MCC's Rev. Nancy Wilson writes from Brazil...

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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.   Harvest MCC (Denton, Texas) - Rev. Jeannie George, Pastor   8.   Heartland Community MCC (Springfield, Illinois) - Rev. Dr. Tony Thieman-Somora, Pastor    9.   Holy Covenant MCC (Brookfield, Illinois) - Rev. Dr. Danny Spears, Pastor    10. Holy Cross MCC (Pensacola, Florida) - Open Pulpit    11. Imago Dei MCC (Pennsylvania) - Rev. Janice Bowker, Interim Pastor    12. Joy MCC (Orlando, Florida) - Rev. Lisa Heilig, Interim Pastor    13. King of Peace MCC (St. Petersburg, Florida) - Rev. Dr. Candace Shultis, Pastor   14. LAI Sanctuary of Praise (New York, New York) - Elder Stacey Latimer, Pastor    15. Living Springs MCC (Bath, England) - Rev. Kieren Bourne, Pastor   16. MCC Albuquerque (New Mexico) - Rev. Judith Maynard, Pastor     17. MCC Baltimore (Maryland) - Rev. Y. M. Dozier, Interim Pastor   18. MCC Baton Rouge (Louisiana) - Rev. Keith Mozingo, Pastor    19. MCC Boston (Massachusetts) - Open Pulpit    20. MCC Brighton (England) - Rev. Catherine Dearlove, Interim Pastor    21. MCC Charlotte (North Carolina) - Rev. Catherine Houchins, Pastor   22. MCC Christ the Liberator (Highland Park, New Jersey) - Rev. Dr. Tom Bohache, Pastor   23. MCC Corpus Christi (Texas) - Open Pulpit   24. MCC Elizabethtown (Kentucky) - Rev. Cathy Porter, Pastor   25. MCC Governing Board, Senior Leadership Team and Staff   26. MCC Hartford (Connecticut) - Rev. Aaron Miller, Interim Pastor   27. MCC Key West (Florida) - Rev. Steve Torrence, Pastor   28. MCC Knoxville (Tennessee) - Rev. Jill Sizemore, Pastor   29. MCC London (Ontario, Canada) - Rev. Paul Whiting, Pastor   30. MCC Los Angeles (California) - Rev. Dr. Neil Thomas, Pastor   31. MCC Lubbock (Texas) - Rev. Renae Phillips, Pastor   32. MCC New England Campus Ministries (Boston, Massachusetts) - Rev. Dr. Joan Saniuk and Sharilyn Steketee, Co-leaders   33. MCC New Orleans (Louisiana) - Rev. Rick Sosbe, Pastor    34. MCC Newcastle (Newcastle Upon Tyne, England) - Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston, Pastor   35. MCC NOVA (Fairfax, Virginia) - Open Pulpit   36. MCC Ocala (Florida) - Rev. Vicki Miller, Interim Pastor   37. MCC of Greater St. Louis (Missouri) - Rev. Dr. Carol Trissel, Pastor   38. MCC of New York (New York) - Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Pastor   39. MCC of Paducah (Kentucky) - Rev. Lillian Ferguson, Pastor   40. MCC of San Antonio (Texas) - Rev. Mick Hinson, Pastor   41. MCC of the Blue Ridge (Roanoke, Virginia) - Rev. Joe Cobb, Pastor   42. MCC of the Spirit (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) - Rev. Lori Rivera, Pastor   43. MCC of Topeka (Kansas) - Rev. Carol Trissell, Consulting Pastor   44. MCC of Winston-Salem (North Carolina) - Rev. Ron LaRocque, Pastor   45. MCC Rehoboth (Delaware) - Rev. K'Lynne McKinley, Pastor   46. MCC Richmond (Virginia) - Rev. Dr. Robin Gorsline, Pastor   47. MCC Sacred Journey (Hendersonville, North Carolina) - Rev. Jane Nelson, Pastor   48. MCC San Diego (California) - Rev. Dan Koeshall, Pastor   49. New Creation MCC (Columbus, Ohio) - Rev. Margaret Hawk, Pastor   50. New Spirit MCC (Cincinnati, Ohio) - Open Pulpit   51. Open Arms MCC (Rochester, New York) - Rev. Jim Mulcahy, Pastor   52. Open Circle at The Villages MCC (Florida) - Rev. Carol Rawlings-Chambers, Pastor   53. Open Door MCC (Boyds, Maryland) - Rev. Miller Hoffman, Pastor   54. Peninsula MCC (San Mateo, California) - Rev. Terri Echelbarger, Pastor   55. Resurrection Beach MCC (Costa Mesa, California) - Ty Bradley, Interim Pastoral Leader   56. Resurrection MCC (Houston, Texas) - Rev. Janice Ladd, Executive Pastor   57. River of Life MCC (Dorchester, England) - Rev Catherine Dearlove, Pastor   58. River of Life MCC (Kennewick, Washington) - Rev. Janet Pierce, Pastor   59. St. John the Apostle MCC (Fort Myers, Florida) - Rev. Steve Filizzi, Pastor   60. St. Jude's MCC (Wilmington, North Carolina) - Rev. John McLaughlin, Pastor   61. SunCoast Cathedral MCC (Venice, Florida) - Rev. Dr. Sherry Kennedy, Pastor   62. Sunshine Cathedral MCC (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) - Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Pastor   63. Trinity MCC (Arlington, Texas) - Curtis Smith, Pastoral Leader   64. Trinity MCC of Gainesville (Florida) - Rev. Dr. Jim Merritt, Pastor   65. Valley Ministries MCC (Stockton, California) - Rev. Terri Miller, Pastor   67. Wichita Falls MCC (Texas) - Rev. Mel Martinez, Pastor     An Easter Invitation from The Rev. Dr. Nancy L. Wilson Office of the MCC Moderator Easter@MCCchurch.net     Holy Week, Thursday morning    As You Prepare To Celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ...    ...I am writing these words to you from Brazil, where I am spending Holy Week.   And I must tell you, the faith of our Brazilian brothers and sisters is joyous and contagious! As so often happens in MCC, I came to Brazil to minister -- but they have ministered to me and encouraged me.   In my own spiritual life, I am experiencing this same joy and excitement over this year's Easter Offering for Global Justice Campaign -- in fact, I don't know when I have felt so deeply and passionately about a denomination-wide Easter campaign as I have this year!   Out of my personal meditation and prayers during this Holy Week, I am writing to ask for your encouragement and help today -- in a very specific and urgent matter.   Let me explain...   This Easter, we have a God-given opportunity  -- together! -- to give birth to the Global Justice Institute, a joint project of Metropolitan Community Churches and The Fellowship of Affirming Churches.   ___________________   Following the Risen Christ is at the very heart of our justice ministries! ___________________________________     That's why Easter -- the season of new life -- is the right time for us to birth the Global Justice Institute.   But birth always presents special challenges! Just as there are unique and necessary expenses at the birth of a newborn baby, the very same is true at the birth of a new organization.   Our goal is to raise $40,000 USD through the Easter Offering for Global Justice Campaign -- that's 30% higher than any previous Easter goal.   I know in my heart there's only one way we can reach this significant goal -- it's with your help!   Now you may be tempted to think that the goal is too high -- that your gift won't make much of a difference. Here's the God-given secret to reaching our goal this Easter:   _____________________   None of us can do it all. But all of us can do something! _______________________     If you will do your part and give what you can, then God will do God's part! Just as Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes to feed the crowds, so God will multiply each of our gifts to perform an Easter miracle this year.   I truly believe that's the secret to reaching this year's $40,000 USD goal.   Here's what you can do:   After you've shared your tithes and offerings through your local congregation, I invite you to make a generous, over-and-above financial gift to this year's Easter Offering for Global Justice Campaign.   There are three ways you can make your personal gift. Won't you select one of these options and share your gift today?   GIVING OPTION #1: Locate an MCC Pacesetter church in the left column and make your contribution through a local participating church.   GIVING OPTION #2: To make an on-line donation: Click on one of the "Donate" buttons in this email, or visit the MCC Easter Offering web page and click on the "Donate" button.   GIVING OPTION #3: Mail your donation via check or money order, made out to "Metropolitan Community Churches," to P.O. Box 50488, Sarasota, Florida 34232, USA. In the notation section, add "Easter Offering."   Thank you for your generosity and for your support of MCC's global ministry.   In closing, let me share these words with you as we together look to the empty tomb and the Risen Christ:   As we give boldly and with generous hearts,     know that we are forever an Easter people --         the Risen Jesus is the center of our faith, the Resurrection is our hope,     love is our motivation,         peace is our hearts' desire,             justice is our passion,                 and Alleluia is our song!   Grace and peace,  +Nancy   Rev. Dr. Nancy L. Wilson Moderator Metropolitan Community Churches Easter@MCCchurch.net     P.S.  Won't you pray and seek God's guidance about your participation in this year's Easter campaign? Perhaps you'll feel led to donate $10, $25 or $50. Perhaps you've been blessed and are able to give even more -- $100, $500 or even $1000. If each of us will listen and respond to God's "still small voice," I know we'll -- together! -- reach this year's Easter goal.   P.P.S. To make your online donation right now, Click Here. No gift is too small for God to use.

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