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News from MCC NOVA

Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos, Senior Pastor

 

Read Ahead

 

June 5, 2011


First Reading

 

Acts 1: 6-14

 

Second Reading

 

 

From John O'Donohue in Eternal Echoes: Exploring Our Yearning to Belong

 

Reflection

 

"Now You See Him...Now You Don't"

 

Rev. Emma Chattin,

preaching

 

Our building expansion readiness assessment results from our consultant Tom Melzoni can be viewed via the link below.


Assessment

 
Forget Your Pledge?

 It's never too late to turn in your pledge card for 2011.  MCC NOVA depends on your pledge to help plan for the coming year.

  

Pledge Card 

 

Thank you!

 

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June 2011 

Bingo!  This Saturday!

bingo2 
BE COOL!  PLAY BINGO!  
50-50 Raffle--Door Prizes--Snap Raffles and More!

 

Join us this Saturday, June 4 for an evening of Bingo in the air-conditioned comfort of MCC NOVA!   Admission of $10 at the door and includes 10 games and your name entered for a door prize. Additional sets of bingo cards can be purchased for $5 at the door.  Cool do 

or prizes--gift cards to restaurants and stores!  Refreshments will be available. Doors open at 6:30 and the first game begins at 7:00. Everyone is welcome. For more information, contact Kathleen Feeney [email protected].

June is PRIDE Month!

pride logo 2010CAPITAL TRANS PRIDE CELEBRATION

 

Saturday June 4, 10 am to 5 pm
MCC DC
  
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Marci Bowers.  Tickets are $10 in advance. Click here for more information.
  
  
interfaith imageCELEBRATING PROGRESS WITH PRIDE!
NORTHERN VIRGINIA INTERFAITH PRIDE SERVICE
Wednesday, June 8 at 7:00 pm
Location:  Celebration Center for Spiritual Living
2840 Graham Road, Falls Church, VA
  
Sponsored by:  MCC NOVA, Celebration Center for Spiritual Living, Clarendon Presbyterian, Washington Plaza Baptist, Little River UCC, Queen of Peace Catholic Church, DC Radical Faeries, Northern Virginia Ethical Society, Temple Rodef Shalom, and others!  For more information CLICK HERE.
 
  
CAPITAL PRIDE PARADE
Saturday, June 11, 5:30 pm step off.
  
Watch for details on meet-up time and location. Pride T-shirts are on sale now for $15 each--see Irene at church or contact her at [email protected]

 

  
CAPITAL PRIDE FESTIVAL
  
Sunday, June 12, 11am to 6pm
7th & Pennsylvania Ave.
Use Archive/Navy Memorial Metro stop.
  
Join MCC NOVA and other area MCCs at our festival booth. One-hour volunteer slots are available.

Water Justice Ministry 

 

water

WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOUR WATER COMES FROM?

Tour  A Fairfax County Water Treatment Plant

Sunday, June 19, after worship

 

To continue our focus on water, we can start by learning where our drinking water comes from and how it is treated.  Join us for a presentation for all ages about where water comes from and how it is treated followed by a tour of one of Fairfax Water's treatment plants.

 

We will start at the church and carpool to Herndon. Plan on spending a total of about 3 hours for the presentation and tour.  We will start with a 30 minute presentation at the church, travel to the plant (about a 20 minute drive) and spend about 70 minutes touring the facility. We will than carpool back to the church.  It is recommended that for the plant tour portion of the program - attendees need to be a minimum of 8 years old.  The presentation will be for an audience of all ages.  For more information, contact Jeanne Bailey at [email protected].

 

 

ROLLAPALOOZA DANCE FEST!

 

The Rollapalooza Dance Fest is coming to MCC NOVA on Saturday evening, June 25. Good times will roll for a good cause as DJ Jerome Spearman pumps out the tunes for a dance to benefit the Collette Foundation's Hippo Water Roller project in South Africa. Your $20 ticket purchase will help the foundation to buy and deliver water rollers like the ones pictured here.

rolla combo

As Nelson Mandela has observed, this simple device changes lives for good by making water more easily accessible to resource limited communities. The challenge for MCC NOVA is clear, compelling, and exciting: Why should women and children carry water in buckets for miles every day, when they could just let it roll with a little help from us?

When:   June 25, 2011 @ 7:30 P.M.

Where: MCC NOVA

What to bring: Yourself, Your Friends, and Your Generosity

  

Click here for more information and to purchase your tickets online.

What's Happening at MCC NOVA

  

TORNADO DISASTER RELIEF  

   

Along with the many thousands affected by the recent devastating tornados, MCCers in Joplin, MO and surrounding areas were also severely impacted.  Spirt of Christ MCC lost its worship space in Joplin and their pastor Steve Urie and his partner lost their home. At this time, churches in MCC's Heartland Network are working to assess the condition and needs of all of our members and friends in the area.  MCC NOVA has made a contribution to the MCC Disaster Relief Fund to assist in this effort.  If you would like to make an additional contribution:

  
2) Scroll down to the Joplin May 2011 alert.
3) Click on the Support tab.
  
Please continue to keep all affected by these storms in your prayers.
  
  

GOING AWAY PARTY FOR ERROL WAITS

Saturday June 18th

 

Errol is beginning another life chapter as he is retiring and moving to Nebraska, where he will be closer to his family including many nieces and nephews.    Errol has contributed his time, energy, and resources to MCC NOVA for over 26 years.  He has shared his talents with MCC in many ways including: Treasurer of the Board of Directors for four years; Member-at-Large for another four years; two Pastoral Search committees; usher at worship for ten years; and he currently serves on the Capital Campaign committee.  His gentle spirit and his spirited commitment to a progressive world will be missed by many at MCC NOVA though we know that MCC OMAHA will benefit from his participation there.  The front row in church just won't look the same.  So, if we have to say good-bye, we might as well have a P-A-R-T-Y!

 

Sue H. and Ginny Reed are co-hosting a "Going Away" party, and wish to extend an open invitation to the MCC NOVA Community.

 

What:      BBQ meats to be provided by Red Hot and Blue. Soft drinks, beer and wine will also be provided.  Please consider bringing a side dish, salad, appetizer, or dessert to contribute to our feast.

 

Where:  Sue H.'s house -13152 Diamond Mill Dr., Oakhill, VA (this is in the Reston/Herndon vicinity).  You will receive further directions, including where to park, when you RSVP.

 

When:  Saturday June 18, 4-8p

 

This is an adult only gathering.  Also, no pets, please.

 

RSVP to Sue H. at [email protected] (please indicate which type of food item you plan to bring), OR sign up at the church.  Please RSVP no later than Sunday June 12.

 

See you on June 18th!

  
  

softballTAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME!

ANNUAL ALL-CHURCH SOFTBALL GAME  AND PICNIC

Sunday, June 26, after worship

 

Don't remember the last time you had a cold slice of watermelon?  Haven't been to first base since Little League?  Join your fellow NOVA MCCers on June 26 immediately following church for the 4th Annual Picnic and Softball event.  Bring the kids; bring a food item to share; and join us at Ratcliffe Park, conveniently located at 10300 Sager Ave Fairfax, Virginia -less than a mile from the church.  We'll picnic right after church at the park pavilion and then have fun with some softball.  Come cheer; come play; come watch Kharma slide headfirst for the game-winning run (Not!).  Please sign up at church or e-mail [email protected].  See you there! 

 

 

moha

FUNDRAISER FOR MCC NOVA

Featuring a Concert by MOSAIC HARMONY

Saturday, June 12, 7 pm

 Bishop Ireton High School

201 Cambridge Rd, Alexandria

  

Mosaic Harmony draws on the rich heritage of African-American inspirational music to "unify the world, one song at a time."  Mosaic Harmony brings together people of diverse cultures, religions, ages, and backgrounds to celebrate humanity. The choir represents more than17 faith traditions and performs everything from traditional spirituals to new songs composed by its popular and dynamic director, David North. MCC  NOVA will receive 50% of all of the ticket sales that are sold through the church!

 

Adults are $20; children under 12 are FREE!

 

See Kala for tickets, or e-mail [email protected]

 

URGENT NEED  urgent

  

We're in urgent need of volunteers who can help in a pinch or on a semi-regular basis to clean the church in preparation for Sunday worship. Training provided. Your help is greatly appreciated! Please contact Elethia at [email protected] or 703-638-9751.

 

  

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING 

Tuesday, June 14, 6:30 pm  

Upstairs Library

Everyone is welcome!

 

 

OFFICE VOLUNTEERS

 

Do you have good proofreeading skills? can you spot an extra letter, dropped (or misspelled) capitol a paragraph aqway? Do you enjoy Data Entry? Filing? Assembly of programs? If so, you may have what it takes to be an Office Vilunteer -- for short term and lang term projects! If interested, please e/mail [email protected] with your times of availability. :)  

 

Continuing...

 

 

VIRTUAL BOOK STUDY in SECOND LIFE

Thursdays through June 9 

 

MCC NOVA is hosting an online virtual study of Karen Armstrong's new book 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life (published in December of 2010) on Thursdays through May 26.   Join Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos and Rev. BK Hipsher (Virtual Chaplain of the MCC in Second Life) for a 15-week study.  In this book, Karen Armstrong steps away from her typical role as a religious historian into the place of a spiritual teacher offering concrete tools for developing a spiritual practice of compassion that can change us and make the world a better place.

 

The book can be purchased independently, and is available for Kindle for less than $10.  The software for Second Life is available for free download at www.secondlife.com.   

 

 

FEED THE HOMELESS     

First Sunday of each month 

 

MCC NOVA delivers breakfast to Fairfax homeless. We prepare the food Saturday  from 4:00 to 5:00. We deliver the food on Sunday morning from 7:30 to 9:00. Contact: Pat Monahan, [email protected].

 

 

DONATE TO HELP FEED THE HOMELESS  

 

We are looking for donations of the following goods:

 Muffins, granola bars, yogurt, fruit, juice, bottled water, spoons, napkins, plastic bags. If you would like to contribute, please contact Pat Monahan, [email protected].

 

 

Did You Know...?

 

...Sermons are posted on the MCC NOVA each week so that you (or those you'd like to share with or who are absent) can listen online.  Visit www.mccnova.com.

 
   

NEWS & NOTES from the CONGREGATIONAL CARE TEAM

 

Several months ago, the Congregational Care Team announced our plans to include our entire congregation in our efforts to create a caring community here at MCC NOVA.  This included a survey so that you can tell us what types of activities you might be willing to help with (e.g. sending cards, calling those in need, making meals, etc.). Thanks to those of you who already completed that survey.  For those who may not have had a chance, it's not too late.  Please follow this link. It should take fewer than 10 minutes. 

 

 Remember that we always have a box of cards on the prayer table as you enter the sanctuary.  We encourage you to make it a regular discipline to take a card or two whenever you are here for worship or other events, think about someone in the community you may not have seen for a while or whom you know is experiencing a difficult time, write them a brief note to let them know they are in your thoughts, and then simply put their name on the envelope.  We will do the rest to address and mail the card.  You can place the cards in the offering plates or deliver them to the church office.

 

 As we head into summer, with all of its associated vacations, it's even more difficult than usual to maintain our connections with members of our community.  We want to be intentional about nurturing the bonds we share and reaching out especially to those in need.  Speaking of which, if you have a special need for care or prayer, please let us know.  The best way to do so is to email or phone the church office at [email protected] or 703-691-0930.

Special Thanks... 

 

spotlight

To Cathryn and Michele for their dedication to our Children's Ministry, and to Pepe and Jazzie for their commitment to our Youth.

 

To DeWayne and Cathy for their participation in the planning of the MCC People of African Decent Conference and to all from MCC NOVA who attended the conference.

 

To Cleansing Spirits Ministry and all who contribute to the weekly cleaning of our facility.  We are grateful to you for your faithful and too-oft unacknowledged service.

Community Notes

 

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, 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
 
7.  FLY! (Fairfax LGBTQ Youth) meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30-9:00 pm and on the third Thursday 3:00-4:30 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA  22124.  For more information, contact Carol Lewis at [email protected] 

How Do I Get in Here? 
opendoor