MONDAY, August 24
8pm GMT/ 3pm EDT (UTC-4)
www.facebook.com/rainbowpraise1
Hosted by Rainbow Praise and Orgena Rose
Come, join us and be uplifted! Hear the sounds of MCC singers from around the world. Every concert has a different mix of people and music.
MCC Richmond’s Centering Community (Richmond, Virginia, USA)
Mondays @ 11pm GMT / 6pm EDT (UTC-4)
A time of shared meditation and mindfulness practice open to all. No previous experience necessary … come just as you are!
Zoom Meeting: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/7891407100?pwd=Z0p1NGIrNnNHOGtWL1I3V0xMZDBQdz09.
Meeting ID: 789 140 7100 Password: 953527
TUESDAY, August 25
“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
IT’S TEA TIME!
Tuesday, August 25⋅ 10pm GMT / 5pm EDT
Join the Community Development Team for Tea
https://zoom.us/j/2058704934 Meeting ID: 248 584 328
Or Call in: +1 (301)715-8592
Rev. Elder Ken Martin
Tuesday, August 25th – 5pm Pacific / 6pm Mountain / 7pm Central / 8pm Eastern / midnight UTC
Sanctuary’s Zoom Room:
www.SanctuaryOnline.live
WEDNESDAY, August 26
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/
Conducting Congregational Meetings during COVID-19
Wed. August 26th at 10pm GMT / 5pm EDT / UTC-4
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 an opportunity to ask your questions and consider examples of meetings that have been held. Here are two resources for you.
Spiritual Transformation – Wednesdays, August 12 – Sept. 9 at 7pm EDT (GMT-4)
THURSDAY, August 27
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)
https://zoom.us/j/827025531#success
FRIDAY, August 28
FRIDAY NOON YOUR TIME – PRAY for Pastors, Pastoral Leaders, Boards, Lay Leaders and all MCC Chaplains.
SATURDAY, August 29
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
MCC Celebrates the Life of Rev. F. Jay Deacon
6pm GMT/ 1pm EDT (UTC-4)
Meeting ID: 975 4459 8542
MCC remembers this early leader, pastor, mentor, theologian who later became an LGBTQ leader in the Unitarian Universalist Association. Jay Deacon was the editor of the controversial Gay Christian Magazine. This service is organized by Rev. Dr. Jim Mitulski, Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson and Rev. Steve Pieters and will focus on Jay’s early years with MCC.
Looking Ahead
International Overdose Awareness Day – Monday 31 August
How might your church observe this? How might you create more awareness? Check online for regional events.
MCC History and Polity: Thursdays, September 10 – October 29
Learn more about the history and operation of Metropolitan Community Churches! Though a required course for LEAD and those in formation to be MCC Clergy, this class is a great course for anyone interested in learning more about the vast, important history of MCC and for anyone looking to know more about local and denominational level governance. Please follow this link for more information https://mcchistoryandpolity.eventbrite.com. If you have additional questions, please contact Rev. Cathy Alexander at [email protected].
Q2021 – Jan 7-10,2021
The Q Christian Fellowship Conference is an annual gathering where hundreds of LGBTQ+ Christians and Allies: gather for worship, fellowship, workshops, and keynote speakers; make lifelong friendships or reunite with those friends; experience healing, transformation, and hope; witness the thrill of God’s love and affirmation through each other.
Anyone of any age is invited to participate!
Key note speakers include: Dr. Emilie M. Townes, Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, and Fr. Richard Rohr.
For more information, contact https://www.qcfconf.org/
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
Yale Divinity School
Video and Small Group Bible Study Resources
https://yalebiblestudy.org/leading-a-yale-bible-study/
Free video resources and study outlines. Register to participate in online discussions.
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
COLLECTING ORIGINAL WORSHIP PIECES BY MCCers
We are looking for prayers, calls to worship, communion liturgies, litanies, etc. that are related to the theme of sharing Christmas Hope in a COVID World. Send your resources and ideas with permission to share them with MCC 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