MCC of
E – Newsletter
February 24th – March 3rd 2010
The newsletter is a little long today, but be sure to at least scan all the way to the bottom as there are some exciting things in here.
Thank You: During worship on Sunday, February 21, we took up a second offering so that worldwide representatives can attend the General Conference of the Metropolitan Community Church. Many of these leaders are doing some of the most difficult, even dangerous work, in some of the most isolated conditions. The additional training and support that they will receive by attending Conference will make a huge difference in our worldwide MCC ministry effectiveness. Thank you for your generosity of $63.70.
This Week
Survey! MCC of CC is conducting a survey to help us grow. This survey will help us discover the characteristics that are our strengths. This is based on the book "Twelve Keys to an Effective Church" by Kennon L. Callahan. Please take the survey and help us grow. Click on the following link to reach the survey: http://www.kwiksurveys.com/online-survey.php?surveyID=COIKI_79c0445a (If this link does not work, cut and paste into your browser. It starts with http and ends with 445a)
Creating a Life that Matters – Don't forget! If you have enrolled in this class, it will continue on Saturday, February 27th at 1:00 PM. Don't forget your homework!
Game Night—This Saturday, February 27 at 6:00 p.m. is Game Night. Please bring a game and a friend.
12 Keys to an
Coming Soon
Board of Directors meeting—On Sunday, March 14th at 1:00 p.m. will be our next Board of Directors meeting. Everyone is welcome to come and observe.
Hidden Door Dinner—from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 14th, there will be a yummy dinner held at the Hidden Door. Dinner costs $5.00. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the food pantry and the children's ministry.
Awards Nomination Forms— forms to nominate people for an award to be presented at the Annual Awards Banquet (May 1st) are available on the table in the sanctuary. Please fill them out and turn them in to Lisa or Sharon. If you can't find Lisa or Sharon, put them in the Suggestions Box. Thank you!!
This Month
DVD Month—February is DVD month. Bring in those DVD's that are collecting dust in your house and we will sell them and use the money for the Saturday night outreach activities.
Toiletry items: Please bring small tubes of toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc. to church. We are collecting these items to give to the Food Pantry patrons who need them. Thank you!!! As always, grocery bags are greatly appreciated!!
Ongoing
Transgender Support Group—A monthly transgender support group meets here. Each third Saturday of the month, our Transgender brothers and sisters are invited to come and learn more about who we are as people of faith. This is a closed meeting and all participation is confidential. To learn more about the group please speak with Lisa B. Lancaster. She will be glad to assist you.
The Christ-Centered Prayer group: A prayer group focusing on quiet listening is held on Fridays at 9 am. Yes, in the morning!!! Come and increase your peace.
Bible study is at 6:30 every Wednesday night.
Sound System: Would you like to assist with the sound system or the PowerPoint presentation (Especially when Tom and Andy are out of town)? Please see Pastor Carol, Tom, or Andy to sign up. Tom, Andy or Howie will train you before you're expected to fly solo.
T shirts: We are selling T-shirts for $10 each. The sizes run from Small-3x to raise money for the Conference fund. See Andy or Pat. They make a great gift. We have 2 styles available, ask to see them!
Facebook group page: Our church now has a "Facebook" group page. A good place to post church photos, prayer request, events, etc... The possibilities are boundless. Login to Facebook and search for MCC of Corpus Christi
MySpace page: MCC of CC has a MySpace page! Find us at http://www.myspace.com/mccofcorpus
MCC of CC Blog! This newsletter is posted in a blog each week. Go to <a href=http://mccofcc.blogspot.com/> http://mccofcc.blogspot.com/ </a>
FINANCES
Finances—We are extremely grateful for every contribution that we receive. We have paid every bill on time over the past two years. January, 2010, was a particularly lean month. We need to receive $3,260.00 this Sunday, February 28, in order to pay all of our bills on time. You have all been so generous in the past. Every contribution is a great help to us at this time. May God guide each one of us as we give together to God's work here in Corpus Christi.
As it says in Mark 12:42-44 - A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."
Thank you for all you are doing to help us out!!!
Donate online! If you have a PayPal account, simply send money to treasurer@mcccorpuschristi.org. If you do not have a PayPal account, you can use your credit card at <a href=https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Y8BQY6ARBK9C4> https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Y8BQY6ARBK9C4</a>
Support MCC of CC with your everyday purchases! Turn your everyday spending into meaningful donations. With our custom credit card, cash donations for every purchase you make—plus a $50 first purchase bonus—will be donated to MCC of CC. Go to https://www.cardlabconnect.com/mccofcc to apply or learn more!
Good Search--Did you know? Each time someone does a search using Good Search, a charity gets 1 cent. If you put MCC of Corpus Christi in the "Who do you GoodSearch for?" box, MCC of Corpus Christi gets that penny. You can set Good search as your homepage and/or default search engine. You can also download and install a Good Search toolbar to ensure MCC of Corpus Christi gets donations when you buy online! Visit http://www.goodsearch.com/nonprofit/metropolitan-community-church-mcc-of-corpus-christi.aspx for more details!
Need some suggestions to search? Since this is Lent, try these: Lent, Temptation, Fasting, Prepare, Sunday, Prayer, and Locher Food Pantry. You never have to buy anything for MCC of Corpus Christi to get the credit. Happy searching!
Goodshop.com: Goodshop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 37 % of each purchase to your favorite cause! More than 1000 great Stores including Old Navy, Dell, Expedia, Best Buy, eBay, Macy's, and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with Good Shop and every time you place an order, you'll be supporting your favorite cause. Be sure to put MCC of Corpus Christi in the "Who do you support?" box. And if you download the toolbar from http://www.goodsearch.com/nonprofit/metropolitan-community-church-mcc-of-corpus-christi.aspx you will ensure MCC of CC gets credit from every store available when you shop online!
Fellowship News
I received permission from Rev. Tania Guzman to share this email update she sent following last week's relief trip to Haiti. Tania was also in the Dominican Republic to celebrate an anniversary for our church plant there (ICM Santo Domingo).
Best blessings,
Kareem Murphy
MCC Washington (DC)
Region 3
From: tguzman18@verizon.net <tguzman18@verizon.net>
To: Rev Nancy Wilson
Sent: Thu Feb 11 23:43:33 2010
Subject: Haiti trip
Hello my Pope,
Just came out of a very long shower after our trip to Haiti. We left Santo Domingo on our way to Haiti at 4am yesterday. There were a total of five of us from the church plus the drivers for a total of eight. From the church there were myself, Wilkin and three Haitian church members (Webster, Gregory and Jonel) who know Haiti real well and whos families live in the areas affected by the earthquake. We had a very organized and effective system. We had the church members contact their families and select one person for us to deliver the food to. We also took these persons cell phone numbers with us to be in contact with them as we were approaching their area (we bought Haitian calling cards at the border). When we got to each point of delivery the contact person was already there waiting for us. We only had seconds to get all the food out of the bus and leave before a crowd would gather. Each person receiving the delivery was so grateful and happy and blessing us. It was difficult to get pictures of them because we had to do it so fast. It was bitter sweet for the Haitians going we us because they could only see their loved ones for the few seconds we were unloading things for them. Their parents wanted to hold on to them but only had seconds and then had to let go. We made deliveries to 22 families from our Haitians church members and had more food left which we just handed out to people on the street very quickly and keep driving before a crowd would gather.
When we got there, Webster, Gregory, and Jonel contacted some friends who met us and jumped on the bus and helped us make the deliveries. As it turned out, 2 of these friends are members of POZ, the GLBT organization that was meeting during the earthquake and some died. They were so grateful and touched by the church efforts to help. I will give you more detail information later as to what will happen to the organization and how he can help them.
I have been following up on the situation in Haiti, through CNN, since the disaster happed, but it was hard to actually be there and see it right in front of me. There were tents everywhere; in every public area, even on the median on very busy streets. Most of them are not even real tents but bed sheets and fabric. The place is still in chaos. There were thousands of people on the streets. They would run to any direction that had any sign of people giving out food. There is still an overpowering smell of decaying flesh, flies hovering all around the rubbles. I even saw parts of someone's remains just lying on the rubbles. The whole thing was overwhelming. This was a life changing experience.
We still have money left from what was wired to us because of our good bargaining with vendors. We need to continue to help them. We need to make another trip. They need tents or tarps so they can make their tents, but we cannot find them in the DR. I think I need to get them in the US.
I am going to try to go to sleep now. I will send you the pictures tomorrow. Good night, I love you.
Tania
You have received this newsletter because you (or someone using your email address) requested it. If you no longer wish to receive these newsletters, send an email with the subject of "unsubscribe" to Newsletter@mcccorpuschrsiti.org
Thank you
