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| From the Laptop of Rev. Kharma |
 A Lesson From Nature
I've been thinking a lot lately about the sun. This could have something to do with the fact that I'm hot. I've spent the last two weeks at school in Boston, where air conditioning is unfortunately viewed as a luxury even in the summer, and I will be catching a plane this weekend to MCC's General Conference in Phoenix where the temperature each day will be in triple digits.
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| Read Ahead |
July 1 "Some Thoughts on Freedom"
Guest Preacher: Gail Van Buren |
| From the Hearts of the Community |
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Got Juice?
Poems come from many places in the mind, heart, and body-humor, pain, grief, pleasure, and spiritual contemplation, just to name a few. All of these can be sacred. If you have a poem that comes from a sacred place, we'd like to feature it in the MCC NOVA Poets' Corner. At first we'll focus on poems created from the words on the "Poetry Power Strips" that are available in the fellowship hall. Use the words on the strips to craft a poem and send it to the church e-mail address, info@mccnova.com, or give your work to Gail Schulte. Include your name if you like, and also indicate if we can share the poem online and on the church bulletin board. Let those creative juices flow! Jean Gralley and Gail Minnick did. Here are the results:
Let those creative juices flow!
Jean Gralley and Gail Minnick did.
CLICK HERE for the results: | |
| MCC NOVA News & Events |
FAIRFAX BLITZ
Sunday, July 8, 2:00 pm
Our next ministry to the beautiful residents of Fairfax Nursing Center (FNC) is Sunday,
July 8. We will meet at 2 p.m. after the Lunch Bunch. Visiting lasts about an hour.
If you have not received orientation at FCN, still come, and we will put you with someone who has already gone through orientation and visited. For any questions, please call Doug Hansen at 703-999-2882, or e/mail at s1gnal@cox.net.
PIE-IN-THE-EYE IS BACK!!
Sunday, July 29, After Church
Voting starts on 1 July!
Vote for who you would like to see receive a pie by placing your spare change(dollars or checks) in the jar with the corresponding name. The jars and "pie chart" are located in the fellowship area.
The top 3 AND bottom 3 votes will receive yummy pies.
Join us in the 'Pie Pit' on the 29th where we will auction the pies and the highest bidder will have the pleasure of delivering the pie to the 'winners'.
MCC NOVA SPIRITUAL RETREAT! 
August 10-12, Madison, VA
Final payment is due to Marvin Garcia byJuly 15. For complete information , please
LIVING THE QUESTIONS: Continues 
Section 2: Tuesdays -- July 10, 17, 24, 31 at 7 pm.
Section 3: Tuesdays -- September 4, 11, 18, 25 at 7 pm.
Email us at info@mccnova.com to let us know you're interested. Course materials will be distributed by email unless otherwise requested. For more information, visit http://www.livingthequestions.com or see Ginny Miles/Rev. Kharma.
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| Micah Ministries Calendar |
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Micah Ministries is MCC NOVA's social justice ministry. Below are our current plans for this calendar year. Please let Micah know what you would like to participate in. Judith Raleigh is the team lead and she would love to hear from you.
Benefit Dance for Latvia ü
Our Daily Bread Food Drive On-Going
Ministry to Animals TBD
Thanksgiving Food Drive November 2007
Christmas Adopt a Family December 2007
Foot Ministry to Street People TBD
Global Outreach January 2009 |
| In Focus: Strategic Goals |
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Living intentionally as a faith community lies at the core of strategic goal setting. This column tracks the progress we're making toward our current goals of expanding our community involvement and service, and increasing spiritual formation at MCC NOVA.
Here's a roundup of the major activities that took place in June. This was Capital Pride month, so as you can see, we were busy people!
Children's Bible Study-Weekly sessions during service for the fabulous children of MCC NOVA.
diMENsions-Off-site socializing and Bible study for those identifying as men.
Drumming Circle - A small but joyful band of drummers came together this month to celebrate the summer solstice. Two new drummers were welcomed into this latest circle. All are encouraged to attend the next gathering and experience the power and camaraderie of this sacred communal tradition.
Northern Virginia Interfaith Pride Worship Service-Many MCC NOVA-ites made the trip to Alexandria on the evening of June 12 to celebrate LGBT pride and diversity at the first-ever Northern Virginia Interfaith Pride Worship service. A rainbow of faiths, persuasions, gender identities, and personal experiences came to life in moving testimonials, scripture readings, and song. Kudos to the MCC NOVA musicians who gamely joined the pickup choir and lent their talents and enthusiasm to the worship service.
Reflections on 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride-Stephen Krebs honored us by reflecting on his participation in the 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride. Stephen was one of 50 young adults who toured the country on two buses, visiting more than 30 Christian colleges and universities to engage in dialogue about the damaging effects of homophobic doctrine, and the false notion that LGBT people are sinful. Stephen is the son of our own Cathryn and Fred Krebs.
Community Involvement and Service
Capital Pride-On June 10, MCC NOVA and MCC DC shared a booth at the Capital Pride celebration in Washington, D.C. (Our neighbor was none other than MCC Fredericksburg, so we were in good company all around.) Excellent weather, a good location, and cheerful volunteers in the booth made for a wonderful Pride experience. Thanks to everyone who helped spread our message of pride, faith, and hope.
Celebrate Fairfax-For three days, visitors to the annual Fairfax County fair had the chance to learn about MCC NOVA, meet members of our congregation, and take our literature home. Traffic was steady, and a number of visitors expressed gratitude for our presence. Many thanks to all who staffed the booth with enthusiasm, pride, and disregard for the heat!
Lunch Bunch-After-service fellowship, extending MCC NOVA's welcome and hospitality to all, including new visitors.
Nursing Home Visitation-Ongoing ministry of companionship for the residents and patients of the Fairfax Nursing Center.
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| Spotlight on Ministry |
Special thanks to the following:
Cindy Allan, Errol Waits, and Sarah Fershee for their work in preparing our sabbatical grant application.
Cathryn for organizing our booth at the Celebrate Fairfax Fair; to Judith for organizing our Pride booth; and to all who gave their time and energy to represent MCC NOVA at these events.
Kyle White for his dedicated coordination of "The Lunch Bunch," which gathers every Sunday after worship for a time of food and fellowship. Thank you to all of you who attend this gathering and invest in building relationships within our community.
To David, Deb, and Jason (3.12) for sharing their gifts of music and encouragement with us!
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| Community Notes |
SUMMER SOCIAL BOWLING!
Monday, July 23, 8:00 - 10:00 pm
The Capital Area Rainbowlers Association (CARA) will be playing host to a Summer Social Bowling event on Monday, July 23, from 8 to 10 p.m. at AMF Annandale Lanes. We invite you and your group to come on down and mingle with GLBT persons from around the metro area. This event will be similar to the successful social event we held last July and December... The atmosphere is very casual (and all bowling skill levels are encouraged and will be represented). The details: $2.50/game; FREE shoe rental; several snack trays on hand in case anyone would like a nosh.
NOVAM 'CONCERT FOR HOPE'
Friday, November 30, 2007
Save the date for NOVAM's inaugural "Concert for Hope" which will be held on Friday, November 30, 2007. This concert will be an uplifting recognition of World AIDS Day and will feature singing duet Jason and DeMarco, among others.
Additional details will be forthcoming.
HAVE A ROOM TO RENT?
Please let us know. We often have people who are looking for housing and would love to know about your resource. Contact Rev. Kharma.
CAPITAL HOSPICE IS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
Are you interested in making a difference? Adult daytime, evening, and weekend volunteers are needed to visit hospice patients at home, work in our Van Ness office, join our Speakers Bureau. We also need volunteers with cars, language skills, a strong desire to work with people. Patient Care Volunteer Trainings are held three times a year. Volunteers will learn about Capital Hospice services and programs and techniques in caring for and communicating with hospice patients. To apply, please contact Volunteer Services at 202-244-8300 or visit www.capitalhospice.org
WHITMAN-WALKER CLINIC SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
Whitman-Walker Clinic has volunteer opportunities in a variety of capacities at all of its metro locations --NW, SE, Arlington and Takoma Park. If you can help, please contact WWC Volunteer Coordinator, Sarah Jackson" at sjackson@wwc.org or 202-797-3576
AREA PFLAG GATHERINGS (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
1. Annandale-Little River United Church of Christ, 3rd Sunday, 4:30 pm.
2. Falls Church--Temple Rodef Shalom at 2100 Westmoreland Street on the 2nd Thursday at 7:30 pm.
3. Manassas --Bull Run Unitarian Universalist Church, 4th Monday at 7:00 pm.
4. Reston --Washington-Plaza Church (Lake Ann), 1st Tuesday, 7:30-9:30 pm.
5. Bethesda MD-2 separate meetings at 2:00 pm on each 3rd Sunday: one focused on Trans-people and their families-Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church.
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| Support MCC NOVA! |
DO YOUR SHOPPING ONLINE AT iGive.com and a percentage of your purchase goes to MCC NOVA
Shop at any of the more than 600 stores at i.GIVE.COM and a percentage of your purchase goes to MCC NOVA! Tell a friend about iGive.com and MCC NOVA gets $5.00! Its easy, just click on iGive.com to sign up.
SHOP AT THE MCC NOVA SPIRIT-WEAR STORE!
Now you can proudly wear t-shirts, sweatshirts and more emblazoned with MCC NOVA's new statement of calling logo! Simply go to our website at www.mccnova.comand click on the link to our online Spirit-wear store or go directly to www.cafepress.com/novacom2
TO SUPPORT MCC NOVA DIRECTLY, YOU CAN MAKE
A SECURE, TAX-DEDUCTIBLE  CONTRIBUTION BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK: | |
