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Spirit. Community. Action. Inside & "Out"
             January 2010    
 kharma2009                                                                                        
From the Laptop of Rev. Kharma
 

Resolutions for a New Decade

 

I suppose this is the moment someone asked me about ten years ago when they said, "Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?"  I'm trying to remember now what my stock answer was back then. I suppose it doesn't matter because no matter what the answer was then, I'm here now, and I'm grateful to be here ... on the cusp of not only a new year, but a new decade.  And in this moment, I'd much rather be looking ahead than looking back.

  
                                                                                                           Continue reading
 
 
 Survey!  Your Help Needed!
 
On February 12 & 13, MCC NOVA's Board of Directors will attend the MCC Church Size Summit in Washington, DC.  This workshop/assessment is designed to help MCC church leaders understand issues that impact church size and potential for growth. During the second day, consultants will conduct an individual assessment of each church based on input provided by the congregation and the Board. This is where you come in.  Please go to the link below and complete the MCC Congregational Survey before January 25. 
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5D7D6XT
 
Thanks for helping us take advantage of this opportunity!
 
Upcoming Events
 

lights camera

 

As we begin the journey through the season of Lent, it can be helpful to stop for a time of intentional centering, prayer, reflection, and sharing as we seek directions from the Spirit.  Just as the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry, we are often led into unfamiliar places in our lives.  We often need time to adjust our vision to our new surroundings and to reorient ourselves on the spiritual path. 
 
Join us for a day of spiritual retreat as we stop and seek guidance from the Spirit and prepare for the Lenten journey.
 
When:        Saturday, February 20, 2010
                  10 am - 4 pm
Where:       Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia
                  10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax VA
Cost:          $10 per person to cover lunch

 

For registration information, please CLICK HERE.

 

 

LTQ2LIVING THE QUESTIONS 2.0

SECOND SESSION BEGINS S00N!

Tuesdays at 7:00 pm January 19 - March 2

 

LtQ2 is an open-minded alternative to studies that attempt to give participants all the answers and instead strives to create an environment in which participants can interact with one another in exploring the heart of Christianity. Three seven week sessions include the following themes: Invitation to Journey, Reclaiming the World and Call to Covenant. LtQ2 includes weekly readings and discussion questions. Each session will last an hour and a half and will include 20-minute video segments that contain conversations with leading voices of faith, sermon and lecture clips, digital stories illustrating aspects of an evolving faith, and concrete spiritual practices and disciplines.  More information about this series can be found at www.livingthequestions.com and by clicking here. Contact Rev. Kharma if you have any additional questions. Please email [email protected] to sign up for the class!

 

 

potters handsSAVE THE DATE!

"LESSONS FROM THE POTTER"
Sunday, January 31

 

Join us for worship on Sunday, January 31 and let the creative spirit inspire you!

 

We will be joined by a special guest, Camille Soleil, a local area potter.

 

In the ancient wisdom of the prophet Jeremiah, God speaks to the prophet and says "Go down to the potter's house and there you will hear my word."  The potter at the wheel who is able to refashion the clay again and again according to desire is likened to God who shapes us throughout our lives, forming and tranforming us.  In lieu of a sermon, Camille will be throwing a pot and offering some instructions and reflections about this creative process.  So many of the concepts integral to the art of making pottery (centering, opening, letting go, working through mistakes, etc.) have spiritual insights to offer us.  Don't miss this special opportunity for reflection.

 

Note:  While some stages of pottery-making (mixing the clay, trimming and finishing the dry pottery, etc.) can be quite dusty, Camille will be working with wet clay for her demonstration. However, we will have free masks available for anyone who would  feel more comfortable wearing one during the creative reflection.

 

SAVE THE DATE!

 BINGO IS BACK!

Saturday, February 6 

 
Watch this space for details.
 
 
In This Issue
From the Laptop of Rev. Kharma
Pledge Drive 2009
Read Ahead
Spotlight on Ministry
Community Notes
Support MCC NOVA
Read Ahead

January 10
 
First Reading
 
 Luke 3:15-18, 21-22
 
Second Reading 
 
 "A River Far Away and Long Ago," by Mary Oliver in Red Bird
 
Reflection
 
 "Who You Are" 
 
Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos, preaching 
  
Quick Links
FYI
 
 

LAY-UPS:  A MESSAGE FROM YOUR LAY DELEGATES

 

gen confGeneral Conference is almost here...

 

As your lay delegates, we want to encourage you to consider attending our denomination's general conference in July 2010 in Alcapulco, Mexico.  If you have never been to a general confernece, this one is going to be wonderful.  There are some amazing preachers to be heard, insightul workshops to attend, and new friends to be made!  What's stopping you from coming?  If you want to know more, just CLICK HERE or ask Jean or Gail for more details.

 
 
HELP WANTED

DO YOU LOVE THE MCC NOVA COMMUNITY?  

 

DO YOU LIKE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES?  

 

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HELPING OUR COMMUNITY BECOME EVEN

 

MORE LOVING AND HOSPITABLE?  

 

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, we may have just the opportunity for you!!

 

NEW! WANTED:  CO-COORDINATOR FOR HOSPITALITY TABLE

We are looking for someone to co-coordinate the Hospitality Table for Sundays.  This person would help schedule, recruit, and train volunteers and help us keep track of supplies (paper products, etc.).  This is an important ministry of providing hospitality to those who join us for worship on Sunday as they share time in fellowship following service.  The ideal candidate will have gifts of hospitality, service, and organization.  A love for cookies is a plus!  If you're interested, please contact Rev. Kharma (email: [email protected]).

 

WANTED:  VOLUNTEERS FOR CHURCH CLEANING

Due to budgetary constraints, we will begin utilizing volunteers to help clean the church each week.  Cleaning involves sweeping,

mopping, taking out trash, cleaning bathrooms, and readying our space for worship by arranging chairs, placing hymnals, etc.  This is one opportunity to see immediate results from your efforts, and make our space as appealing and inviting as it can be for those who join us to worship on Sundays.  If you would be willing/interested to volunteer once per month, per quarter, or per year, please contact Elethia (email: [email protected]).

 

WANTED: WEB MASTER

MCC NOVA's website is need of a make-over.  If you have the experience and willingness to help make our website into a vibrant,  relevant and easy to use and maintain communications and outreach tool, we want to talk to you. YOU can be one person or a team of people.  At this time, we are looking for people to assist on a volunteer basis. Interested? Please send a letter of interest to Tracey Kennedy at [email protected].

 
 

lights camera2010 SOULFORCE EQUALITY RIDE
Sponsors Sought for MCC NOVA YOUNG ADULT PARTICIPANT

 

 Sabrina Diz, one of our young adult's here at NOVA, has been accepted to participate in the 2010 Soulforce Equality Ride.  As with Stephen Krebs, who participated in an Equality Ride a couple years ago, Sabrina has already received a $250.00 sponsorship from MCC NOVA's Christian Social Action (CSA) Fund.  Sabrina and those participating in the 2010 Equality Ride are seeking additional financial assistance.     Can you help?

Sabrina writes:  "I will be joining Soulforce on their 2010 Equality Ride.  Soulforce is an organization that seeks "freedom from religious and political oppression for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questionaing people".  On this year's Equality Ride, we will be visiting 13 Colleges and Universities whose school policies actively work to exclude GLBTQ.  Once on campus we hope to engage in dialogue with students and staff, hold forums, workshops, etc., to create an inclusive space.  If not allowed on campus, we hope our prescence will inspire and educate those that do not agree with their school policies, hold demonstrations, and spread the message that GLBTQ individuals should have the same rights and privileges as every other human being.
 
Please check out the link below, you can click under my name to read my Bio, and help sponsor our ride: http://www.soulforce.org/2010riders. If you have any questions regarding sponsorship or the Ride please write to me at [email protected]!

 
 
spotlight Special Thanks to:
 
 
Jenny Banks who has cleaned the church each week.  We acknowledge with gratitude her work and contribution to MCC NoVA.
 
 Event chairs Jeff, (Holiday Food Drive), (Holiday Clothing Drive), Doug (NOVAM Ornament Sales), and T.J. and Terri (NOVAM Adopt-A-Family Gift Card Collection), who did such an outstanding job in helping us to extend the blessing of Christmas and the mission of MCC NoVA to those "OUT"-side our immediate community.
 
Daniel, Ken, and Sarah for writing this year's holiday musical program, to the choir and InCluesion for all the wonderful music, and to all who came out to celebrate with us.

Gail Schulte for all the time and energy she has given to coordinating our hospitality table.  We are grateful for all you did as MCC NOVA's Cookie Queen. 

Ed, Ken, Emma (and Alice, to be rescheduled) for sharing with us as Advent contemporary witnesses; to Gail, Frank, Doug, and Irene for sharing light from their journey as testimonies during Christmas Eve service; and to David, Jeff, and Kurt for providing such beautiful music during that service as well.  We are blessed by your openness and your gifts.

postit com   
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 SEEKS 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, and join our Speakers Bureau.  We also need volunteers with cars, language skills, and 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 
 
 
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.   Western Fairfax -- Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton, MD 22124
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.  
6.  Alexandria, beginning Tuesday, May 12 
    The group meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m.
    Location:   Hope United Church of Christ, an open and affirming congregation
    6130 Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22310, For directions, visit www.hopeucc.org
 

 Support MCC NOVA
 
DO YOUR SHOPPING ONLINE AT iGive.com and a percentage of your purchase goes to MCC NOVAigive
 
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 groundspringCONTRIBUTION BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK:
 

opendoor How Do I get in Here?/
To place a ministry-related announcement in our weekly e-update or monthly e-Newsletter or for more information about placing a community announcement, please contact Tracey Kennedy at [email protected].  For church bulletin announcements, please contact Emma in the church office at [email protected]

Contact Information
MCC NOVA
703-691-0930
mccnova.com