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Worship This Weekend
This weekend we will celebrate the Ascension of Christ--Christ's departure from this earth into heaven. We are reading the account of the Ascension found in the first chapter of Acts, but accounts of the Ascension also appear in the Gospel of Mark 16:19-20 and in Luke 24:50-53.
People often wonder why we don't have more detailed accounts of the Ascension in the Gospels. Some wonder if the brevity may be a comment upon the relative importance of the event. But I don't think we should be overly preoccupied with the length of the accounts. I think we should spend our time wondering what the Ascension means for us.
Van A. Harvey has written that the Ascension has traditionally carried three meanings: 1) through ascension Christ becomes the priestly advocate for the people, 2) Christ shares fully in Sovereignty with God, and 3) Christ is free, and no eartly authority can completely represent him.
I hope you will worship with us this weekend as we look at Christ's Ascension as an invitation to escape all that keeps us bound and learn to fly.
Always in Hope,
Karen
Rev. Karen Thompson
Acting Sr. Pastor |
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Dear Members and Friends of MCC Austin,
At the request of the Pastoral Search Team, your Board of Directors has called a special Congregational Meeting for Sunday, May 18, after the 11:00 service. The stated purpose of this meeting is to vote on MCC Austin's next Sr. Pastor. Please visit www.mccaustin.com beginning this evening to learn details about our Sr. Pastor Candidate and activities scheduled for Candidate Week. | |
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Worship for Saturday, May 3
 "You Are Now Free To Fly"
Acts 1:6-11
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that God has set by God's own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two figures in white robes stood by them. They said, "People of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
*Please join us in the Social Hall after worship for refreshments. We no longer have pizza on the first Saturday because our number has grown too large, but we will have good snacks! |
Worship for Sunday, May 4 
"You Are Now Free To Fly"
Acts 1:6-11
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that God has set by God's own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two figures in white robes stood by them. They said, "People of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." |
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Wear Red Next Sunday!
Next Sunday, May 11, is Pentecost Sunday. We invite you to wear red, the liturgical color for Pentecost, and join us as we celebrate the birth of the Church and the gift of the Holy Spirit. |
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Ain't It Grand!
In a wonderful confluence of events, our need for a new piano, the President's economic stimulus plan, and Concordia University's piano sale all collided with your generosity, and we have a new piano!
Please come worship with us on Sunday and enjoy its absolutely heavenly sound.
If you would still like to contribute, we invite you to stop by the table in Cowan Hall and add your name to the pledge list. We have enough cash and pledges for the piano, but we are also purchasing a temperature and humidity control cover and a permanent dolly so that we can care for the piano. |
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Let's Go Bowling!
Where: Dart Bowl, 5700 Grover (right behind First Texas
Honda off Koenig Lane West of Lamar Blvd)
When: Sunday, June 15, 2008, at 3:00 PM
What to do: Collect pledges from your friends and family.
Pledges can either be an established amount or an amount per pin, based on your score
Participants do not have to be members or friends of MCC Austin. Balls and shoes provided if you do not have your own!
To register and obtain pledge forms, contact Ron Sheaffer at church, call him at 913-1321, or email RCSheaffer@aol.com. We are asking people to register in advance to make sure we have enough lanes reserved for our crowd.
Dart Bar also has an awesome snack bar with burgers, homemade fries, sandwiches, and their award-winning truck-stop enchiladas.
Come out and bowl with us, have some fun, and raise money for our church! |
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Gardening Angels Working Tomorrow
Our Gardening Angels ministry will be working on the grounds tomorrow, Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. until early afternoon. Please join them for whatever time you're available to help with spring yard work. Our 10 acres of Holy Ground is a great blessing, and it requires a lot of care, especially during the spring growing season.
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Call for Artists
Fourth Annual
INTERFAITH ART & MUSIC FESTIVAL
CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
8TH AND BRAZOS
Friday evening, 17 October, 8 pm,
Special Sacred Music Concert
Saturday and Sunday, 18 and 19 October 2008 Festival
10: a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, Noon - 5 p.m. Sunday
This festival is open to artists of all faiths and beliefs. Artists' work will be displayed in booths and available for sale to the public. The work should be original, spiritually based and inspired. Prior to selection for the festival, all submissions will be juried by a panel of professionals from the art community. If you are interested in participating, registration/ application information may be obtained at http://austininterfaithfestival.org or by calling 512-775-3520 or 512-461-6724.
Sponsored by Central Presbyterian Church of Austin
And Friends
There is a $150.00 booth rental fee payable by the artist. Proceeds generated through the festival will be used to establish regular assistance programs for the poor and homeless. |
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MCC Austin's Commemorative Wall
Your Board of Directors is happy to announce that we are once again offering you the opportunity to purchase memorial bricks for our Freedom Oaks Commemorative Wall that runs along the entry path to our sanctuary.
Each brick is available for $99 and can contain up to 3 lines of 18 characters (spaces and symbols included). Order forms are available from Lori Gainer. For more information, please call Lori at 512-626-9595 or call the church office at 512-291-8601. |
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Still Need Hosts for IHN
MCC Austin will serve as the host church during the week of May 4-11. This involves providing meals and on-site volunteers throughout the week. The families will be housed at Manchaca Methodist, which is about four miles south of Freedom Oaks. That host week will be slightly different than those we have done in the past, because the families will already have spent the previous week at MUMC. That means we will not have to set-up the space or move their belongings.
This ministry is a wonderful way to assist the less fortunate to live with dignity and with hope. Our volunteers always report that this is one of the most gratifying opportunities for service that we provide.
If you can prepare a meal, devote a few hours of your time, or would just like to know more about this program, please contact Rev. Bill Young at bill.young@mccaustin.com or indicate your interest on your CommuniCard. |
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Hey, Kids!
Let's Celebrate Cinco de Mayo. This Sunday May 4, after the 11:00 service, we'll dress you up and take your picture with a Pinata filled with candy. We will have festive music playing while you swing at a Pinata for the candy. Please come! |
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Ready for the Big Boat?
On October 27, 2008, members and friends of MCC Austin will be boarding the Carnival Ecstasy for our fourth cruising fundraiser. This year we will leave the port of Galveston and sail to Cozumel, Mexico, and Progresso, Yucatan. We will be returning to the port of Galveston on November 1, 2008.
Ticket prices are based on double occupancy and are $635 per person for an Inside cabin, $695 per person for an Ocean View cabin, and $1325 per person for a Suite. These rates include your cruise fare, port fees, taxes and pre-paid gratuities.
If you would like to make a reservation or have any questions, please visit our cruise table set up in Cowan Hall or go online to www.Signature-Journeys.com and 'book now' under MCC Austin '08. The cost to register is $200 per person. An additional $200 per person is due by June 30, 2008, and the balance is due by August 10, 2008. We hope you will join us as we "Worship on the Waves." |
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Hill Country Ride for AIDS Team Raises $13,000
Our MCC Austin cycling team, resplendent in their "Go and Spin No More" jerseys, raised just over $13,000 for the Hill Country Ride for AIDS last weekend. Look for pictures in next week's E-Link!
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PRIDE Texas 2008
Interfaith Service
Thursday, June 12, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
First United Methodist Church
PRIDE Festival
Saturday, June 14, 2008, Noon to 7:00 p.m.
Auditorium Shores
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25th Annual AIDS Candle Memorial
(Austin, TX) Mark your calendars: This year's 25th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 18, from 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Republic Square Park (4th and San Antonio Street). This year's theme, selected & sponsored by the Global Health Council, the Voice of Global Health, is "Never Give Up, Never Forget." This local event is in its 9th year and is held simultaneously along with more than 1,200 others in communities in 119 countries. The national event began in 1983. This Memorial is free and open to the public. Its purpose is to honor the memory of those lost or affected by AIDS, as well as to raise awareness, educate & advocate for policy change, and to create community dialog, while breaking down social barriers, & giving hope to future generations. Participants are asked to bring their families, friends, co-workers and their candles to help remember. For more information, visit www.candlelightmemorial.org. |
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"Reflections on Israel" from our Moderator
I had the privilege and blessing of touring Israel this past February, along with my partner, Paula, on a trip sponsored by BALM Ministries and Marsha Stevens-Pino.
When you are a Christian preacher who grew up in the church, as I did, your heart and imagination live in that little piece of real estate on the Mediterranean Sea in ways that are deep and meaningful -- but that are not necessarily connected to the Israel of today.
In some ways, . . .
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Job Posting: Office Manager
Position: Office Manager
Description: The Office Manager will be responsible for managing the church office. This includes secretarial as well as certain financial tasks.
To Apply: Submit cover letter and resume to: MCC Austin, 8601 S. 1st St., Austin, TX 78748; or e-mail to karen.thompson@mccaustin.com; or fax to 512-291-8601.
The complete job description including salary and benefits is posted in Cowan Hall at MCC Austin.
The position will be posted for seven (7) days beginning today, May 2, 2008.
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Martina Navratilova and MCC Churches
MCC is delighted to share the recently published article entitled Advantage Navratilova from the Merrill-Lynch Leadership Magazine.
 You can access the article by clicking here and scrolling to page 44.
The Leadership Magazine is dedicated to teamwork, a key initiative of Merrill-Lynch as well as MCC's movement and ministry worldwide.
As MCC's Executive Director, I think you will be very pleased to read the comments by Martina Navratilova about our mutual ministry in the world. This magazine is distributed to 64,000 Merrill-Lynch employees in 40 countries in addition to the 50,000 plus high-net worth investors served by the Division that also serves Metropolitan Community Church with its endowment fund.
Rev. Dr. Cindi Love
Executive Director
Metropolitan Community Churches |
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Please Be in Prayer For. . .
* The members of MCC Austin as they move through the next stage of calling a Sr. Pastor
*The children and families from the FLDS compound in Eldorado
*Those recovering from tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods throughout the country
*Peace throughout all creation
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