The Electronic Newsletter of MCC Austin at Freedom Oaks
| April 28, 2010
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From Your Pastor 
You've GOT To Be Here
I think I have made a great discovery. It's not on a level with discovering electricity or discovering Noah's Ark (which has recently happened for the 137th time), but it's big nonetheless. It's also hard to identify; I'm not sure if it belongs to the realm of science, medicine, sociology, psychology, or theology. I'm pretty sure it doesn't have a math component.
Before you read further I want you to promise me something. Promise me you won't spend time trying to figure out if this discovery is about you. It's not. It's all about me--my thoughts, observations, and feelings. And while you're at it, promise me you'll come to church this Sunday...
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What's Happening at MCC Austin
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 Sunday Worship on May 2
9 & 11 a.m.
"Building a Church Without Walls" Rev. Karen Thompson
Rev. 21:1-6
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. God will dwell with them as their God; they will be God's peoples, and God will be with them; God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." And the one on the throne also said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then the exalted one said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life."
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 H2O ~ Living Water Sunday, May 2 at 2 p.m. ...when you want to meet Christ,
not expectations... |
 Sunday Morning Bible Study: The Shack
Study begins Sunday, May 2
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. in the Wray Education Building
Come Join Us!
" The Shack is a one of a kind invitation to journey to the very heart of God. Through my tears and cheers, I have been indeed transformed by the tender mercy with which William Paul Young opened the veil that too often separated me from God and from myself. With every page, the complicated do's and don't that distort a relationship into a religion were washed away as I understood Father, Son, and Holy Ghost for the first time in my life." --Patrick M. Roddy, Emmy Award Winning Producer of ABC News |
 Viva!! Cinco de MayoYou are invited to join us for special refreshments in celebration of Cinco de Mayo after the 9 and 11 a.m. services on Sunday May 2, 2010. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on May 5 to commemorate the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. The Battle of Puebla was important for at least two reasons. First, although considerably outnumbered, the Mexicans defeated a much better-equipped French army. The 4,000 Mexican soldiers were greatly outnumbered by the well-equipped French army of 8,000 that had not been defeated for almost 50 years. Second, it was significant because since the Battle of Puebla no country in the Americas has been invaded by an army from another continent (courtesy of Wikipedia). Please join us as we honor the traditions and contributions of our Mexican brothers and sisters, past and present.
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 "Many Lights for Human Rights"The 27th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial
& Austin's 11th Annual Service
Sunday, May 16th
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
At Republic Square Park located on Guadalupe,
between 4th & 5th Streets in downtown Austin. |
 Being Church ~ Building CommunityIn response to God's inviting us to build a new permanent home for MCC Austin at Freedom Oaks, our capital stewardship campaign is one of the most exciting ever attempted! It's very important our congregation fully understand the campaign's purpose. Are you wondering what it's all about and how you can be part of helping our church achieve success in this challenging endeavor? Following each Sunday morning service, executive team members serving on the campaign will be available to visit with you at the front of the sanctuary. We encourage you to drop by and give us the opportunity to answer your questions. Come see what new thing God has called us to do!
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 The Spirituality of Leadership Retreat
Saturday, May 22
9 a.m. until noon
MCC Austin Sanctuary
This half day retreat, facilitated by Rev. Dr. Mona West, will help church leaders join 'soul with role' through an exploration of the concept of Servant Leadership as modeled by Jesus. Emphasis will also be given to spiritual practices for leaders and there will be fun exercises on team building and collaboration. The retreat will also provide some guidelines for avoiding leader burnout. To register, please contact Courtney Webster in the church office. |
 From the MCC Austin Vice-Moderator
For several weeks now, your MCC Austin Board of Directors has been monitoring the situation in Mexico as MCC Churches move toward this year's General Conference in Acapulco. Many of you have heard news about the Mexican government's crackdown on the war against drugs and the resulting increase in crime related activities between the drug cartel and Mexican officials, and some of you have voiced concerns about your own and others' safety in Mexico.
MCC Churches have been regularly monitoring the situation also, including receiving constant updates from MCCers who live and work in Mexico. In light of that, the denomination still has confidence that attending our General Conference places no one at exceptional risk. We agree with their assessment, but we also know that different people have different ideas of what constitutes unnecessary or exceptional risk. Therefore, we are encouraging each of you, whether you are planning to attend General Conference on your own or you have been invited or elected to attend as a delegate or other type of participant, to make a decision about your attendance that is best for you.
MCC and MCC Austin can never guarantee your personal safety as you travel to or attend an event, but we encourage you to adhere to the following suggestions as a way of minimizing risks: Travel by air. Research has shown that travelling by land vehicle in Mexico can result in added danger. If you choose to travel by vehicle, please travel on toll (cuota) roads whenever possible, as they are considered to be more secure. File your travel plans with the US Travel Department. U.S. citizens living or traveling in Mexico are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy or the nearest U.S. consulate through the State Department's travel registration website, in order to obtain updated information on local travel and security. U.S. citizens without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Registration is important; it allows the State Department to assist U.S. citizens in an emergency. Cooperate with officials at all checkpoints during your travel in Mexico. Do not use roadside ATM machines to withdraw cash. Many commercial establishments have ATM machines inside. Additionally, withdraw cash during the day whenever possible. Take a proactive approach to your safety. Please stay within the high tourist areas, stay in a group as much as possible, and if you have to travel outside of the resort, please do so only during the daytime hours. Avoid any displays of wealth. Don't wear excessive jewelry or designer clothing, don't show excessive cash, and pay close attention to your surroundings. Please leave valuable items in a safe place or avoid bringing them at all. Do not travel by bus from Acapulco toward Ixtapa or Huatulco. The embassy has advised caution on buses, specifically on these routes, as there have been reported robberies of entire busloads of passengers. Remain cautious, even when staying at your resort. Do not invite any unknown people-including hotel workers, taxi drivers, and security personnel-into your hotel rooms. Contact the U.S. Embassy, the nearest U.S. consulate, or the Department of State in the event that you experience any issues.
Please feel free to contact Denice Bain or any member of your Board of Directors if you have any additional concerns. |
BEYOND OUR WALLS: MCC News & Updates
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| | MCC General Conference
APRIL 30 - EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION RATE DEADLINE
The General Conference Early Bird registration deadline is this Friday, April 30, 2010! Don't forget to register now in order to lock in the low, 30% discounted rate! If you need help registering, please call Leah Sloan at (325) 480-0697 or email her at leahsloan@mccchurch.net . Read this complete article here.
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| MCC General Conference
LT. DAN CHOI, FEATURED SPEAKER Arabic Linguist. Iraq Vet. West Point Grad. Infantry Officer. Gay... Fired... And Fighting Back!
On March 19, 2009, Lt. Dan Choi, a West Point graduate and Iraq veteran fluent in Arabic, announced that he was gay on The Rachel Maddow Show. Because of three words - "I am gay" - Lt. Choi's life changed forever. Despite his extreme value as an Arabic speaker able to communicate quickly and clearly with the Iraqi people, one month after his announcement Lt. Dan Choi was notified that the Army had begun discharge proceedings against him. Read the complete newsletter here.
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MCC Breaking News!
Nate Phelps left his family at the stroke of midnight on his eighteenth birthday. After years in Canada, Nate returns to Topeka to share his story growing up as the son of Fred Phelps, the "God Hates Fags" pastor, and as a member of the Westboro Baptist Church. Admission is free.
Read the complete newsletter here.
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BEYOND OUR WALLS: News & Community Events
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AdoptUSKids Focus Group
AdoptUSKids is conducting a focus group on the experience of gay and lesbian parents adopting children through foster care. All gay and lesbian adoptive families are welcome even if you adopted through a private agency. If you are willing to share your experiences with me in hopes of making the process better for other families like ours in the future, please consider joining me for this very important focus group. Your help is greatly appreciated.
When: Thursday, May 6
What time: 6 p.m.
Where: St. James Episcopal Church at 1941 Webberville Road, Austin TX
Who: Gay and Lesbian families
Childcare will be provided and pizza is on the house. Please RSVP to me by Monday, May 3 so that we can have the correct number of child care workers, pizza, and paper work. Please call Amy Ford with any questions and to RSVP at 844-7907.
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Human Rights Campaign Voices of Honor
Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell
What: Human Rights Campaign, Voices of Honor Tour When: Saturday, May 8, 2010, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Where: Carver Library, 1161 Angelina Street, Austin, Texas 78722
The Human Rights Campaign's Voices of Honor Tour focuses on repealing the U.S. military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. The Tour helps straight, gay, lesbian and bisexual servicemembers and veterans speak out against the discriminatory law by telling their own stories.The event will feature the PBS documentary ASK NOT, highlighting the effects of Don't Ask, Don't Tell on gay and lesbian servicemembers. There will also be a discussion about the policy following the screening. Panelists include:
Lauren Thomas
U.S. Air Force veteran, discharged for being a lesbian
Neal Hittner
U.S. Army veteran, straight service member who served with gays and lesbians
Colton Lichty
U.S. Army, currently pending discharge under Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Paul Dodd
U.S. Army veteran, serves on the Military Advisory Council of the Service Members Legal Defense Network
Tim Hanson
U.S. Air Force veteran, moderator and member of the HRC Austin Steering Committee
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United ENDA Press Release
Washington, DC. April 22, 2010 - The vote for ENDA in the house is approaching. According to the website DC Agenda, Speaker Pelosi has said House Education & Labor Committee is working hard to "have the strongest possible bill" and she believes a floor vote "will be soon." So please take action now! Click here to find out how. ______________________________________________________________ |
A BIG GAY GARAGE SALE!
Can you even begin to imagine it? A BIG GAY GARAGE SALE? It's happening on May 8-9 at Highland Mall. So don't throw that away - donate it and make a difference! We'll be accepting your donations May 1-6 with a drop-off locations in South Austin and at Highland Mall, details on locations can be found here. Pick-up service is available - please consider a $25 donation to the Pride Foundation for pick-up. To schedule a pick-up, call 512.330.1002. Start cleaning out that closet, garage, warehouse and storage unit!
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Austin Pride Run
The Austin Pride Run is one the major events of the Austin Pride 2010 weekend and the first ever GLBT race in Austin. It is a 5K (3.1 miles) that will allow participants to enjoy a run in downtown Austin in a fun environment. Starting from the Long Center, the runners will cover two laps of a route that will lead them across Lady Bird Lake (Town Lake) up to the 4th street warehouse district. The race will be gun-timed and results will be published but the goal of the race is to welcome everyone and share a good time. This race is a water themed event with a water spray on the course and with a Slip-N-Slide and finisher towels at the end of the race. Everyone; runners, walkers, families, kids, and doggies, are welcome. For more information or to sign up visit http://www.austinpriderun.org
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 E-Link Submissions
If you have information to share through our E-Link, please email it to the editor no later than Monday evening of the week you would like it published.
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Pastor's Message
My discovery is something I'm calling "Information Osmosis." It is the phenomenon that occurs naturally and spontaneously among people who live and work in community. It is the way in which bits and pieces of information leave one person's body and cling to bits of information in another person's body. Those pieces of information travel into other people--without words or gestures or any known method of communication!
"Information Osmosis" is not a malicious phenomenon. It is not gossip or sensationalism or drama. In fact, I could call it "Well-Intentioned Information Osmosis." But that's just too long.
Oh, and there's one more thing. As information travels through the cell walls of one body into another, it morphs. Evidently some chemical, possibly in the epidermis, reacts with the Information, turning it into Misinformation. By the time the information makes its third or fourth trip by osmosis, its original identity is barely recognizable. It's like Misinformation to the 10th or something.
Now I know the temptation here is for you to think that I'm being sarcastic. I'm afraid you will be quick to think that what I'm getting around to is a lecture on confidentiality or discretion. Really, I'm not. Information, I've learned, leaves and enters the body as easily as oxygen, just through a different process.
For example: Someone you care about, let's say your Aunt Bess, prepares something for you to eat. You eat it to be polite, but you hate it. Through Information Osmosis, Aunt Bess receives this Information from you. BUT the Information has morphed into Misinformation, and though you never smiled, never muttered "Mmmm," never said, "This is great!" and too aggressively refused seconds (Thank God the bowl didn't break when it hit the ground.), Aunt Bess is certain you loved it! From now on, every time you have a meal with her, you will have that dish. And she will tell other people it's your favorite, too!
See? Nothing malicious. In fact, something very well-intentioned.
And now you know why you MUST be in church this Sunday.
For two months now you've been exposed to Information Osmosis. Here are some of the possible indicators of your exposure. You are terribly disappointed to learn that the plans for the new building include ______ (fill in the blank). You wonder why our Capital Stewardship campaign has a goal of $_____. You're excited that we plan on breaking ground in _____. You're horrified to know that you will be asked to _____. You can't believe we're getting rid of _____. You're glad someone finally took your advice about ______.
At least one of those sounded familiar, didn't it? That's why you've got to be here Sunday to get all the information about the Being Church ~ Building Community campaign. We'll share it the old fashioned way, with words and pictures.
This is an amazing time to be part of the growth and future of MCC Austin. Please come to church, invite all your friends (even if you expect they'll be here anyway), and BRING or WEAR A HAT! (I can't wait to see what Information Osmosis does to that last request.)
Love and Blessings,
Rev. Karen Thompson
Sr. Pastor
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