23 May 2014, In this Issue...
WFMCC
WHO WE ARE...
Wichita Falls MCC is an exuberantly inclusive, loving, and serving community of faith offering God's promise, Christ's salvation, and the Holy Spirit's comfort to all.  Our mission to accomplish this vision of our church is to:  Gather in compassionate kinship with acceptance of all, Encourage awakenings within the diverse paths of following Christ, and Celebrate a common faith in a loving God, endless hope in the face of suffering and doubt, and the many gifts of the Spirit present in the Body of Christ.

It is our sincere desire that you find a warm welcome at Wichita Falls MCC,
and a place you may want to seriously consider as your spiritual home. 
DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AFTER WORSHIP!

Plan to stay after church this Sunday to view the recently completed and released documentary about WFMCC titled "Come As You Are".  The documentary runtime is 20 minutes, and will begin immediately after worship, at approximately 12:45pm. 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING THIS SUNDAY!

The Board of Trustees will be meeting following the screening of the WFMCC Documentary this Sunday.  (Approx 1:30pm)  Meeting should last about 2 hours.  All are welcome to attend and join us in our dialogue.

WORSHIP THIS WEEK
Worship

10:00am - Hospitality Hour

11:00am - Worship
Sermon Title:  "All Together Now"
Scriptures:

1 Peter 3:13-22 (NRSV)
Psalm 66:1-6, 16-20 (MSG)  


HELPING OUR COMMUNITYServe One Another
Get Busy, Live Better!

An integral part of being a community of faith is founded on the ways in which we reach beyond our doors and into the community around us.  As Jesus did, we best serve God when we choose serve others.  Here's what's going on and coming up in service to others. 

Get Busy, Live Better!

NEXT TUESDAY  

 

Downtown Dinner

 
Thanks to all for your flexibility in rescheduling our monthly Downtown Dinner!  We WILL be hosting our dinner Tuesday, May 27th!  Please make time to stop by between 5:30-7:30pm to help us serve those who are less fortunate that us.  We need all sorts of volunteers...from greeters to servers to clean up crew!

DON'T FORGET!
Homelessness Survival Kits

We have 24 Homelessness Survival Kits available to give to any who may be in need.  Don't forget to stop by the Fellowship Hall to pick one up and have it available to give away through the week!

CHURCH-U SUMMER SPIRITUAL LEARNING
Church-U Logo
As you are making your plans for summer getaways, rest and relaxation, consider getting involved in a summer of learning and connection!  Why?  Because peace of mind and peace of spirit are closely connected to a life filled with well-being...and you get BOTH from study into the nature of God and your faith. 

Here's what's coming up this summer!

Confronting the Controversies Small Groups Confronting the Controversies

Do you have an opinion on the death penalty?  Do you feel strongly one way or another about abortion?  What are your views on the separation of church and state?  creation and evolution in the public schools?  euthanasia?  or prayer in public schools?  ...Chances are you do have strong feelings about some of these subjects.  Regarding others you may have opinions, but perhaps you have not spent a great deal of time thinking through the issues.

We will navigate these questions together through a 1-hour small group study and dialogue.  We will use Adam Hamilton's "Confronting the Controversies: Biblical Perspectives on Tough Issues" (get yours here!).  Small group gatherings will be offered over the course of 6 weeks (with a special all-church seminar on the topic of Homosexuality in August). 

Offering:  Mondays, 6:00pm, June 16 - July 21.  Sign up here!

Pharisectomy Lunch Well-Being: Let's get a Pharisectomy!

Have you ever run into someone who was totally cynical about church?  They were fed up with the hypocrisy, the fighting, the legalism, and everything else in between.  Maybe they were hurt by believers when they were young.  Or maybe they tried to give church a chance at one point in their lives, only to find out that there was little love or acceptance to be found. 

At its core, Pharisectomy: How to Joyfully Remove Your Inner Pharisee and other Religiously Transmitted Diseases (get your copy here!) is about dealing with the hypocrisy, the cynicism, and the elitism - not in others, but in ourselves! 

If you have ever been hurt in a church, or even if you were the one [told you were] doing the hurting, ...this book has the potential to radically impact your life.  A Pharisectomy is an operation that all of us need...[and we have one another] to walk us through the procedure.  (from the Forward by Greg Surratt) 

Offering: Wednesdays, 12:30pm, during the month of July.  Sign up here!

Flames of Faith Flames of Faith

This six-week book study on "Flames of Faith: A Thumbnail Guide to World Religions" by John Cunyus (get your copy here!) considers our views of religions, including and beyond our own. The horrific events of September 11, 2001 forever shattered the illusion that the only religion which matters is our own. When the hijacked airliners flew into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a lonely Pennsylvania hillside that morning, the world realized with chilling clarity that the religious imaginations of people in far away lands now mattered to all.

Some sort of understanding of the world's great religious traditions is now essential to our political security, perhaps even to our own survival. We need to understand, roughly at least, what other people believe and why they act the way they do, if nothing else to defend ourselves from future attacks. Comparative religions is no longer an academic endeavor.

In our world today, we watch the spectacle of nuclear- armed India and Pakistan, divided fiercely by religion as well as other issues, facing off over the "line of control" in Kashmir. We see the continuation of the centuries-old conflict between Protestants and Roman Catholics in Ireland. We see a religious element in the standoff between Israelis and Arabs in the Middle East. And around the periphery of the world, countless fires are fueled at least in part by religious extremism. Understanding what's going on may hold one very important key to the future. We see all too plainly the results of failing to understand.    

Offering:  Thursdays, 6:00pm, July 24 - August 28.  Sign up here!

At this time we are not able to provide books for participants of these studies.  Participants are expected to purchase their own copy, or get one from our local library.  However, if you need help obtaining a book, please let Pastor Mel know, so she can seek out needed scholarships!  If you'd like to offer a scholarship, simply make your offering with a note of its purpose.  Thanks!
Memorial Day MEMORIAL DAY 2014

Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service.  In observance of the holiday, many people visit cemeteries and memorials, and volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at national cemeteries.  A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time.

Our church has much to remember and appreciate this Memorial Day.  Because of the sacrifices of many through the ages.  We live in a country that, while not perfect, believes in freedom as a way of life.  We are free to hold more than one truth as relevant.  We are free to worship within the religion of our choice. 

We are also a community bound to the legacy of those who serve in silence.

This weekend, bring your tribute (flowers, flags, mementos) for the parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, and all who have served in our armed forces for the protection of our freedom, to be placed in our memorial garden. We serve. We remember.  We receive. 
Pledge!TIME TO MAKE YOUR PLEDGE!
$31,000 PLEDGED SO FAR!


WE'VE PASSED THE HALFWAY POINT!!!! 
Now is the time to get your pledge in! 
Pledge Sunday (goal date to meet budget): THIS SUNDAY, May 25, 2014.

This Sunday, pledge forms will be available for you to pick up and pray over.  Alternately, you can download your form HERE and make your pledge now!  Return the form to church during worship, or mail to 1401 Travis St., Wichita Falls, TX 76301.

For your prayer time...

Click here to take some time to read our Seventh Practice of Ministry in Community: Generosity. We have a common goal...and it'll take everyone's attention and dedication to meet it.

 
Let's pledge together to meet
the needs of our church!
 

ADDITIONAL NEWS...

MARK YOUR CALENDAR - Vacation Bible School is Coming...
July 28-August 1!  More information coming soon! 

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Downtown Dinner

DOWNTOWN DINNER
Next Dinner: 
May 27th 
Save the Dates:  June 17, July 15, August 19

Come help us serve those in need!  Arrive at or near 5:30pm.  Dinner service starts at 6:00pm and ends at 7:30pm.
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CREATING A LIFE THAT MATTERSCreating a Life that Matters
 
Pray for Your 2013-2014 Class! 
 
The class for this year's CLM study is 7 members strong!  Please keep Kim F, Laura N, Crystal N, Shirley M, Deon W, Pam F, and Janise S as they take on this journey of rediscovery!  We've entered course 2...Rediscovering Relationship with My Self!
 
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GenderQuest GENDERQUEST 
Let's Get Together, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! 
 
Join us for our monthly meeting of GenderQuest.  We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm in the WFMCC Sanctuary.  Got gender?  Then GenderQuest is for you!


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OVEREATER'S ANONYMOUSOvereater's Anonymous
Compulsive overeaters are invited to a weekly meeting of Overeaters Anonymous on Saturdays from
9:00 - 10:00 AM at WFMCC at 1401 Travis (at 14th Street.) Please use the side door on Travis Street rather than the front door.
For more information, contact Linda at 940-723-4395.


Keep up the good Gospel, MCC!  You Are Loved!  
Let no one tell you otherwise!
Yay, God!!! 
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