STAYING CONNECTED WITH SUNCOAST MCC, JUNE 1, 2020
A welcoming, diverse and active community. We share God's love in a spiritual environment offering
truth
,
trust
and
transformation
.
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Join us on Sunday at 10AM (EST)
for Worship Service.
Stay Connected with us on social media and visit our website.
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Board of Directors
(click
Vice Moderator
Kathy Hanas
Treasurer
Beth Ryan
Clerk
Mary Convy
Members
at Large
Jack Hutter
Linda Staib
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We Care
To ensure we stay connected, our Pastors, Board and volunteers are here to help.
or by phone:
Rev. Gene Hutter
(941) 497-3740
Linda Staib
(941) 662-7718
Lay Delegates
Charlene Bisordi
Yolanda deJesus
Past Sermons
(click
HERE
)
(941)
484-7068
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Tips!!
Ready for the hurricane season? (click
HERE
)
Did you see SunCoast MCC Corona-virus Check-In Survey Results? (click
HERE
)
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LOVING NOTE FROM
Rev. Nancy and Rev. Vickie
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As June begins, SunCoast MCC family, we pause to acknowledge that we are going to have to deal with this virus for a longer time than we might have expected. Some of us have settled into a new routine, some are anxious about what’s next. Others are restless to get out, to resume “normal” life. All of us miss things about what was ordinary just a few months ago, especially being able to see and hug friends and family, casually going out to dinner, or to the beach, or to church. Today, we have to take some deep breaths. And remember that it is not all about us.
I invite us, today, to breathe a prayer for our Church, All God’s Children MCC, in Minneapolis. For the city, for the people experiencing anguish and pain. On the worst day of the virus in Minneapolis, they experienced a wrenching, visceral response to the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed man who died in the custody of police. Most of the protestors wore masks and were peaceful. But for some, rage boiled over into flames and destruction.
Other cities are now being affected and are dealing with their own issues with systemic policing injustices. We need prayer and we need justice and action.
Someone said, “It’s not that there is more racism, it’s just that it is being filmed.” He said he couldn’t breathe. It’s Pentecost, and the breath of the Spirit is upon us. We can breathe out the shame we feel that can make us withdraw. We can breathe in the love of Jesus that pushes us to act for justice. You can say a prayer for his family. You can sign a petition, or make your solidarity and outrage known. When you see something, you can say something. We can all try to imagine being George Floyd’s family today, or his friend. Or thousands like him. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us. May a new wave of vigilance for justice take hold in our communities and in our hearts. Let no virus stop us!
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Also read the Statement from Rev. Cecilia Eggleston our MCC Moderator on the Death of George Floyd (click
HERE)
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SUNCOAST MCC INTRODUCES
OUR NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR
Dr. David Katz
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We are pleased to introduce to SunCoast our new Music Director/Worship Leader! Dr. David Katz received graduate degrees from The Peabody Conservatory of Music and undergraduate degrees from Ohio Wesleyan University in voice and piano. He has served a variety of faith communities including Unitarian Universalist, United Methodist, and Jewish. He is an active singer, choir director, pianist and organist in the Tampa Bay Area. He is passionate about blending various facets and styles of music and worship to meet the spiritual needs of a community. In addition to his liturgical work, David is a music teacher at Braden River Elementary School in Bradenton, Florida where he just completed his fifteenth year. He is fully certified in Orff-Schulwerk and is trained in World Music Drumming, a training which he also uses in his work with faith based ministries. He shares his life with his husband Chuck and their adorable chihuahua Honey.
Join Us in Welcoming ... David
Come and meet David at the Drive By Blessing on Friday! In the coming weeks, there will be additional ways to meet and interact with David. He can be reached at (click
HERE
).
Thank You!
Rev. Vickie and Rev. Nancy extend thanks to members of the Music Search Committee for their assistance (Rev. Renae Phillips, Rodger Jenkins, Kathy Hanas, Park Showalter).
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FROM THE BOARD & RE-OPEN TEAM
We miss you and look forward to the day when we can gather (in-person) again. As you know, our Re-Open Team continues to work on behalf of the Board, to explore all our options for re-opening and to maximize our ways of connecting meanwhile. Below are some of the decisions and activities underway.
- Based on input from the recent survey, guidance from health officials, conversations within the denomination and the Florida Network, we will NOT hold (in-person) gatherings for Worship on Sundays through June 2020. For now, we will be making decisions month-by-month.
- Our Worship Recording Team will continue to gather weekly in the building, using all the precautions for safe gathering that we have developed.
- We continue to be in consultation with our denomination, the Florida MCC Network, and the best available expert information on best practices for working virtually and re-opening.
- Volunteers continue to clean the building weekly. Our Office Manager is there two days a week, and we continue to be a distribution location for CHAPS.
- The Re-Open team is drafting physical distancing protocols to guide us, once we reopen for in-person Worship gatherings and is reviewing MCC's "Advisory on Return-to-Facilities: Return to In-Person Gatherings" to guide us.
- To our knowledge, none of our congregants have tested positive or are ill from the virus. However, those who are facing illness and/or hospitalization are very challenged by not being able to have visitors.
- Our Congregational Care Team is doing all they can to be in connection with everyone.
Let Us Know if You Need Anything!
There are many ways to connect virtually and in person, safely.
- Continue to stay informed on what is happening at SunCoast by reading the bi-weekly Staying Connected that is emailed to you on Mondays and Fridays and if you are a FaceBook user visit the FaceBook Sanctuary group and share your stories and pictures.
- Join us in virtual Worship on Sundays at 10AM. Visit our website for the latest events and other news.
- Keep making those phone calls to others at SunCoast to let them know you are thinking of them.
- Participate in our Drive-By-Blessing on Friday, June 5th.
Stay Safe Out There
We are still dealing with a dangerous virus. Wear a mask when you are out, use physical distancing, and wash your hands!
We continue to be SunCoast MCC, the Body of Christ in our community.
Thanks to our Board and the Re-Open Team for their continued assistance (Kathy Hanas, Rebecca Wilson and Yolanda deJesus).
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FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Offering Update
We need
Your
love and support now more than ever. Together let's keep our General Fund and Pillars accounts liquid. If you are able to make a donation to SunCoast MCC, please (click
HERE
).
To minimally cover the Church expenses during this time, we need approximately $6,000 weekly. For week ending May 25, 2020, we collected $2,362.00 for General Fund and $540.00 for Pillars
.
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JOIN US
DRIVE-BY BLESSING WITH YOUR PETS
Friday, June 5 from 4PM to 6PM
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Everyone is invited to come and drive through the church parking lot for a quick hello and a blessing from your pastors. Bring your pet. It will also be a return blessing for Rev. Nancy and Rev. Vickie to see your smiling faces!
Support our Community:
We will be collecting the following items for the Suncoast Humane Society’s Pet Pantry in Englewood and for In-Stride Horse Therapy Program in Nokomis.
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Donate:
(puppy wet food • puppy pads • dog/cat dry food and canned food • milk bones and other soft treats • gently used dog/cat beds, collars, leashes, toys • cleaning supplies as well as towels, sheets, blankets • carrots and apples for the horses)
Drop-Off:
After the Blessing, go around the circle and drop-off your donations in the labelled bins and on the ground as indicated.
What You Can Expect:
Board members will be there to assist with the traffic flow. Remember, stay in your cars and wear your masks when approaching the blessing. We are excited to see you.
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Online Zoom Classes and Programs
Join us once or for all the sessions! All times listed below are (EST).
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Mondays
June 1, 8, 15 and 22 at 6PM
Join this group for fun and bragging rights. It is self scored.
Join Zoom at: (click
HERE
)
Meeting ID: 920 4332 0870 Password: 110794
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PRAYER & DEVOTIONAL
WITH THE PASTORS
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Thursdays
June 4 and 18 at 10AM
How are you doing? Are you thriving or feeling challenged during this pandemic?
We want to know, and connect with you in a casual time of conversation, prayer and morning devotions.
J
oin Zoom at: (click
HERE
)
Meeting ID: 830 4466 0116
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WHAT'S NEW AND HOPEFUL IN THE PARABLES OF JESUS
Led by the Pastors
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Wednesdays
June 10, 17, 24 and
July 1 at 4:30PM
A class based on Amy-Jill Levine’s book,
Short Stories by Jesus: the Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus used short stories – parables – to teach?
Join us for a 4 week study of several parables of Jesus that are provocative and challenging, and very relevant to our situation today as people of faith. What timeless truths and surprising insights can we discover as we come together to
learn? Great fellowship and sharing are part of the experience!
Join Zoom at: (click
HERE
)
Meeting ID: 880 7712 5575
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Wednesdays
June 10, 17, 24 and
July 1 at 6PM
Participants must email
Kim and Tammy
before Bingo to get the cards needed to play. You will have to print your own Bingo cards.
Join Zoom at: (click
HERE
)
Meeting ID: 913 0391 3326 Password: 647829
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PRAYER SURGE
Led by Rebecca Wilson
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Thursday
June 11 at 6PM
Surge /sərj/ (noun)
1. a sudden powerful forward or upward movement, especially by a crowd or by a natural force such as the waves or tide.
(verb)
2. move suddenly and powerfully forward or upward.
Gather with us as a community, through song and word we will lift up prayers for our world, our country, our church, our family and friends, and ourselves.
Have with you a rock or stone, a candle, and a cup or small bowl of water. Rebecca Wilson will lead us in this time and will invite us to use these objects as a source of physical connection to God and each other even when our current reality keeps us distanced.
Join Zoom at: (click
HERE
)
Meeting ID: 814 0122 4646
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3276 E. Venice Avenue
Venice, FL 34292
(941) 484-7068
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