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IN THIS ISSUE, you will find:
  • Noteworthy Dates
  • News
  • Events
  • Resources
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Noteworthy Dates
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
News
The Clocks are Changing!
Most of North America have gone to Daylight Savings Time. Other places may change in the weeks to come. We do not all change our clocks at the same time. During the next month, please carefully check the time zone calculations! https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/personal.html
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?
News from South Africa, Brazil, Australia, and the USA

Be inspired with the latest Good News Stories. Read the ones that have come in thus far in March or look back at February and other months.

Remember to share your Good News!
Please send stories and pictures to [email protected].
Events
API
Friday, March 17 at 6 pm PDT / 9pm EDT
Saturday, March 18 at 10 am Philippines & Singapore.


BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)
21 March 2023
9 pm EDT, 8 pm CDT, and 6 pm PDT.
This group is for anyone who identifies as BIPOC within MCC. It is a place to share our stories, cultures, and challenges in a safe and brave space as people of faith. February’s topic is: “Being BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ and a Person of Faith in Your Community.” Join the Zoom Meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86356280881?pwd=YUp1YTlOeDhGN0Zrc0M3WTMvOFI5dz09
Meeting ID: 863 5628 0881 Passcode: 330367


God-Talk
Saturday, 25 March (meets 4th Saturday each month)
9am PDT / 10am CDT / 12pm EDT / 4pm 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: [email protected] or [email protected].
Meeting ID: 850 0238 8825 Passcode: 226946

PAD: People of African Descent
March 18th @ 12pm EDT / 4pm GMT
This group is for People of African Descent only.
Meeting ID: 840 6356 3151)

Trans Kinship Gathering
1 April (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]
Tea Time with the Elders!
Tuesday, 21 March
THIRD TUESDAY MONTHLY
5pm EDT / 9pm GMT
Join us via Zoom
Meeting ID: 248 584 328
Password: 469464
Refugia Faith Lenten Retreat
Thursday, March 23, 2023
10:00 am - 3:00 pm EDT / 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 [email protected] to inquire.

In her wise and lyrical book on Christian spirituality and the climate crisis, Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth, Debra Rienstra delves into how Christians can fall in love again with our home planet and take our own small yet steady steps toward building a better world, not only for our fellow human beings but for the entire more-than-human world as well. 

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.

For more information and to register click here.
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
Prayers for Peace
Wednesdays 8pm EET / 6pm GMT / 2pm 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?
pwd=Y1BMWEV0bUtxeWw4OURUMEhJZ3hiQT09. Everyone is welcome to join us in praying for peace in Ukraine.
Online Workouts
Morning Workouts with Pastor Diane
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
8:30 am Mountain Time (9:30 CST / 10:30 EST / 3:30pm GMT)
Meeting ID: 719 233 8982
Passcode: 654321
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.
Learn New Testament Greek
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?
MCC European Network Gathering 2023
18th till 20th August 2023 in a beautiful surrounding close to the cliffs at Corrymeela/Northern Ireland
Register here now: http://ufmcc.net/treffen-2023/
There is an early bird rate until 30th April 2023.
Festival of Homiletics
Preaching Hope for a Weary World
15-18 May 2023
Free Online Access as Well!
Early Bird online all-access $95
RESOURCES
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. [email protected].
Looking for something on the website?
It might be in the Resource Bank now.
Need help finding something?
BOOKMARK this link or visit InsideMCC.org and click on the Resource Bank! https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Dv3gtp1MVF1KFXFzqXeHn5pCrZKqLRyo?usp=sharing
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.
OUR MAILING ADDRESS
Metropolitan Community Churches
2775 NW 49th Ave. Ste: 205-327
Ocala, FL 34482
USA

© 2023 Metropolitan Community Churches


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