CONNECT – What’s Happening Around MCC? – Metropolitan Community Churches

MONDAY, August 17

No events were shared for today.
Wherever you are in the world, if you have virtual events that people beyond your local church could attend, please let us know so we can share the opportunity! [email protected]

TUESDAY, August 18

“Give me that olde time religion” 7pm EDT / UTC 11pm (UTC-4)

A weekly Bible Study by MCC Toronto, Ontario, Canada. To join the ZOOM meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84458664477?pwd=MlU1OVdBZmVsS3lTMi8vTGhiRDNMdz09
Meeting ID: 844 5866 4477 Password: 939641

On-the-Road – Camping with Sanctuary

Tuesday, August 18-20th – 5pm Pacific / 6pm Mountain / 7pm Central / 8pm Eastern / midnight UTC

Sanctuary’s Zoom Room:
www.SanctuaryOnline.live

During the week originally scheduled for camping, we’re inviting YOU to gather with us, on Zoom, and “Camp” for three evenings, August 18,19 & 20. Share camping pictures, food, stories, and songs! Whether you come for one night or all three, whether you are a regular camper or have never been before, we’d love it if you’d join us for what we believe will be a much needed “summer vacation” with laughter, food, photo and recipe contests, (with great prizes for each category winner, of course!) and fun, fun, fun!
For more details [email protected]

WEDNESDAY, August 19

CLERGY WELL-BEING: ONLINE RETREAT
Wednesday, August 19th 10am-4pm EDT (UTC-4)/ 2pm-8pm GMT

$50 (US$) for just the online retreat during this pandemic time (a $100 US value). SPECIAL OFFER: Online Retreat PLUS 1 hour of coaching for $150.

Are you feeling the need for more balance, renewal, and resilience in your religious leadership and your life? Do you want to approach this coming congregational year in some qualitatively different ways? Is this the time for you to develop some perspectives and practices that will sustain you rather than drain you?

For more information and to register go to https://online-wellbeing-retreat-aug2020.eventbrite.com

MCC Toronto (Ontario, Canada)

invites you to a 15 minute time of reflection on Facebook Live each Wednesday at noon Eastern, UTC 4pm (UTC-04).

Rev. Jeff Rock and Rev. Deana Dudley share inspiring reflections, scriptures and prayers to support us through these difficult times.

MCC Toronto Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MCCToronto/

Spiritual Transformation – Wednesdays at 7pm EDT (GMT-4)

Via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/812716810#success

by Joy MCC, Orlando, Florida, USA

Pastor Kyle Idleman reminds us that God’s grace is greater. Even when it doesn’t make sense. Even when it doesn’t feel fair. God’s grace covers everything we’ve done. And the best way is to understand it, is to experience it. God’s grace will remind you that no sin is so great, no bitterness so deep that God’s grace cannot transform your heart and rewrite your story.

THURSDAY, August 20

Prayer with Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston

Join Moderator, Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston for prayer every Thursday at 9pm GMT, 5pm EDT

Bring your joys, concerns, laments, and celebrations to Rev. Cecilia and one another. Meet us on Cecilia’s Facebook page every Thursday at 9PM GMT (5PM EDT/ BST 10PM) @Cecilia.Eggleston.50

BILINGUAL PRAISE SERVICE
7:00pm EDT (GMT-4)

Join Rev. Stanley from Joy MCC, Orlando, Florida, USA for Alabanza via Zoom
https://zoom.us/j/827025531#success

FRIDAY, August 21

FRIDAY NOON YOUR TIME – PRAY for Pastors, Pastoral Leaders, Boards, Lay Leaders and all MCC Chaplains.

SATURDAY, August 22

Spiritual Nourishment

9pm GMT/ 5pm EDT (UTC-4)

This is the 8th Facebook Live broadcast of Spiritual Nourishment. Elder Nancy Maxwell will explore the spiritual practice of Hospitality, as well as take prayer requests to the Council of Elders. Offering hospitality was one of the core values of the Jewish faith. In a time of physical distancing, how has the spiritual practice of hospitality changed and how has it remained the same? For those who feel comfortable, you can share your thoughts about, and experiences with, the spiritual practice of hospitality in the comment section during the broadcast. We will end our time together with prayer requests. Join in on the MCC Council of Elders Facebook group.

Looking Ahead

Ken Martin – August 25, 2020 on Sanctuary Online

Ken will be interviewed about his book Together: Ten Building Blocks for a Successful Relationship.

Conducting Congregational Meetings during COVID-19
Wed. August 26th

ZOOM Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/92215813904

This MCC Webinar will share guidance on options, planning and conducting Congregational Meetings during this time of COVID-19 when most of our churches are not meeting in-person. There will be opportunity to ask your questions and consider examples of meetings that have been held.

PASSAGES – Starting August 29, 2020
A Group for Building Community and Exploring Personal Gifts
4pm GMT / 12 EDT

The Passages group will be held every Saturday from 10-12 (Mountain Time Zone) online through Google Meet. The group runs for ten weeks and meets once a week to explore spiritual gifts, building community and growing our personal strengths. All faiths and spiritualities, genders and orientations, cultures and personal experiences welcome.

If you know someone who is dealing with loss or separation, death of a loved one, divorce or medical diagnosis – Passages is a group that will uplift and encourage through exploring ourselves and our bonds with our fellow travelers.

*This group is free, but it is a closed group, meaning you need to contact the facilitator to register for the group before you begin attending.
*It is useful to have a Gmail account to do Google Meet – a super simple online video conferencing platform, however it is not required.

To register email [email protected]
Mac Morrison, M.A. Interfaith Theology, current CMHC Candidate NMHU

NOTEWORTHY

BEWARE OF EMAIL SCAMS

Recently a number of MCC staff members and US MCC Clergy have been falsely represented. Email addresses are used that are very similar but are NOT the actual church, Pastor or staff email addresses. The false email address may even show up in your inbox with the name of the Pastor, staff member or church office. They tend to ask you to do a favor and to be discreet in purchasing gift cards for them. They ask you not to phone rather just reply by email because the Pastor/staff member is in an important meeting.
Please do NOT reply to these! Delete and label it as Spam. If you have any questions, take a close look at the email address and make sure it matches the official published email address. Inform your Pastor or Board.

Community Development Team Invitation

Members of The Community Development Team under the leadership of Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez are here to support pastoral and lay leaders, local churches, and boards. Do you or your church have questions to ask? Ideas to share? Want to brainstorm with someone about a new ministry opportunity? Feel fatigued because of the impacts of COVID-19 and desire prayer? Looking for guidance on when to gather again for in-person worship? Want to expand your virtual programming? Planning for your next Annual Meeting?

Rev. Wanda Floyd, Rev. Cathy Alexander, Rev. Lauren Bennett, Rebecca Wilson, and Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez want to connect with you. Our emails are below.

We also continue to extend an invitation to our bi-monthly Tea Times. On the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, Tea Time is an opportunity to gather (on Zoom) with individuals from around the world for conversation and inspiration. Want to know more please contact Rev. Lauren Bennett who coordinates this event.

Rev. Wanda Floyd, Emerging Church and MCC Communities Co-ordinator
[email protected]

Rev. Cathy Alexander, Vocational Leadership Co-ordinator
[email protected]

Rebecca Wilson, Church Support and Development Co-ordinator
[email protected]

Rev. Lauren Bennett, Conference and Meeting Coordinator
[email protected]

Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez, Team Lead for Community Development/Network Co-ordinator
[email protected]

JOB POSTING
Metropolitan Community Church of Baton Rouge

moving into their 37th year of ministry, is currently accepting applications for a pastor. This congregation of 50+ located in the center of Baton Rouge, is seeking a pastor to lead them through the next chapter of ministry. Follow the link to learn more about the church and application process. For more information click here

RESOURCES

Music Resource

https://queersacredmusic.com/all-recordings

This site has original music by Amanda Udis-Kessler. Much of it includes scores and recordings available for download for free and with permission for use in worship. There are also a few worship resources such as a Call to Worship during COVID: We Wear Masks.

8 Ideas for Battling Screen Fatigue and Declining Online Attendance

from Church Marketing University – https://churchmarketinguniversity.com/solve-digital-attendance-dip/

Boston University, School of Theology – Online Learning and Spirituality Groups

These online mini-courses and spiritual reflection groups will help you, the working faith professional, create concrete, effective tools and/or ground your spiritual capacity to anchor you through the winds of change.
http://www.bu.edu/sth/academics/lifelong-learning/?fbclid=IwAR1p3XPg86BOu1Js9S1LPIPsYg88XHeNrOha3bdQxhJmzT0pj6N4aC9u0VE

Your Input Sought

DO YOU HAVE RESOURCES TO SHARE OR RECOMMEND?

Send information and links to [email protected]

GOT GOOD NEWS TO SHARE?

Send the information to [email protected]

DO YOU HAVE AN ONLINE EVENT THAT IS OPEN TO OTHERS?

Please give us at least 2 weeks advance notice of events and include all details on how to register and/or login. Send your event notices to [email protected]

OUR MAILING ADDRESS

Please share with your Treasurer and Clerk of the Board
2775 NW 49th Ave. Ste: 205-327
Ocala, FL 34482
USA