Headline News – 14 November 2018
MCC Congregation Grateful
for Global Support after Hurricane
‘The love will live in our hearts,’ says St. Jude’s Pastor
Donations of food and money allow St. Jude’s MCC volunteers to restock their pantry. Most of their supplies were destroyed by Hurricane Florence. (photo by Rev. John McLaughlin)by Rev. John McLaughlin,
Pastor, St. Jude’s MCC
When Hurricane Florence hit the Southeast Coast of North Carolina, USA, lives were devastated and it took weeks for communities to recover. St. Jude’s MCC in Wilmington, North Carolina, was closed for over two weeks, but during that time they received support from MCCs and others from all over the world.
Thanks to donations and financial support, the first thing to reopen at St. Jude’s MCC was the community food pantry, which feeds over 5,000 people per year.
Food and supply donations were coordinated by Pastor Vance Haywood at St. John’s MCC in Raleigh, North Carolina, and delivery included an airlift to Wilmington in the week following the storm.
The community of St. Jude’s MCC wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the outpouring of love and support they have received since the storm.
“With your help, we were able to be here for our community and food pantry clients long before we would have been able to do so without you. The love that was shown to us will live forever in our hearts,” said Rev. John McLaughlin, Pastor of St. Jude’s MCC.
Brian McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good.
Brian has been active in networking and mentoring church planters and pastors since the mid 1980’s, and has assisted in the development of several new churches. He is a popular conference speaker and a frequent guest lecturer for denominational and ecumenical leadership gatherings – across the US and Canada, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
General Conference Plenary Speakers!
The lineup for speakers, teachers, and preachers is well underway for General Conference! Today, we announce our speakers on the Spiritual Retreat Day, Wednesday 3 July! In the next few weeks, look for more information on other speakers.
Tools for Building Resilience and Renewal
Led by a diverse team of people who have worked all over the world and sponsored by the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance group, this workshop will offer the opportunity for renewal and respite. It will be a time for building resilience, grounded in three essential elements of story telling, relationships, and using and building tools for self-care. The afternoon will begin with a ritual of writing down our most pressing concerns and allowing them to be placed in sacred care for the time of the program.
#GivingTuesday Resources Offer Creative Strategies
- Optimize Online Giving Forms
- Video Storytelling
- Email Strategy
- Raise More Online
- Stand Out on Social Media
- Keep Donors Engaged
- Tons of creative ideas
- Message frequency – how much is too much?
- Should we spend ad money?
Upcoming Events, Registrations, Recent Publications
- “Silent Night: Living the Song” uses lyrics as a guide through the season of Advent.
- “No More Silent Night” offers justice-focused options.
Jared VázquezVolunteers Needed to Develop Resources and Awareness
Thank you to the Pacesetters!
MCC BOSTON
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Paul Moyer, Clerk
CORNERSTONE MCC
Mobile, Alabama, USA
Rev. Sara Sills, Pastor
HOLY REDEEMER MCC
College Park, Maryland, USA
Rev. Gail Minnick, Interim Pastor
THE VILLAGE MCC
Brighton, UK
Rev. Michael Hydes, Senior Pastor
BEYOND THESE WALLS MCC
Punta Gorda, Florida USA
Susie Brenner, Pastor
MCC OF GREATER SAINT LOUIS
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Rev. Wes Mullins, Senior Pastor
MCC OF THE SPIRIT
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Rev. Dr. Lori E. Hatch-Rivera, Senior Pastor
MCC TOPEKA
Topeka, Kansas, USA
Rev. Paul Whiting, Pastor
IMAGO DEI MCC
Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, USA
Rev. Dexter Brecht, Pastor
SAINT JOHN THE APOSTLE MCC
Fort Myers, Florida, USA
Rev. Steve Filizzi, Pastor
MCC SACRED JOURNEY
Hendersonville, North Carolina, USA
Rev. Dr. Joan M. Saniuk
MCC PORTLAND
Portland, Oregon, USA
Rev. Nathan Meckley, Pastor
NORTHERN LIGHTS MCC
Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
REFLECTION MCC
Folsom, California, USA
Rev. Sharon Henry, Pastor
MCC Award Nominations
Out Now!
Florida Congregation Coordinates Support for Hurricane Victims
by Christy Temples, Pastoral Leader, Thrive MCC
Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category 4 storm near Mexico Beach, Florida, USA, in early October.
In addition to Mexico Beach, other Florida cities suffered extensive damage including Panama City, Altha, Blountstown, Port St. Joe, and Marianna. Donalsonville, Georgia, was in the hurricane’s path, as well. For some of us, the victims in those cities are our family members.
Although a month has passed since that storm, and some have already sent donations to help the victims, these communities will take a long time to rebuild. This isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon to recover from so much destruction.
If you wish to help in Hurricane Michael relief efforts, there are several large organizations accepting donations. However, some individuals have expressed concern about some organizations’ policies regarding the LGBTQ community. If you do not wish to donate to those large organizations, for whatever reasons, you may donate to Thrive MCC, and we will purchase needed supplies and deliver to the devastated communities where we have contacts.
You can make your donation online at www.thrivemcc.com or make checks payable to Thrive MCC and put Hurricane Michael in the memo line. Thrive MCC, PO Box 721, Tallahassee, Florida, 32302.
OFLD Seeks Program Manager to Support MCC Lilly Foundation Grant Work
by Rev. Dr. Mona West, Director, Office of Formation and Leadership Development
OFLD is looking for someone to become the Program Manager for MCC’s Thriving in Ministry Initiative. This project is being funded by the grant recently awarded to the OFLD by the Lilly Foundation. This position is a contract position and can be performed primarily from your own location. The core job responsibilities include providing administrative support through the creation and evaluations of surveys, booking travel and meetings, assisting in report writing, and contracting with retreat centers; following up, tracking and supporting participants in the initiative; facilitating virtual groups; and assisting in identifying mentors for pastors in vocational transition.
Application details can be found at this link: https://www.mccchurch.org/a-contract-position-through-the-office-of-formation-and-leadership-development-program-manager-for-the-thriving-in-ministry-initiative/
Deadline: 16 November 2018
Employment Opportunities
The links below list churches seeking a transitional pastor or settled pastor, in addition to national secular jobs.
Settled Pastor and Secular Employment
http://mccchurch.org/connectnow/jobs/