MCC Lubbock (Texas) -         Rev. Renae Phillips, Pastor   18. MCC of Baton Rouge        (Louisiana) - Rev. Keith         Mozingo, Pastor   19. MCC of New York (New         York) - Rev. Pat         Bumgardner, Pastor   20. MCC of Paducah (Kentucky)        - Rev. Lillian Ferguson,         Pastor   21. MCC of the Blue Ridge        (Roanoke, Virginia) - Rev.         Joe Cobb, Pastor   22. MCC of the Spirit        (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) -         Rev. Lori Rivera, Pastor   23. MCC of Topeka (Kansas) -         Rev. Dr. Ty Sweeting, Pastor   24. MCC of Winston-Salem        (North Carolina) - Rev. Ron         LaRocque, Pastor   25. MCC Portland (Oregon) -         Rev. Nathan Meckley, Pastor   26. MCC Pueblo (Colorado) -         Rev. John Mark Hild, Pastor   27. MCC Richmond (Virginia) -         Rev. Dr. Robin Gorsline,         Pastor   28. MCC San Antonio (Texas) -         Rev. Mick Hinson, Pastor   29. New Creation MCC        (Columbus, Ohio) - Rev.         Margaret Hawk, Pastor   30. New Spirit Community         Church (Berkeley,         California) - Rev. Elder Jim         Mitulski   31. New Spirit MCC (Cincinnati,         Ohio) - Open Pulpit   32. Open Circle at The Villages         MCC (Oxford, Florida) - Rev.         Carol Rawlings-Chambers,         Pastor   33. Resurrection MCC        (Houston, Texas) - Rev.         Elder Lillie Brock,         Consulting Pastor   34. River of Life MCC        (Dorchester, England) - Rev.         Catherine Dearlove, Pastor   35. River of Life MCC        (Kennewick, Washington) -         Rev. Janet Pierce, Pastor   36. Spirit of Life MCC (New Port         Richey, Florida) - Rev.         Dexter Brecht, Interim Pastor   37. SunCoast Cathedral MCC        (Venice, Florida) - Rev. Dr.         Sherry Kennedy, Pastor   38. Trinity MCC (Gainesville,         Florida) - Rev. Dr. Jim         Merritt, Pastor   39. Water of Life MCC (Tucson,         Arizona) - Rev. Elder Dr.         Charlie Arehart, Pastor   MCC Moderator, Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson, with Our Future at General Conference 2005 (Photo credit: Mark Hahn)     From the Office of the Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches    ________________________________________    2011 Fellowship Sunday  Offering Campaign ~ Let's Finish Our Unfinished Business! ~ "...having made a good start,      finish this work among yourselves." -- II Corinthians 8:6 ________________________________________       Dear MCC Friend:   Just last week, I announced the launch of the 2011 Fellowship Sunday Offering campaign.    As MCC observes the 43rd anniversary of our founding, I'm inviting local churches to celebrate by receiving a voluntary, designated offering during the month of October through this campaign.    I am thrilled that so many MCC congregations around the world are catching the vision and responding with an enthusiastic, "Yes!" to participate in this year's Fellowship Sunday Offering opportunity.    October's denomination-wide offering will support one project with one strategic purpose: To finish MCC's unfinished business by supporting the important work of our International Task Force.    I have three messages I'd like to share with you today:    If your church has already responded to my invitation... I want to say my heartfelt thanks to your congregation for your support and leadership. By joining your hearts and hands with churches throughout our Fellowship, you're helping us create the platform and vision that will support and strengthen MCC's growing global ministry for decades to come.    If your church has not yet responded... I want to extend a warm and enthusiastic invitation for your church to become a 2011 Pacesetter Church by receiving a special, designated 2011 Fellowship Sunday Offering during October, or on a Sunday that works best with your church calendar.    If your church did not participate in the 2011 Easter Offering Campaign... I want to challenge you to prayerfully consider doing what several churches have already done -- write to me and let me know you'll participate in the 2011 Fellowship Sunday Offering Campaign.    To sign-up for the 2011 Fellowship Sunday Offering Campaign and become a 2011 Pacesetter church, simply write to me at  FellowshipSunday@MCCchurch.net. Be sure to include your church's name and location, your pastor's name, and the date you will receive your special Fellowship Sunday Offering.    _______________________________________________________    When you say "Yes," your church will experience the sense of fulfillment that comes from knowing you are investing in the future of MCC's ministry to our world. _______________________________________________________       Here's What You Are Supporting...    As Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches, I believe the single most important action we can take together is creating a strong, clear, international platform that  will effectively support MCC's growth around the world for at least the next several decades.    As you know, there was one piece of unfinished business coming out of the last General Conference. Our unfinished business is best summed up in one question: What systems and structures will most best support MCC's emerging international work for the future?    MCC's International Task Force is well into its work, engaging this question -- and engaging MCCers around the world who are opening their hearts and spiritual imagination.    The International Task Force is committed to help us re-shape MCC with a truly global vision -- a global vision that: 1. Incorporates the work of starting and growing churches alongside the biblical work of justice,    2. Honors cultural differences, and    3. Is infused with connection, autonomy and mutual accountability.    There is an urgent need to raise an additional $25,000 USD to complete the process that will bring forth new ideas to galvanize and energize our people at General Conference 2013. By participating in our 2011 Fellowship Sunday Offering Campaign, your congregation will have the opportunity to invest in MCC's future, touching untold lives for decades to come.       Let's Finish MCC's Unfinished Business!    I love the Bible verse in II Corinthians 8:6, in which the Apostle Paul writes, "...having made a good start, finish this work among yourselves."    Paul was writing to the fledgling church in Corinth with the message that it was time for them to finish their unfinished business. I believe that is God's message to us at this strategic moment: By finishing MCC's unfinished business, we will strengthen our foundations and prepare for a new era of bold ministry!    (If you read II Corinthians Chapter 8, I think the following parallels are especially worth noting: Paul was also writing about an offering. Its purpose was to make God's grace known. The church gave generously during a time of great difficulty. And perhaps the most amazing are these verses, "...beyond their ability they gave freely, asking us with many requests for the blessing of participating in the financial support of their fellow believers.")    We, too, are graced with an opportunity to give during a time of great economic difficulty and international recession. In such a time, I am counting on your congregation to help us fulfill MCC's God-given destiny through the support of the amazing folks on our International Task Force.    Will your church participate in the 2011 Fellowship Sunday Offering Campaign by receiving a special, designated offering during October?    If so, I invite you to write to me at FellowshipSunday@MCCchurch.net and let me know you'll participate in this year's Fellowship Sunday Offering Campaign to support the important work of MCC's International Task Force.    Together, let's finish MCC's unfinished business!    May I look for your response this week?    Anticipating anniversary blessings,         Nancy    Rev. Dr. Nancy L. Wilson MCC Moderator FellowshipSunday@MCCchurch.net         P.S.  Over the next two weeks, we'll unveil promotional and support materials for your participation in the 2011 Fellowship Sunday Offering, including special anniversary prayers, a press release for your local media, and a downloadable bulletin insert for your weekly worship folder. I'll be sharing details with you next week.    P.P.S.  This year's Fellowship Sunday Offering Campaign is an integral part of MCC's 43rd anniversary celebration during the month of October.    On October 6, 1968, 12 people gathered in Troy Perry's living room in Huntington Park, California, for the very first MCC worship service.    Those 12 MCC worshippers:    Took a step of faith...    Worshiped God in authenticity...    Received Holy Communion...    Gave a modest offering...    On that Sunday morning 43 years ago, no one knew how God would take those lives, that step of faith, their worship, and that modest offering and multiply them until they became an international denominational movement for radical inclusivity, bold faith and biblical justice.   Forty-three years later, we have the opportunity for God to perform this miracle anew. With all my heart, I believe God will take your church's 2011 Fellowship Sunday Offering funds, combine them with the gifts of MCC churches around the world, and multiply them in ways that will touch the lives of people who hunger for faith, love and justice for decades to come.    Won't you write to me today at FellowshipSunday@MCCchurch.net and tell me your congregation will help finish MCC's unfinished business by participating during October?    When you write to me, I'll add your church to the 2011 Fellowship Sunday Pacesetters list -- churches that are leading the way in support of MCC's emerging international work.

Forward email This email was sent to mccofcc.thisweek@blogger.com by communications@mccchurch.net |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. MCC | PO Box 1374 | Abilene | TX | 79604