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IN THIS ISSUE, you will find:
- Noteworthy Dates
- News
- Events
- Resources
Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom where our Mailing Address is listed. Some servers clip or truncate emails and you might have to click a link to "view entire message."
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8 March - International Women's Day - Theme: #EmbraceEquity
17 March - St. Patrick's Day
21 March - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
31 March - International Transgender Day of Visibility
Some countries also observe Women's History Month
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Ukrainian Relief Testimonies
Having passed the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine and this ongoing war, it's good to hear how support has made a difference for LGBTQ+ Ukrainian refugees.
MCC sent relief support to ACCEPT, a Romanian LGBTQ+ organization, who have been working with Ukrainian queer refugees. They have supported about 300 Ukrainian refugees and people still in Ukraine with these services:
- relocation support
- transport from the border with Romania to Bucharest
- accommodation in a shelter for LGBTQIA+ people and coordinating additional LGBTQ-friendly accommodation
- providing food and necessities such as clothes, medicines, personal hygiene items, baby products, etc.
- free legal counseling
- free psychological counseling
- direct donations of medication for LGBTQIA+ Ukrainians
Hear, in their own words, from a few people who were helped.
Matt (trans*gay*aro) 21 year old
I'm from Odessa, was relocated to Romania on 7-8th of April 2022. This was my first experience of relocation and living in another country. First opinion on Bucharest wasn't so good, but later I observed that 3 buildings near the Train Station don't really show what Bucharest and Romania truly are, as well as the people and culture. From then I comfortably lived in ACCEPT's shelter for Ukrainian LGBTQIA+ refugees. They support me with the greatest loyalty and understanding I ever experienced, and so I'm 100% pleased with the help that ACCEPT provides for us. And I'm grateful to Romania.
Anna (lesbian) 34 year old
Originally I'm from Luhansk, then I moved to Odesa after 2014, so big changes in my life because of war aren't new for me. I crossed the border to Romania in March of 2022. I had little to nothing of my own but prepared the most important stuff for my cat. First I lived with Romanians, who gave me a place to sleep but later I heard about ACCEPT and moved into the shelter in April. During all this time, I have received all the support from the most important to the least (but very emotionally needed). I like this place, and take care of it, but after the war I definitely will return to my home.
Before the Member States of the European Union offered temporary protection for people affected by the war in Ukraine, a gay couple, made up of two people with Lebanese citizenship, requested the support of the ACCEPT Association. Although the two had residence in Ukraine, they could not benefit from the protection of the Romanian state, because they were not Ukrainian citizens. The two were subjected to pressure to return to Lebanon, their country of origin that sentences homosexuals to death. Through advocacy and legal actions, ACCEPT managed to offer the couple a new life in Germany, this state granting them a special visa to enter the territory of Germany, and through a partner organization they managed to settle.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE!
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MCC's EASTER OFFERING
The 2023 Easter Offering will be designated for the MCC Disaster Relief Fund. Climate change has caused an increase in natural disasters which means there are more needs for Disaster Relief.
Historically, MCC congregations have received a special offering around Easter for a denominationally designated purpose. Participating in this year's Easter Offering means you will help MCC respond quickly with Disaster Relief.
Want to contribute to the MCC Disaster Relief Fund?
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We all need to hear
Good News Stories!
Don't miss the story and pictures from the interreligious conference in Cuba - the 11th Sociotheological Conference. Check out all the Good News stories from your spiritual siblings!
They are being saved by the month in the Resource Bank. Read previous month's stories to celebrate with one another and to glean ideas.
Remember to share your Good News!
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Our Tribe - Is Biology Destiny?
- a discussion of the transfeminism movement
Thursday, March 2nd - 7:30pm GMT / 2:30pm EST
Meeting ID: 314 005 7633 Password: 1861AUC
Dr. Carol Joyner will lead this discussion of the transfeminism movement, which seeks to synthesize feminist and transgender viewpoints on what constitutes a woman.
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Trans Kinship Gathering
4 March (first Saturday of the month)
11am PDT / 1pm CDT / 2pm EDT / 7pm GMT
Meeting ID: 898 0876 5091
Passcode: 381764
API
Friday, March 17 at 6 pm PST / 9pm EST
Saturday, March 18 at 10 am Philippines & Singapore.
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)
21 March 2023
9 pm EST, 8 pm CST, and 6 pm PST.
Meeting ID: 863 5628 0881 Passcode: 330367
God-Talk
Saturday, 25 March (meets 4th Saturday each month)
9am PST / 10am CST / 12pm EST / 5pm GMT
Conversations about the Divine and MCC Kinship Group.
Rev. Peter Trabaris and Rev. Brendan Boone invite you to join this Kinship Group. The goal of this ministry is to study and learn from our theology/ies, and what they teach us, as we learn from each other, and continue the work of “Transforming Ourselves, as we Transform the World." If you are interested or have any questions please contact: revpetertrabaris@gmail.com or Rev.Brendan.Boone@gmail.com.
Meeting ID: 850 0238 8825 Passcode: 226946
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Tea Time with the Elders!
Tuesday, 21 March
THIRD TUESDAY MONTHLY
5pm EDT / 10pm GMT
Join us via Zoom
Meeting ID: 248 584 328
Password: 469464
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The Charter for Compassion's LGBTQIA+ Initiative is launching its first Global Virtual Festival! March 11-18
Learn more, submit your video, or purchase a ticket here
(MCC is a partner organization with the Charter for Compassion.)
OUR PRIDE Video & Arts Fest is a virtual film festival with its own unique festival village, complete with original programming, panels, director Q&A’s, workshops, and live networking, sponsored and hosted by FILMOCRACY.
- Video Genres: Short Documentary, Narrative, Music Video, Animation, PSA & News Story
- Video submissions must be 15 minutes or shorter
- Accepting submissions from people ages 13-35
- English subtitles are required for non-English submissions
- There are no costs involved with submitting your video. Use FilmFreeway Promo Code: PRIDE2023
2023 THEME is "LOVE WINS! Compassion, Resilience & Solidarity," with entries highlighting compassion, resilience, and solidarity in the global LGBTQIA+ community, featuring such topics as Social Justice, Human Rights, Current Issues, Mental Health, Personal Stories, Local Pride, LGBTQIA+ Community & History, and more.
Submissions are judged by youth peers, educators, and LGBTQ+ professionals. Winning entries will be announced in March 2023 with screenings throughout the year, including the International Children’s Film Festival at Comic-Con in San Diego. The top video entries will receive a variety of awards, prizes, and commendations.
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Refugia Faith Lenten Retreat
Thursday, March 23, 2023
10:00 am - 3:00 pm EST / 3pm - 8pm GMT • Online
$40 retreat registration
$60 retreat registration including a copy of Refugia Faith
A limited number of scholarships are available for this online retreat. Contact Program Director, Nicole Diroff, at nicole@thebtscenter.org to inquire.
Using Debra Rienstra's book as a conversation partner, The BTS Center is offering an online retreat for Lenten sanctuary, a spiritual refugium, for pastors and spiritual leaders concerned about the climate crisis.
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Online Centering Prayer - Tuesdays @ 5pm ET /10pm GMT
led by MCC of the Lehigh Valley (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA)
Join via Zoom with Meeting ID: 871 5093 0059
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Prayers for Peace
Wednesdays 8pm EET / 6pm GMT / 1pm EST
Living Water MCC in Helsinki Finland arranges every Wednesday a short prayer for peace. The sessions are bilingual: Finnish and English. The prayer sessions last about 15 min and are over Zoom. The link for them is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88413931856?
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Online Workouts
In March of 2020, Pastor Diane of Pike’s Peak MCC (Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA) began offering online exercise classes and nearly 3 years later, she is still going strong! Join her and a small group of folx for live exercise 3 days a week on Zoom. Most participants don’t even turn on their cameras or microphones—so no one has to feel self-conscious about how much they can do-and the difficulty level of all exercises can be modified.
Morning Workouts with Pastor Diane
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings
8:30 am Mountain Time (9:30 CST / 10:30 EST / 3:30pm GMT)
Meeting ID: 719 233 8982
Passcode: 654321
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Prayer Time with the Moderator
Most THURSDAYS (not 2nd Thursdays)
at 5:15pm EDT / 10:15pm GMT
Join the Moderator for a time of reflection and prayer on Facebook Live.
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Are you LGBTQ+ and interested in learning or practicing a biblical or classical language? Get in touch with Dr. Jordan Dyck at learnnewtestamentgreek.com for inclusive lessons from an experienced, qualified and patient teacher. Or, if you already know some Greek, why not join the group reading ancient LGBTQ+ stories this April?
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Festival of Homiletics
Preaching Hope for a Weary World
15-18 May 2023
Free Online Access as Well!
Early Bird online all-access $95
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Thriving in Ministry
Learn about Ministry Support Circles whether you want to join one or form one. Is there something you would like to study with others? Reach out to Marie Tasker to learn more about how Thriving in Ministry could assist you. MarieTasker@MCCchurch.net.
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Looking for something on the website?
It might be in the Resource Bank now.
Need help finding something?
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Check out all the great classes and resources still available at Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) including MCC specific classes. Yes, we no longer have the OFLD (Office of Formation and Leadership Development) but SSOL classes are still available.
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Metropolitan Community Churches
2775 NW 49th Ave. Ste: 205-327
Ocala, FL 34482
USA
© 2023 Metropolitan Community Churches
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