This Week at MCC of CC: MCC Easter Offering - A Letter from the Global Justice Institute's Executive Director

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2012

PACESETTER

CHURCHES

Churches Participating

in MCC's Easter Offering

for Global Justice

1. Agape MCC (Fort Worth, Texas) - Rev. David Wynn, Sr., Pastor

2. All God's Children MCC (Minneapolis, Minnesota) - Rev. Kevin Downer, Interim Pastor

3. Church of the Trinity MCC (Sarasota, Florida) - Rev. Charles Tigard, Pastor

4. City of Refuge Tijuana Church (Mexico) - Rev. Tony Manriquez, Pastor

5. First MCC (Atlanta, Georgia) - Rev. Paul Graetz, Pastor

6. FirstCoast MCC (St. Augustine, Florida) - Rev. Ruth Jensen-Forbell, Pastor

7. Heartland Community MCC (Springfield, Illinois) - Rev. Dr. Tony Thieman-Somora, Pastor

8. Holy Covenant MCC (Brookfield, Illinois) - Rev. Dr. Danny Spears, Pastor

9. Holy Cross MCC (Pensacola, Florida) - Open Pulpit

10. Imago Dei MCC (Pennsylvania) - Rev. Janice Bowker, Interim Pastor

11. Joy MCC (Orlando, Florida) - Rev. Lisa Heilig, Interim Pastor

12. King of Peace MCC (St. Petersburg, Florida) - Rev. Dr. Candace Shultis, Pastor

13. LAI Sanctuary of Praise (New York, New York) - Elder Stacey Latimer, Pastor

14. Living Springs MCC (Bath, England) - Rev. Kieren Bourne, Pastor

15. MCC Albuquerque (New Mexico) - Rev. Judith Maynard, Pastor

16. MCC Baltimore (Maryland) - Rev. Y. M. Dozier, Interim Pastor

17. MCC Baton Rouge (Louisiana) - Rev. Keith Mozingo, Pastor

18. MCC Boston (Massachusetts) - Open Pulpit

19. MCC Brighton (England) - Rev. Catherine Dearlove, Interim Pastor

20. MCC Charlotte (North Carolina) - Rev. Catherine Houchins, Pastor

21. MCC Christ the Liberator (Highland Park, New Jersey) - Rev. Dr. Tom Bohache, Pastor

22. MCC Corpus Christi (Texas) - Open Pulpit

23. MCC Elizabethtown (Kentucky) - Rev. Cathy Porter, Pastor

24. MCC Governing Board, Senior Leadership Team and Staff

25. MCC Knoxville (Tennessee) - Rev. Jill Sizemore, Pastor

26. MCC Los Angeles (California) - Rev. Dr. Neil Thomas, Pastor

27. MCC Lubbock (Texas) - Rev. Renae Phillips, Pastor

28. MCC New Orleans (Louisiana) - Rev. Rick Sosbe, Pastor

29. MCC Newcastle (Newcastle Upon Tyne, England) - Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston, Pastor

30. MCC NOVA (Fairfax, Virginia) - Open Pulpit

31. MCC Ocala (Florida) - Rev. Vicki Miller, Interim Pastor

32. MCC of Greater St. Louis (Missouri) - Rev. Dr. Carol Trissel, Pastor

33. MCC of New York (New York) - Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Pastor

34. MCC of Paducah (Kentucky) - Rev. Lillian Ferguson, Pastor

35. MCC of San Antonio (Texas) - Rev. Mick Hinson, Pastor

36. MCC of the Blue Ridge (Roanoke, Virginia) - Rev. Joe Cobb, Pastor

37. MCC of the Spirit (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) - Rev. Lori Rivera, Pastor

38. MCC of Topeka (Kansas) - Rev. Carol Trissell, Consulting Pastor

39. MCC of Winston-Salem (North Carolina) - Rev. Ron LaRocque, Pastor

40. MCC Rehoboth (Delaware) - Rev. K'Lynne McKinley, Pastor

41. MCC Richmond (Virginia) - Rev. Dr. Robin Gorsline, Pastor

42. MCC Sacred Journey (Hendersonville, North Carolina) - Rev. Jane Nelson, Pastor

43. MCC San Diego (California) - Rev. Dan Koeshall, Pastor

44. New Creation MCC (Columbus, Ohio) - Rev. Margaret Hawk, Pastor

45. New Spirit MCC (Cincinnati, Ohio) - Open Pulpit

46. Open Arms MCC (Rochester, New York) - Rev. Jim Mulcahy, Pastor

47. Open Circle at The Villages MCC (Florida) - Rev. Carol Rawlings-Chambers, Pastor

48. Open Door MCC (Boyds, Maryland) - Rev. Miller Hoffman, Pastor

49. Peninsula MCC (San Mateo, California) - Rev. Terri Echelbarger, Pastor

50. Resurrection Beach MCC (Costa Mesa, California) - Ty Bradley, Interim Pastoral Leader

51. Resurrection MCC (Houston, Texas) - Rev. Janice Ladd, Executive Pastor

52. River of Life MCC (Dorchester, England) - Rev Catherine Dearlove, Pastor

53. River of Life MCC (Kennewick, Washington) - Rev. Janet Pierce, Pastor

54. St. John the Apostle MCC (Fort Myers, Florida) - Rev. Steve Filizzi, Pastor

55. St. Jude's MCC (Wilmington, North Carolina) - Rev. John McLaughlin, Pastor

56. SunCoast Cathedral MCC (Venice, Florida) - Rev. Dr. Sherry Kennedy, Pastor

57. Sunshine Cathedral MCC (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) - Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Pastor

58. Trinity MCC (Arlington, Texas) - Curtis Smith, Pastoral Leader

59. Trinity MCC of Gainesville (Florida) - Rev. Dr. Jim Merritt, Pastor

60. Valley Ministries MCC (Stockton, California) - Rev. Terri Miller, Pastor

61. Wichita Falls MCC (Texas) - Rev. Mel Martinez, Pastor

The Global Justice Institute

A Joint Program of

Metropolitan Community Churches

and The Fellowship

_______________________________________

"BELIEVE... in Justice!

"The Spirit of God is upon me,

because God has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

God has sent me

to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty

those who are oppressed,

to proclaim

the year of our God's favor."

-- Luke 4:18-19

______________________________________

A Message from

The Rev. Pat Bumgardner

Executive Director

Dear MCC Friends:

Has your church made the decision to receive a special, designated Easter Offering for Global Justice this year?

(To see if your church has signed-up, look at the alphabetical list of churches in the left-hand column.)

Your congregation's participation in the 2012 Easter Offering for Global Justice Campaign will give the Global Justice Institute a healthy birth and a strong start!

The Global Justice Institute is a joint endeavor of Metropolitan Community Churches and The Fellowship -- and is an effective "umbrella organization" for our international social justice programs. I wholly agree with Bishop Yvette Flunder, who said, "I support the Easter Offering Campaign because justice work is Jesus' work!"

LGBT Christian Leadership Development Retreat

Did you know that by receiving a special Easter Offering for Global Justice, your congregation will be supporting our fledgling -- but vibrant! -- work in China?

Earlier this year, the Global Justice Institute sponsored the historic, first ever LGBT Christian Leadership Development Retreat in Xiamen, China.

Twenty people, representing the four major geographical areas of China, attended this retreat, which was led by The Rev. Boon Lin Ngeo. Participants were trained in the latest in theological thought about LGBT people, spiritual faith and social justice.

These 20 individuals are starting new online groups and non-governmental organizations to support our people across China. The Global Justice Institute's investment of $4500 USD has meant that change is in the making as these young activists carry our shared message that LGBT rights are human rights.

This is but one example -- and it's just the beginning. Young, spiritually motivated LGBT people around the globe are hungry for a Word of Life that will support their longings for freedom and equality. From Uganda, Rwanda, Pakistan, and Jamaica, to Russia, Romania, China, and Moldova, the Global Justice Institute operates as your heart and your hands on the ground bringing hope, solidarity, and support.

Here's how your church can sign-up... to participate in the 2012 Easter Offering for Global Justice and be listed as a 2012 Pacesetter Church.

Write to Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson at Easter@MCCchurch.net and let her know that your church will receive a special, designated 2012 Easter offering or receive funds in an alternative way.
When you write to Rev. Wilson, be sure to include the following information: church name, city, province or state, country, pastor's name, and the date your church will receive its Easter offering.

_____________________________________

If your church has not yet responded, won't

you make the decision today to join in this year's

MCC Easter Offering for Global Justice Campaign?

______________________________________

Together, we have a God-given opportunity to mid-wife this new Institute and to nurture its growth in these early stages of its life.

On behalf of faith-inspired justice,

Rev. Pat

The Rev. Pat Bumgardner

Executive Director

The Global Justice Institute

Easter@MCCchurch.net

P.S. If for any reason your church cannot participate on Easter Sunday, why not participate another way? Some churches are designating offerings from Good Friday services, Sunrise services or Easter concerts, or funds from yard sales, bake sales, and the sale of Easter lilies, and through the use of special collection jars. Why not participate through one of these creative, alternative ways?

P.P.S. Won't you write to Rev. Wilson today at Easter@MCCchurch.net and let her know your congregation will participate in this year's Easter Offerings for Global Justice? When you do so, we'll add your name and your church to our 2012 Pacesetters List, recognizing those who are "setting the pace" on behalf of MCC's global justice work.