The Electronic Newsletter of MCC Austin at Freedom Oaks
| May 19, 2010
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From Your Pastor 
Pentecost
This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, the "Birthday of the Church," the recognition of the gift of the Holy Spirit. We use red to symbolize Pentecost because it reminds us of the tongues of fire that descended on the crowd in Jerusalem fifty days after Easter.
Those flames are on my mind today--those flames and the lesson my junior high school science teacher taught me about what a fire needs to continue burning.
Read More... |
What's Happening at MCC Austin
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May
6 Sunday Worship at 9 and 11 a.m., and H20 at 2 p.m.
13 Sunday Worship at 9 and 11 a.m., and H20 at 2 p.m.
19 New Member Class 9 - 11:30 a.m.
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 Sunday Worship on May 23
9 & 11 a.m.
"The After-Party"
Rev. Karen Thompson
Acts 2:43-47
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Last Week's Sermon Question:
To possess integrity means to be integrated; it means that all the pieces fit--you are who you say you are. It's the opposite of __________.
Send your answers to e-link@mccaustin.com. You might win a Being Church ~ Building Community water bottle. |
 H2O ~ Living Water Sunday, May 23 at 2 p.m. ...when you want to meet Christ,
not expectations... |
 Sunday School NewsCalling all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade parents with children in Sunday School! The church will be giving Bibles to all children in Sunday School who will be finishing 3-5 grades this Sunday during the 11:00 service. It will be a surprise for them so please don't tell them. If you're new or your child hasn't been to Sunday School lately and they will be here this Sunday, please email Alycia Erickson to let her know. Just be sure they're here for church this week! |
 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.
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2010 PRIDE WEEKEND
Interfaith Pride Service
Thursday, June 3, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
Unity Church of the Hills, 9905 Anderson Mill Join us for an Interfaith Service Guest Speaker: Bishop Yvette Flunder from City of Refuge in San Francisco and The Fellowship
Austin Pride Parade
Saturday, June 5, 2010 8:30 p.m.
Downtown Austin
Pride Festival Saturday, June 5, 2010 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
The Long Center MCC Austin's Pride Opportunities
Donations Needed
We are in need of bottled water and coolers for our PRIDE booth. If you can donate bottled water and/or loan a cooler please contact Courtney Webster here or by calling the church.
Buy Pride T-shirts
Pride T-shirts are now available for $10 each. You may buy a shirt after the services beginning this weekend.
Interested in Walking With MCCA in Pride Parade?
We would love to have as many walkers as possible in the parade. All participants must sign release forms to participate. When you complete the forms, you will receive a wristband to wear at the parade.
Please note: we will have a float that will carry 20 people or children who cannot walk the parade route for whatever reason. Float spots will be given on a first come, first serve only on the day of the parade. The parade route is about two miles long so plan accordingly: wear comfortable shoes!
Gather at the beginning of the Parade route by 7:30 p.m. Look for MCC Austin's float and walking group.
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 New Guiding My Life Support Group
This new support group is open to everyone. We will meet every other Monday from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Social Hall beginning June 7th. If you have any questions, please email Carol Wagner. |
 New Member Class on June 19If you are interested in becoming a member of MCC Austin please sign up for our next New Member class which will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2010 from 9 - 11:30 a.m. We will offer a light breakfast. If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Courtney Webster at courtney.webster@mccaustin.com or by calling the church. |
 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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 Honoring All Serving in the Military
During our worship on Sunday, May 30, we would like to recognize and lift up in prayer all those who are currently serving in the military. Please email the church office with the names of all people you know who are serving in a branch of the Armed Forces. Deadline for submitting names is Monday, May 24. |
BEYOND OUR WALLS: MCC News & Updates
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| Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches
Calls All U.S. Congregations to Immediate Action:
Secure the Passage of ENDA
Today, as we mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia {IDAHO} and MCCers around the globe join in demonstrations, dialogues and prayer vigils seeking a world where discrimination and violence against LGBT people is a thing of the past, I call on our Churches and Congregants in the United States to join me in taking action to ensure the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act {ENDA}. Read the complete article here. MARK INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA
On Monday, May 17th LGBT people and our allies around the globe will mark the Internationoal Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia {IDAHO}. This year's focus for the IDAHO campaign is the role religions can play in creating a climate of acceptance and support for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Read the complete article here. Back to Top______________________________________________________________ |
General Conference Business Meeting
Packets are NOW Available!
The General Conference business meeting will be held on Tuesday, 29 June 2010, in Acapulco, Mexico. In preparation for the General Conference Business meeting, the business meeting packet is now available for download. Given that General Conference is a "Green" event, we are inviting all delegates to help with this effort by bringing your own copy of the packet for review during the meeting. Thus, we will have only a limited number of copies available on site in Acapulco. The business meeting packet includes the following documents: click here to continue. Back to Top______________________________________________________________ |
MCC Network News
Network News? What's that? Well, we've changed the title "Clusters" to "Networks" for those groups of churches near you which join together for support, education, and fellowship. Click here to read more. Back to Top______________________________________________________________ |
BEYOND OUR WALLS: News & Community Events
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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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Our Prayers...
- For our GLBT brothers and sisters around the world who live in fear of violence and discrimination for the sexual orientation or gender identity.
- For everyone involved in helping clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and for all the communities along the coast who are affected by it.
- For MCC Churches as we prepare for our General Conference at the end of June.
- For all who face the challenges of arthritis.
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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
In case you've forgotten, a fire needs two things to continue burning after it's started: fuel and oxygen. As I contemplate this, I try to interpret it in light of the flames that burned at Pentecost. Why then? What changed on that day that could account for those first "Little Lights of Mine"?
I think it's not too big a stretch to say that the flames began to burn because God had imparted a divine spark upon humans, and at Pentecost that divine spark came into contact with the two elements necessary to keep a fire burning: fuel and air. They possessed fuel, something with form and substance, in the Gospel. They had air in the breath of God, the Holy Spirit.
Those two things--the Gospel message of love and forgiveness and the Spirit of God--are enough to keep our flames burning. But sometimes, we lose our hold on one or the other, and our flames start to burn out.
Burnout.
Now that I think about it this way, I bet the term originated in the church. I bet it's not something that we carried into the church from our stressed out, over worked lives. Burnout was born in the church. Probably at Pentecost!
Now, you might think this sounds negative and cynical, but I think it's helpful and hopeful. We only cure diseases after we discover the causes. We repair breakdowns after we discover the problem. Why wouldn't it be the same with burnout?
And if it is, then the remedy is simple. To keep the fire going, keep the fuel and air coming. Immerse yourself in the Good News of God's love and forgiveness. Fill yourself with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
So often when we experience burnout in our church context, we do so because over time we have let ourselves lose the fuel or the air. We try substitutes: projects, positions, personal relationships, orthodoxy, even absence. But what our souls really need to burn brightly are the empowering Gospel and the inspiring Spirit.
I'm sure I have many kinks to work out of this theory, but even if it's mostly wrong, I'm pretty sure it's on the right track.
May the Spirit Burn Brightly in You,
 Rev. Karen Thompson
Sr. Pastor
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