Weekly worship services and other activities continue to be held online. The live-streamed service will be available on our Youtube channel or Facebook page at 11:00 am on Sunday and anytime afterward.
Before or after Sunday worship, pop into our Virtual Coffee Hour on Zoom. The room opens at 10:30 am and stays active until around 12:30, or longer if people are chatting! If you have trouble logging on with the link, the meeting ID is 922 9591 1532 and the password, as for all MAPC gatherings unless otherwise noted, is mapc.
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ONLINE SUNDAY LITURGY
We are offering the congregation an online order of worship each Sunday so you can follow along with ease at home like you would with a bulletin in person. You can view the Bulletin here.
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A FEW WORDS FROM THE PASTOR
Once again, the CDC surprised us this week with new advice. This time they've told us that masks are not necessary for vaccinated people, and that those of us who are vaccinated can more or less return to doing the things we did before the pandemic. This is fantastic news, of course. Many of you have already inquired as to how this affects us here at MAPC, and whether we will begin meeting in person this Sunday now that the guidelines have changed.
Well, no, unfortunately we will not be in person this Sunday. First of all, we pivot pretty quickly around here, but not that quickly. The staff and volunteers who lead various aspects of Sunday worship are all going to need a little time to reinvent church yet again. Second, the conditions that have kept us online still exist. Not all of us are vaccinated. Some of us - most obviously our children - cannot be vaccinated. We are not going to create separate church communities of vaccinated and unvaccinated people, or check vaccination cards at the door, or uphold different rules for different segments of our church family. It's going to take us a little time to work through all these complications so that we can love and care for all of you by keeping you as safe as possible.
The good news is that we are making progress. We've had a couple of in-person outdoor events now, and we'll continue to have more. We are putting together some plans for outdoor contemplative worship services for the summer. The Reopening Task Force will be sending out a survey within the next few days to help determine when and how we should return to in-person, indoor worship - so please be on the lookout for that email!
Please be patient as we take slower steps forward than some of you would like. We will gather in person again soon. I promise. In the meantime, feel free to join in any of the Zoom or in-person activities we have available, or if you just want to talk, both Rebekah and I are vaccinated and would be happy to meet with you. We're looking forward to seeing all of you live and in person very soon.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Stacey
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Encounters in May
Sunday from 9:30-10:30 via Zoom
Got questions about the Bible? How it came to be? How to go about reading it? You are not alone. We all have questions about this text.
Join us each Sunday morning in May as we explore these questions using a series called "Animate: Bible" and engage in thoughtful conversation together. Bring your questions, your doubts, your faith and curiosity.
What we will cover?
May 16: Testaments & Gospels
May 23: Genre & Interpretation
May 30: Grace: Love is the Botton Line
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THE CLASSICS CLUB
Has begun our spring session with Linda Hogan's Solar Storms, a magical novel set in the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota and featuring a compelling Native American cast of wise and powerful women. Join us every Monday evening at 7:30 on Zoom. For details contact John Tallmadge.
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RECYCLE TIME!
We will be recycling portable electronic items on Saturday, May 22 from 9AM until noon in the social hall. This can include cell phones, laptops, hair dryers, radios, sweepers, etc. We are no longer accepting TV or computer screens. We have to pay $30 to recycle these at Best Buy. You are encouraged to recycle the screens at Best Buy yourself. This is part of a citywide recycling drive sponsored by the Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub, a nonprofit organization. Other items that we normally recycle can be brought in, but they will not be taken away until a later time. If you have any questions, contact Bill or 513-310-9324.
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THE TIME IS NOW TO REPEAL THE DEATH PENALTY
The opportunity to repeal the death penalty in Ohio is within reach, but there is still a lot of work to do to get it passed by the legislature and on the governor’s desk for signature.
There is bi-partisan sponsorship of two bills – one in the House of Representatives, HB 183, and another in the Senate, SB 103.
A very strong grassroots effort for repeal is forming statewide led by Ohioans To Stop Executions (OTSE), Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center (IJPC), Ohio Council of Churches, Death Penalty Action and others. Faith communities are playing a significant role too.
The efforts and commitment of many in our congregation have helped us get to this point. We are seeking to redouble and focus our efforts so we can help make a difference at this pivotal time.
Here are some things we expect we will be doing in the coming weeks and months:
§ Holding a Zoom meeting to provide MAPC members and update on the status of the legislation and information on where our elected officials stand.
§ Writing letters and emails, making phone calls to our state senators and representatives – especially in mid-May as proponent testimony is expected to occur at that time.
§ Outreach to other congregations in the Presbytery of Cincinnati, inviting them to be part of this important effort.
§ Organizing and participating in Abolishment Weekend with other faith leaders/congregations in Ohio – details and date to be determined.
§ Using our own social media (as you are comfortable) and other means to reach out and invite others to participate in this important effort.
Thanks for your consideration. Let’s make a big push to get this important legislation passed.
Patty Muhleman, PADD
Lynn Hailey, Chair, MAPC Outreach
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FROM THE EARTH CARE TEAM
The Earth Care Team is participating and will present a featured session: Communities of Faith as Seedbeds of Transformation. Panelists include MAPC members John Hancock, Eric Burgmann, Pat Timm and Pastor Stacey. Our session is on May 14, 1:15 to 2:45 PM. To join Green Umbrella and register for the virtual sessions, go to https://www.midwestsustainabilitysummit.org. Green Umbrella membership is $35. Summit registration is $115. We will be able to assist a few MAPC members to attend the Summit. If you are interested, call Pat Timm (513) 378-8871.
The Earth Care Team announces the tenth issue of its e-zine, We Care/Earth Care. Look for it in your email early in the month. This number focuses on insects and features articles by Dale Myers on beekeeping, Daniel Stiver and Judy Lindblad on pollinators, Bill Stiver and Linda Ford on cicadas among many others. If you have not been receiving your copy, check with Nori to make sure your address is on the email list. Upcoming issues will focus on flowers and walking. Your editors, Julie Malkin and John Tallmadge, are eager for your feedback and suggestions.
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FROM JUSTICE SEEKING COMMITTEE: APRIL NEWS TO SHARE
In the first round of distribution for 2021, benevolence giving checks were mailed to seven agencies on April 16:
Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center (IJPC): $2000
Immigrant and Refugee Law Center: $2000
3R Fund for Immigrants: $1000
Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank: $500
Bethany House Services: $1000
The Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati (MARCC): $1000
Cincinnati’s Juneteenth Group: $500
If you want a packet of nine stamped postcards to send to the map-makers on the Ohio Redistricting Commission, contact Linda Ford. This is a quick and effective way to build a groundswell of support for the end of gerrymandered districts in the state of Ohio. If you want to learn more, view this 38-minute webinar on YouTube:
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CINCINNATI SCHOLAR HOUSE NEWS |
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This past weekend we had a wonderful gardening event at the Scholar House with some of our top gardening residents on the playground. The photos will show that there was a lot of joy and pride happening at the project. We are still in need of a car guru volunteer. The roll would be for someone to help accompany our residents to mechanic appointments or help be a resource when purchasing a new (used) car. If you feel like this is something you would be interested in and would like to volunteer your time and knowledge to our residents, please contact Katie Butler.
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4 – David Foote & Joe Brannen
12 – Gina Armstrong & Teresa Reed
16 – Gordon DeVinney & Brian Anderson
16 – Deb Pitcairn & Lana Petrou
19 – Lawrence & Clare Williams
25 – Randy Bailey & Cate Sherron
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2 - Ainea Collins
4 - Amy Beecher
7 - Lisa Butler
9 - Emily Malkin
10 - Dan Davidson
Elizabeth Tallmadge
Ian Edward Thigpen
11 - Doug Matthews
12 - Datha Harrison
13 - Rob Biddinger
15 - JoAnn Morse
16 - Elizabeth Malkin
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22 - Anne Marciniak
Deb Pitcairn
Mark Schuller
23 - James Thigpen
24 - James Bockerstette
Claire Harrison
26 - Lucy Elliott
27 - Lucy Dustman
28 - John Wegener
31 - Ellen Muse-Lindeman
Diane Myers
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OHIO DEATH ROW INMATES WITH MAY BIRTHDAYS
Cards have been sent to the following inmates. (Remembering Jesus’ words, “I was in prison and you visited me”, please take time to read the list and offer a prayer for each of them.)Andre Williams, Phillip Jones, Caron Montgomery, Clarence Mack, Davel Chinn, Archie Dixon, Donald Ketterer, Joseph McAlpin, Matthew Nicholson, Keith Lamar, Kristopher Garrett, Donna Roberts
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If you want to see something on the prayer list,
and note how long it should remain on the list.
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Prayers for Janet Lowry as she recovers from the surgery she had on May 12
- Prayers for Susan Ingmire's brother.
- Diane would like to thank everyone for all the prayers, cards, emails, food, visits, and love sent her way since February.
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Please keep Barb Hallett (Mary Carol Melton's sister-in-law) in your prayers. Barb was in a serious car accident years ago and as a result, has steel plates in her head. They have now become problematic and an infection has set in so she is having surgery to remove them.
- Judy Cunningham is healing from Total Knee Replacement surgery on May 10th.
- Diane Myers’ mother, Jeanette Longworth, recently diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Requesting prayers for healing and a gentle path.
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Prayers for Carolyn Gutjahr and her family on the unexpected death of her mother Corinne Gutjahr (age 92) on May 9. You can read her obituary here.
- Ms. Emma is asking for our prayers. Two of her students have COVID. Almost half the class is quarantined and her classroom may be shut down. In addition to those worries, Emma is dealing with her own health issues. In her words: “Ugh, this year has been difficult. Please keep us in your prayers.”
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MAPC OFFICERS
The Session is: Sara Bick, Eric Burgmann, Sandee Ernst, Amy Grady, Jeanna Lawson, Julia Malkin, Marlene Muse, Sequoia Powers-Griffin, Sara Renner, Dave Simon, Pete Tuff, and Susan Thomas. Faye Burdick, stated clerk.
The Deacons Board is: Elizabeth Marsh Singh and Mark Schuller, co-moderators, Linda Vaccariello, Earl Apel, Heather Graden, Bonnie Bohn, Rick Sowash, Patty Muhlemann, Rob Biddinger, Deb Carle, and Dale Didier.
The committees of the church (and their chairs/Session liaisons) are:
Operations - Eric Burgman
Finance and Stewardship - Sara Bick, Susan Ingmire
Worship - Van Ackerman, Julie Malkin
Education and Spiritual Nurture - Sara Renner
Justice-Seeking - Linda Ford, Sequoia Powers-Griffin
Congregational Engagement - Elizabeth Marsh-Singh, Sandee Ernst
Outreach - Lynn Hailey, Marlene Muse
Personnel - Jeana Lawson, David Simon
Nominations - Pete Tuff, Amy Grady
Please contact any of these people or Stacey or Rebekah if you have questions about the Session, Deacons, or Committees of MAPC!
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MAPC HAPPENINGS!
All gatherings and worship services are virtual unless otherwise noted.
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Sunday, May 16
9:30 AM Education Encounters, Zoom
9:30 AM Choir Pods, Church Lot
Tuesday, May 18
5:00 PM Worship Committee, Zoom
Wednesday, May 19
6:00 PM Joint Operations Group, Zoom
6:30 PM Finance Group, Zoom
7:00 PM Operations Group, Zoom
Thursday, May 20
6-7:30 PM Handbells, Sanctuary
7:30 PM Choir Vocal Maintenance, Zoom
Sunday, May 23
9:30 AM Education Encounters, Zoom
9:30 AM Choir Pods, Church Lot
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MAPC ONLINE DIRECTORY
You can find the online version here. Please pass any updates on to Nori!
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OFFICE AND PASTORAL COVERAGE
At least one of the pastors is normally "on call" every day. Stacey is off on Mondays and can be reached the rest of the week at 518-533-8000 or [email protected]. Rebekah is off on Fridays and can be reached at other times at 717-476-6297 or [email protected].
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We have shifted our communications so ALL information is included in this weekly email. If you would like to add anything to this weekly e-newsletter, please email Nori [email protected] by Thursday morning. This includes ALL events, prayer requests, and other items of interest. If you want to see it in the e-newsletter, email it to Nori!
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