CONNECT
with Metropolitan Community Church
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IN THIS ISSUE, you will find:
- Virtual Events in May
- Ongoing Events
- Job Openings at MCC
- 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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May is API Awareness Month!
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Coming Your Way...
The Final Report and Recommendations of the Commission on Pathways of Healing and Reconciliation
The final report and recommendations have been submitted to and approved by the Governing Board. They are being translated now and will be shared with you shortly. Watch your email for this important document!
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Churches in Transition
Approximately 10% of our affiliated churches are experiencing significant change at any given time. Your prayers for a healthy and holy moving from one place in the life of the congregation to another are much appreciated. Thanks, especially, to our Elders who are offering them pastoral support and to Mark Godette from our Governing Board for providing administrative support. Supporting our congregations in transition continues to offer both challenge and cause for celebration and I believe God is to be found in the midst of both.
MCC Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA will be installing Felicia Pritchett as their new Pastor on May 17th. Please keep this new relationship in ministry in your prayers. messages of blessing and/or support may be sent via their website: MCCCharleston.com
MCC Key West, Key West, FL, USA will be holding a candidating weekend on May 27 through 28. Please ask the Holy Spirit to guide the congregation and the candidate through this process of discernment.
MCC Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AUS. Geof Ivers has been appointed as the Pastoral Leader. Messages of congratulations can be sent to [email protected]
MCC Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA held their final worship service on Easter Sunday.
MCC Windsor, Windsor, ON, CAN is now accepting applications for their next Pastor. You can visit the MCC Job Listings in the Resource Bank to view the announcement and/or email [email protected] for more information.
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Congratulations
to Rev. John Fowler, retired MCC clergy in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. John has been serving as the Australia & Aortearoa/New Zealand Vocational Coordinator and is now stepping down from this position after many years. In this capacity he shepherded annual MCC clergy license renewals, facilitated those in ministry formation in the Australian protocol, assisted the Network and churches throughout the area in times of transition. His advice and coordination provided the contextual frame for carrying out policy and guidelines to ensure that culture, policy, and local law all aligned.
We are grateful for John’s faithfulness and wish him well with his endeavors as God continues to call him to ministry beyond this position.
Rev. Cathy Alexander, Vocational Leadership Coordinator, UFMCC
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From the Governing Board
You can always find the latest approved minutes and financial reports here:
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Stop, Pause, and Take a Breath.
Breathe in the opportunity to take a moment and find RESPITE. What is respite? It is the ability to take a break, get revived, and create space for yourself. What does respite look like for you? It is an individual experience.
The Thriving in Ministry Program has Respite Funds available for you to stop, pause and take a breath. Request and application and more information from [email protected].
This is for USA Clergy only as it is funded by a grant from the Lily Foundation.
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Want to be inspired or encouraged by Good News stories from other MCC's?
Good News Stories may be found in the Resource Bank. Read the ones that have came in for this most recent month or look back at other months.
Include your church!
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BIPOC is a term that means “Black, Indigenous, People of Color” and is mainly used in the USA. “People of Color” are African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, multiracial Americans, and LatinX. Eventually the term “Indigenous” was added. One definition of “Indigenous” is a collective name for the original peoples of North America and their descendants which have also been considered as People of Color. If you identify as a part of the BIPOC community, please join the gathering Tuesdays May 16 (6pm PST, 8pm CST and 9pm EST) and June 20 at the same times. ZOOM link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86356280881?pwd=YUp1YTlOeDhGN0Zrc0M3WTMvOFI5dz09
Meeting ID: 863 5628 0881
Passcode: 330367
API
Friday, May 19 at 6 pm PDT / 9 pm EDT
Saturday, May 20 at 9 am Philippines & Singapore
LOCATION/ZOOM LINK:
Meeting ID: 854 6117 3187
Passcode: 701186
DESCRIPTION:
A dynamic online conversation with Asian Pacific Islander MCC members from around the world
God-Talk
Saturday, 27 May (meets 4th Saturday each month)
9am PDT / 10am CDT / 12pm EDT / 5pm BST
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: [email protected] or [email protected].
Meeting ID: 850 0238 8825 Passcode: 226946
PAD: People of African Descent
Tuesday, 13 June 7pm EDT / Midnight BST
Saturday, 17 June @ 12pm EDT / 5pm BST
This group is for People of African Descent only.
Latinx Kinship Gathering
Time: Jun 22, 2023 6p PDT / 9p EDT
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 963 668 1482
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Trans Kinship Gathering
3 June (first Saturday of the month)
11am PDT / 1pm CDT / 2pm EDT / 7pm BST
Meeting ID: 898 0876 5091
Passcode: 381764
If you are interested in a particular Kinship group, please email Rev. Stedney Phillips: [email protected]
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Journeying through Change & Transition (Part 1)
Saturday, 8 July 9:30am - 1:00pm BST
Leading through Change & Transition (Part 2)
Saturday, 15 July 9:30am - 1:00pm BST
MCC’s Thriving in Ministry Program is joining efforts with A Place for Hope, to provide two amazing workshops about Change and Transition. The mantra for A Place for Hope is to accompany and equip people and faith communities so that all might reach their potential to be peacemakers who navigate conflict and change well.
The first workshop is Journeying through Change & Transition which is
the prerequisite for Leading through Change & Transition.
Save the Date – Thriving in Ministry is sponsoring an IN-PERSON retreat September 19th – 22nd . Please contact Marie Tasker for more information. Space is limited. [email protected]
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Church of the Trinity MCC
Sarasota, FL, USA
June 2-4, 2023
Note: Applications Due 1 May
LEAD, Laity Empowered for Active Discipleship, is the UFMCC lay leader certificate program. Since its inception in 2011, there have been 12 North American LEAD cohort groups, as well as LEAD cohort groups in the UK, the Philippines, the European Network and Australia. We now have 51 LEAD graduates following their call to lay ministry all over the world. The next LEAD cohort group, North American LEAD 13, is now being planned for Friday, June 2, 2023, beginning at 5:00 pm Eastern Daylight-Saving Time, through Sunday, June 4, 2023, 6:00 pm Eastern Daylight-Saving Time, at Church of the Trinity MCC, Sarasota, FL, USA.
One of the exciting features about this retreat is that most of the expenses for the retreat will be covered by a fund set up by upRising MCC of Austin, TX, USA. Because of the fund, accepted retreat applicants will not pay the Retreat registration fee (normally $350). In addition, Church of the Trinity will provide housing for participants with its church congregants and provide several meals during the Retreat. Retreat participants will only need to pay for their travel, plus a $50 matriculation fee, to attend the retreat. In addition, all online courses that are required or are electives for completion of the LEAD program will be paid through the fund (a $600 value). The LEAD scholarship fund, The Judy Dale Scholarship for Lay Leadership, may be used to assist with other fees associated with course work or events necessary for the completion of the LEAD certificate requirements.
Applications
Applications will be processed on a “first come, first served” basis until May 1, or until 18 applicants have been accepted to attend the Retreat.
Applications can be found here (to download the Application, click on “File” in the upper left hand corner. A pull-down menu will appear. Click on “Download” and then select “Microsoft Word”.)
More information about the LEAD program can be found in the North American LEAD Manual here. (To download, follow instructions above.)
Questions about the retreat or the LEAD program can be directed to Elder Nancy Maxwell at [email protected].
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MCC European Network Gathering 2023
18 till 20 August 2023 in a beautiful surrounding close to the cliffs at Corrymeela, Northern Ireland
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Tea Time with the Elders!
Tuesday, 16 May
THIRD TUESDAY MONTHLY
5pm EDT / 10pm BST
Join us via Zoom
Meeting ID: 248 584 328
Password: 469464
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Online Centering Prayer - Tuesdays @ 5pm EDT /10pm BST
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 EEST / 6pm BST / 1pm EDT
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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Prayer Time with the Moderator
Most THURSDAYS (not 2nd Thursdays)
at 5:15pm EDT / 10:15pm BST
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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Joy MCC is responding to the USA conservative efforts to ban books in schools and libraries, especially books about LGBTQIA+ people and issues. As part of their ongoing monthly book discussions, they are encouraging people to read a banned book: All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M Johnson. You can joinn in their discussion online. First discussion covers Introduction and Chapter 1.
Monday, May 8 - 7pm EDT / (Sydney, Australia Tuesday May 9-9am)
Second and Fourth Mondays
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Unclutter Your Soul
a book study with Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson and SunCoast MCC
Join SunCoast MCC for Spiritual Practice in May (9, 16, 23 and 30), Tuesday mornings at 10:30 EDT/ 3:30 BST. You can join either in person or virtually using this link: JOIN CLASS ON ZOOM We will be using Trina McNeilly’s book by the same name.
She said, “Our minds and hearts are crowded...we stumble over unrealistic expectations of ourselves. Emotional pain, anxiety and everyday stresses are a constant “white noise” in our souls.”
With grace and humor, Trina helps us face some of the unnecessary mess of life in order to rise above it. Let’s open the window, turn on the lights, breathe deeply! Join Rev. Nancy for a time of prayer and sharing as we overcome the clutter of our souls!
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Spiritual Direction for a Climate-Changed World
A gathering for spiritual directors and spiritual companions with Justin Ferko, Rev. Dr. Stephanie Perdew, and Rev. Dr. Wanda Stahl
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
1:00-4:30 pm Eastern • Online
Program fee: $35
A limited number of scholarships are available for this program. Please contact Nicole Diroff at [email protected] to inquire.
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Can the Church Change? Summit |
22-26 May 2023
10 voices answering the important question: How do we decolonize the imagination and visions for the future?
Do you think the church can change? It's a big question.
If yes, what's the most important direction for that change? Where do you see the Spirit at work in our current shifts? What is the most important practice, action, reflection space churches could take up when learning to decolonize their imaginations for a creative, flourishing future?
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Financial Wellness & Older LGBTQ+ People
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16 May 2:00-3:00 EDT
Join SAGE, the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for a webinar on financial wellness for LGBTQ+ older adults. In celebration of Honor Our LGBT Elders Day, the webinar will be held May 16 2:00-3:00 EDT.
Register today at:
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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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Chicago Theological Seminary is excited to announce the 2023 Castañeda-Jennings Lecture and Award, to be held virtually on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 6:30pm CST. Click here to register now!
This year, CTS is proud to present Dr. Teresa L. Smallwood, the James Franklin Kelly and Hope Eyster Kelly Associate Professor of Public Theology at United Lutheran Seminary. REGISTER NOW!
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Dr. Smallwood’s Ph.D. dissertation was entitled, The Leprosy Effect: A Queer Womanist Pastoral Care Model. Her areas of specialty are Womanist and Feminist Theology and Ethics; Black Church Tradition; Race, Gender and Sexuality; Emmanuel Levinas; Africana Pastoral Theology; and 20th Century Theology.
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Dr. Fluker is the world's foremost scholar on Howard Thurman, a leading figure in 20th century American religious and cultural life and an inspiration to Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders of the Civil Rights movement.
The course, which can be audited or taken for credit, is available online as well as face-to-face in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Ask us about possible financial assistance. Questions can be directed to [email protected].
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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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