MCC NOVA e-NEWSLETTER, September 2007

WORSHIP MEETING

September 2, 12:30 pm

Please join us this Sunday for an open discussion about the way we approach and facilitate worship at MCC NOVA. We hope to revitalize our worship planning and coordinating processes. Current and potentially interested worship coordinators and/or participants and leaders are invited to stay for this time of discussion and creative innovation. Let's build on our strengths and find ways to engage and empower even more people in the community to participate in our worship life. For questions, see Rev. Kharma or Jenny Banks.

MCC NOVA's SERVICE PROJECT 2009 UPDATE

Pack your bags! We are going to Costa Rica! COSTA BIRD

MCC NOVA's 2009 service project team will travel to Costa Rica for one week in the January/February 2009 time frame. This is an exciting decision for our congregation and we look forward to enriching the lives of others while enriching our own lives by giving of our time and talent. We currently have a team of 17 people who have committed to making the trip.

WE WANT YOU!

If you would like to learn more about the service project please visit: http://www.globalvolunteers.org/costarica/default.asp. If you are interested in joining the team or learning more please stay tuned for our next meeting or contact Judith Raleigh. Please join me in thanking the dedicated folks all who have graciously offered to donate their time & money to this worthy cause: Kharma, Kala, Scott, Chris, Kurt F., Lisa & Holly, Ginny Reed, Nancy, Pat, Vanessa, Irene, Karen, Michelle, Tracey, Judith & Kathy F!

PAGAN PRIDE DAY

Saturday, September 8, Noon - 4:00 pm

In a show of interfaith solidarity and support, MCC NOVA will staff a booth at the first annual Northern Virginia Pagan Pride Day, held on Saturday, September 8 at Lake Accotink Park in Springfield, VA. More information can be found at: http://openhearth.org/paganpride. The event will conclude with a drumming circle at 3:00 pm. All are welcome. If you would like to help staff our booth, please see Rev. Kharma.

FAIRFAX BLITZ

Sunday, September 9, 2:00 pm

Note: Doug Hansen has stepped down from leadership of the Nursing Center ministry. Many thanks to Doug for shepherding this wonderful outreach. We are pleased to announce that Grace Borell will assume leadership of this ministry. Thank you, Grace!

Our next ministry to the beautiful residents of Fairfax Nursing Center (FNC) Sunday,

September 9 at 2 pm. We've had a great time. One resident said, "I don't know what I would have done without you; I had no cup for my water (and we got him one)." Please help us share Christ's love to others. There are two floors of 'regular' patients at FCN, one Alzheimer's floor, and one rehab (short term) floor. We will meet at 2 p.m. after the Lunch Bunch. 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 more information or to let Grace know you will attend, please send an email to agentgrace@mris.com.

diMENsions MEN'S BIBLE STUDY

Wednesday, September 12, 7:30 pm

Chris Fink will host the next gathering of DiMENSions on Wednesday, September 12 at 7:30 PM, at 7516 Chrisland Cove, Falls Church 22042. Over a shared meal, our men's Bible study group provides a nurturing and bonding experience with each other as well as with the Lord. Please join us as we continue with Chapters 5 and 6 of our DVD study entitled "Saving Jesus," 20-minute segments with a discussion about the relevance of our Savior in today's world. For more information or travel assistance, please contact Kyle White at 703.200.9503 or Chris Fink at 571.235.5780.

RETREAT EVALUATIONS

Attention Spiritual Retreat Participants, if you have not already done so, please complete the online retreat survey (anonymously) as soon as possible. To respond, please visit the following link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8NHmsoYXuhx6vkFxEBzu4A_3d_3d). If you have any questions or need technical assistance, please contact Marvin Garcia at ueni@yahoo.com.

SEPTEMBER IS "JAM" MONTH!

YOU are invited to come out and have some fun making music with the band! InCluesion is taking a short vacation from playing on Sunday's during the month of September but we just can't stay away from our music. We are planning on getting together every Wednesday just for the pure fun of it! It does not matter if you play an instrument or not. Come join the fun. We will be jamming every Wednesday from 7:00 - 9:00. You can come for all or just a part of the evening. Come try us out. We can make beautiful music together! If you have any questions, please see Kala, Kathleen, Cathy, Kelli, Pepe, Yvonne, Donna, Colleen or Gail.

DRUMMING CIRCLE

Saturday, September 22, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

MCC NOVA presents a sacred/community drumming circle. All are welcome. No experience is required. Circles are scheduled quarterly around the time of the solstice. Drumming has been used by indigenous people all over the world for thousands of years as a powerful spiritual tool. In recent years, thousands of Community Drumming Circles have come into an existence as a way for people in our time to capture some of the concepts and practices of the ancient tradition and experience the benefits of it. These circles typically borrow some of the concepts and traditions of the ancient traditions, but are more flexible and require no special training or talents to participate. Our circle is based on this concept. Fliers are available on the literature table; please feel free to take these to post and hand out to others who might be interested. The more the merrier.

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!

LIVING THE QUESTIONS: 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.

AIDSWALK WASHINGTON 2007: "Put Your Foot Down"

Saturday, October 6

Join TEAM MCC NOVA for AIDSWalk Washington! Sign up to walk or to support our team by seeing Ken Williamson or going to http://www.aidswalkwashington.org

SAVE THE DATE!

ANTI-RACISM WORKSHOP AT MCC NOVA

Saturday, November 3

delores2 Rev. Delores Berry will lead us in a workshop to increase our awareness about the dynamics of racism, as well as strategies for engaging in anti-oppression work as an intentional part of our social justice activities. Rev. Berry will also be with us in worship on Sunday, November 4 to provide an inspiring message through word and song. www.revdeloresberry.com

SAVE THE DATE!

ANNUAL MCC NOVA BASKET AUCTION

Saturday November 17

For more information on how you can help, watch this space!

SAVE THE DATE!

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.

SAVE THE DATE!

WORLD AIDS DAY

Saturday, December 1

joshua love MCC NOVA is working with Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM), several other area MCC congregations, Little River UCC, and many others to host a community health fair on the theme of Body, Mind, and Spirit. The event will include a keynote address from Joshua Love, MCC's international HIV/AIDS and Drug Literacy Program Specialist, a variety of panel presentations, booths sponsored by area agencies promoting a variety of health and wellness resources in our community, health testing/screening, and much more. Joshua will also preach at MCC NOVA on Sunday, December 2.