MONDAY, May 4
WATCH A SHORT VIDEO OR TWO
Choirs, Congregational Singing and COVID-19
Take 15 minutes to watch this video interview with Dr. Tim Seelig, Artistic Director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. It will address some questions about congregational singing, choirs and returning to in-person worship gatherings. It will give you things to think about.
Church in These VUCA Times
This is a short video (4 minutes) from our Unitarian Universalist friends about doing Church in these Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous Times. It provides an excellent framework that may be helpful to your planning. In fact, you might want to watch it more than once!
TUESDAY, May 5
Cinco de Mayo
“This Cinco de Mayo, the famous words of Juárez ring true as never before: Entre los invididuos, como entre las naciones, el respecto al derecho ajeno es la paz, which means between individuals, as between nations, respect for the rights of others means peace.”
John Morán González
Cinco de Mayo is a national holiday in Mexico. It is observed by Mexicans, Mexican-Americans and people of Mexican heritage. It celebrates the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Celebrations include parades, food, and folkloric dancing. To our churches in Mexico and to all those of Mexican heritage, Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
Making Sure Your Virtual Church Meeting is Legally Valid
Church Law and Tax Webinar (USA) – May 5 – 12 noon EDT / UTC-04
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, and the corresponding “stay-at-home” directives issued by most states, has put churches of all sizes and settings in a difficult position when it comes to worship services—as well as the convening of board and membership meetings.
In this free, one-hour webinar with attorney and business meeting expert Sarah E. Merkle, pastors, board chairs, and board members will get expert, step-by-step guidance regarding how to conduct virtual church business meetings that are legally valid, protecting and preserving any votes or decisions ultimately made.
STILL TUESDAYS
9pm GMT / 5pm EDT
Join the Community Development Team for virtual tea, coffee, and conversation for another month! We will have some special guests join us this month too, so look out for more information.
Weekly, this will be a time of building hope, cultivating joy, connecting with one another, and with God. Led by Rev. Elder Hector Gutierrez and Revs. Cathy Alexander, Lauren Bennett & Wanda Floyd, and, our newest team member, Rebecca Wilson!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/248584328
Meeting ID: 248 584 328
Dr. Marcia McFee – May 5th
8pm EDT / UTC-04
Dr. Marcia McFee will be Sanctuary Online’s first guest – and will speak directly to you about how to “re-kindle” your emotional and spiritual energy and inspiration as you preach to an empty sanctuary or into a lifeless camera lens!
Planning week-to-week worship was exhausting before Covid-19 put restrictions on us, now, it takes even more of your personal energy and creativity to convey an inspirational message and worship experience through the blessing, and the frustration, of technology!
Marcia is the creator and visionary of Worship Design Studios, and has a has a wealth of experience creating meaningful and sensory rich worship services. Join us Tuesday evening as she offers great ideas not only on some functional ways to inject “even more” into your online worship… but also how to fill your own emotional, creative, and inspirational cup … before you walk into one more quiet sanctuary or look into one more camera lens.
Sanctuary Online is the new outreach of Sanctuary in the Woods, an MCC Oasis ministry.
WEDNESDAY, May 6
WHO: Anyone who provides care and support, particularly providing care for those feeling the effects of compounded grief, loss, fear.
WHAT: A panel of people will urge attendees to consider the care they are currently giving and receiving even as we look ahead in this ever changing pandemic environment. We will consider the impact of compound grief as well as the anxiety and stress of the unknown before us. Practical approaches to ongoing virtual care and connection will also be shared.
The panel will include Dr. Carla Sherrell, Chaplain Rev. Maxwell Reay, Rev. Elder Diane Fisher and possibly more.
5pm EDT / UTC-04 http://mccchurch.abobeconnect.com/mccwebinar
THURSDAY, May 7
The Council of Elders meets today. Please pray for our Elders and their work worldwide for MCC.
Pray 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 every Thursday at 9PM GMT (5PM EDT/ BST 10PM) @Cecilia.Eggleston.50
FRIDAY, May 8
NOON Your Time – PRAY for Pastors, Pastoral Leaders, Boards, Lay Leaders and all MCC Chaplains.
Let us take time to pray for all those in spiritual leadership during these challenging times. Pray for those doing their best to offer virtual worship and various modes of congregational connection. Pray for those offering pastoral and congregational care to those in need. Pray for those offering spiritual support to healthcare workers, patients, and families. Pray for the safety of all those offering food ministries. Pray for the Boards who are dealing with church finances, church property and administrative implications of COVID-19.
SATURDAY, May 9
Spiritual Nourishment with Elder Nancy Maxwell
Please join the Council of Elders for the 2nd Facebook Live broadcast of “Spiritual Nourishment”. Elder Nancy Maxwell will explore the spiritual practice of Lectio Divina, as well as take prayer requests to the Council. Lectio Divina is the practice of taking a Bible passage and 1) reading it, 2) meditating on it, 3) praying/speaking about it and finally 4) contemplating the passage. We will be using the passage from the Psalms assigned for Saturday, May 9: Psalm 31:1-5.
4pm Central / UTC-05 on “MCC Council of Elders” Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/110506976310805/
RESOURCES
HAVE RESOURCES TO SHARE OR RECOMMEND? Send information and links to Commu[email protected]
Links to Articles, Webinars and Resources
- Check out the VLOG of Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes. Brent is the Founder and Executive Director of Rainbow Faith and Freedom. He is also the Pastor Emeritus of MCC Toronto https://www.facebook.com/revbrenthawkes
- Online Elevation Retreat Moment with Dr. Marcia McFee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdwy_YhJ0xA&feature=push-sd&attr_tag=NoFRRVaVrp88QtDJ%3A6
These links connect you to resources or webinars by ministry related companies. The listing here does not imply an endorsement nor does it imply that they are LGBTQ+ friendly. Nonetheless, these are resources some MCC’s have found helpful.
- Here are 2 documents from the World Health Organization related to “Return to Church?”
Practical Considerations and Recommendations for Religious Leaders
Decision Tree for Religious Leaders - Returning to Church Wisconsin Council of Churches
- Using a Small Ensemble for Your Online Worship May Not Be Safe – from Patheos
- How to Talk About COVID-19: Narratives to Support Good Decision-Making and Collective Action from TheWorkshop.org.nz
- 11 Self-Care Steps for Leaders Who Are Barely Holding On from Christianity Today
- 5 Ways the Pandemic is Saving the Church by James Emery White in the blogpost Church & Culture
- COVID-19 Response Toolkit – connected to Church Mutual Insurance
- Worship Lyric Videos with copyright permission for Streaming. No additional license needed. – Many of these do not fit our Inclusive Language guidelines.
REPLAYS OF WEBINARS
- RETURN TO CHURCH? In case you missed our webinar with 3 doctors discussing the concerns about gathering for in-person worship, here is the replay: https://youtu.be/1Jr0FmKBv2M
- FINANCIAL SUPPORT WEBINAR Did you miss this awesome webinar with guest Tom Melzoni from Horizon Stewardship? Here’s the link to the replay. Share it with your Treasurer and the rest of the Board.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gX3QolcY_xo
Watch on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/404785099 - THE CHURCH’S RESPONSE TO CRISIS, Parts 1, 2, 3, & 4
https://www.stjohnsmcc.org/response-to-crisis.html - VIRTUAL CHURCH – TOOLS AND TIPS WEBINAR
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-25Be5QcCA&t=160s
HAVE YOU UPDATED OUR ADDRESS YET?
Please share with your Treasurer and Clerk of the Board
2775 NW 49th Ave. Ste: 205-327
Ocala, FL 34482
USA