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Spirit. Community. Action. Inside & "Out" | May 2010 |
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From the Laptop of Rev. Kharma
Telling the Truth ... In Church? Last week during the Lancaster Theological Seminary Board of Trustees meeting, I had the chance to hear one of my favorite professors give a presentation about her recent study-sabbatical. It was insightful, funny, practical, and poignant. At the end of the presentation, she made a very honest observation related to the topic at hand that really captured my attention. She said her conversations with members of a variety of churches indicated that most people don't feel as if they can tell the truth about their lives in church. She reinforced the point by disclosing, "I don't feel as if I can tell the truth about my life - at least not my whole life - in church." So I've been thinking quite a bit about this. |
 From the Laptop of Rev. Tim
Caring for Our Absent Friends
One of the things that I often notice on a given Sunday, besides all the wonderful faces and folks who are present, is the absence of those who are not there, some of whom have been gone for a period of weeks or months. I am not certain what comes up for you in thought or feeling when you think about someone, and realize you haven't seen them for a period of time. This is often one of the topics discussed at our weekly pastoral staff meetings and was recently the focus of an extended discussion at a meeting of our Congregational Care Team.
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| Upcoming Events |
 LIVING THE QUESTIONS 2.0PART 3 (FINAL 7-WEEK SESSION)
Tuesdays, beginning May 4,
7:00-8:30 pm
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 info@mccnova.com to sign up for the class!
MEMBERSHIP/INQUIRER'S CLASS
If you are interested in becoming a member of MCC NOVA or would just like to learn more about our church and about Metropolitan Community Churches in general, please plan to join us after worship on Sunday, May 9. The class lasts about 3 hours and lunch will be provided. Please sign up by May 2. If there is insufficient enrollment, the class will be postponed for a later date.
MCC NOVA REMEMBERS THE HOMELESS AND HUNGRY
"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat". Mother Theresa
The first Sunday of each month, MCC NOVA delivers breakfast to Fairfax homeless. We shop on Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00 and prepare the food from 4:00 to 5:00. We deliver the food on Sunday morning from 7:30 to 9:00 am. If you'd like to help please contact Pat Monahan at 703-684-7947 or pmmonahan@cox.net
QUILT RAFFLE by DANIEL!
Friends at MCC, I am VERY excited about attending my first General conference. I have made 3 quilts to raffle for my travel expenses to General conference this summer. Raffle tickets are $5.00 each for a chance to win a quilt designed, pieced and quilted by me. Part of the proceeds will go to MCC NOVA. I will be available after service in the fellowship area for you to get your ticket! Thank you so much for your support. Daniel Scearce
LIBERTY'S PROMISE JOBS SKILLS WORKSHOP
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Saturday, May 22 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
For the past two years, MCC NOVA has provided space for Liberty's Promise, a program that provides life-skills training to immigrant youth or youth of all-immigrant parents. On Saturday, May 22, Liberty's Promise will host a Job Skills Workshop at the Fairfax Library, covering resume writing, interviewing skills, and the job seeking process. MCC NOVA professionals are invited to volunteer to work one-on-one with the youth for a four-hour period. If you are a Human Resources professional or have experience writing resumes or conducting interviews in a professional setting, please consider giving a few hours of your time. For more information, contact Rev. Tim or the program coordinator Allison Bouley at abouley@libertyspromise.org or 703-549-9950.
SAVE THE DATE!
MCC NOVA to HOST N. VIRGINIA PRIDE INTERFAITH SERVICE
Thursday, June 10, 7:00 pm
Join members of faith communities throughout Northern Virginia for this annual worship event. This year's theme is "Believe Out Loud."
2010 SOULFORCE EQUALITY RIDE
NEW LINKS!
 CLICK HERE new posts from Sabrina Diz on the 2010 Soulforce Equality Ride. CLICK HERE for news coverage.
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Acts 11:1-18
Second Reading:
From Anne Lamott in Grace (Eventually)
Reflection:
"On Being Non-Defensive"
Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos, preaching |
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| FYI | |
GENERAL CONFERENCE IS ALMOST HERE...
APRIL 30 is the deadline for EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION and your last chance to take advantage of savings of 30% on conference registration. For more information CLICK HERE or ask Jean or Gail for more details.
See you in Acapulco! |
 SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Alice Mason for her long tenure as Reader Coordinator for worship. Alice, we are grateful for all of the time and energies you have provided!
Darius Smith for the wonderful music he has provided to MCC NOVA for four years now. We are so grateful to you for your gifts and the ways you help us sound better.
Transformations for their leadership of Holy Thursday service (you were awesome!), to Stephanie and John for their leadership of Good Friday service, to the many people who came together to make our celebration of Easter come alive! |
LEARNING THROUGH THE LAW:
Seminar on GLBT Civil Rights Issues
Saturday, May 1, 11:00am
Clarendon Presbyterian Church
1305 North Jackson St., Arlington
Please join us for a free seminar covering marriage law updates and contractual relationships (including civil unions and domestic partnerships) that can help protect you and your partner in areas such as inheritance, medical rights and reproductive rights. Presenters are licensed in MD, DC, and VA. Please RSVP to Molly DeMaret-Tahu by April 27th at
mdemaret@comcast.net
GAYSPIRITS MEN'S RETREAT
May 14-15,
Are you a gay man who wants to reconcile his spirit and his gay self? Think about signing up for the next GaySpirits retreat on May 14 and 15 at St Thomas Episcopal Church on Church St in NW DC. This retreat offers a safe, confidential, sex positive space for gay men to explore their spiritual selves. To enroll or get more information call David at 301-580-2953 or go to the website at gayspirits.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
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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: |
 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 mccnovacom@earthlink.net. For church bulletin announcements, please contact Emma in the church office at info@mccnova.com |
| Contact Information |
MCC NOVA
703-691-0930
mccnova.com |
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