The Electronic Newsletter of MCC Austin at Freedom Oaks 
| November 24, 2010
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From Your Pastor
It's almost here, the beginning of the new church year, the First Sunday of Advent. I can't wait. I always love this time of year, but this year, I'm looking forward to it with even greater anticipation. And I couldn't be happier that we have chosen to wave hello to Advent but then jump right into Christmas. I need it. I need to know, to feel, to celebrate that once again Christ is born to us, and yes, borne in us. Thank God that Christmas can still change the world.
Now I'm just going to sit here and wait for it to happen.
Still waiting...
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What's Happening at MCC Austin
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November
December
5 Sunday Worship at 9 and 11 a.m.
H20 ~ Living Water Worship at 2 p.m.
9 God in My Life class at 7 p.m.
12 Sunday Worship at 9 and 11 a.m.: "Advent III"
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 Sunday Morning Worship on November 28
9 & 11 a.m.
Christmas Can Still Change the World:
Worship Fully
Rev. Karen Thompson
Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his dominion there will be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
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ASL interpretation for the 11 a.m. worship service is available upon request. For more information, please email Courtney Webster.
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 H2O ~ Living Water Worship
Sunday, November 28 at 2 p.m.
"Life Together"
Rev. Alycia Erickson Romans 12:9-21Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve God enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the Lord. Instead, "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads." Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
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 Deacon's Christmas Tree
Each year the deacons help make Christmas brighter for low-income people in our community. This year the Deacon's Tree will assist residents of Maggie Johnson's Nursing Home in East Austin and families and individuals known to our congregation.
If you know of a family or individual with great needs at this time of the year, please submit the name(s) to one of the Deacons by Sunday, December 6. We can commit to 3 families plus another 3 individuals. Once we reach this number, we will no longer be able to accept names, so please submit names as soon as you can. Once the Deacon Tree is up in the sanctuary, take an ornament that has a name on it from the tree. It will have a Christmas wish or needs list on it. Purchase all or some of the items, wrap the gift, attach the ornament to the gift, and place it back under the tree by December 19.
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Order a Poinsettia
You can purchase your a in honor or in memory of someone special in your life and help us complete our holiday decorating of the sanctuary at the same time. If you would like further information, please call the church office at 291-8601.
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"Imagine Inclusion" Bible Study
Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
MCC Austin Wray Education Building
The "No Experience Necessary" group meets in the Wray Education Building from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. every Sunday morning. It's a diverse group of men, women, singles, and couples from ages 20 to 70. On November 21 we will begin a study entitled, "Imagine Inclusion." This study was used in conjunction with MCC General Conference 2010. No previous knowledge or study is necessary. We welcome you to join the conversation. For more information, please contact Jan Manning by email here.
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Holy Conversations
An Invitation to Faithful Dialogue
January 5 at 7 p.m.
Note: There will be NO Holy Conversations in December
"Trans-formations & Trans Experiences"
Holy Conversations is a series of theological discussion guides prepared by the MCC Theologies Team. January's topic is "Trans-formations & Trans Experiences." Holy Conversations is open to everyone who is still seeking and who enjoys seeking in the company of others. You do not need to be a member of MCC to attend, and you do not need to attend every gathering. You are welcome to join us whenever a topic strikes your interest or whenever you want to spend time with other people in a safe, positive, meaningful way. You are encouraged to bring friends.
For location information, please email or call Courtney Webster at the church office and she will give you the directions.
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 JOURNEYSaturday, December 4
MCC Austin from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Registration required, only 25 available spots!
JOURNEY is an 8-hour experience to better understand and appreciate self, others and God. It is a retreat-like experience which deals with such topics as: Do I wear masks? Why? How can I better learn to communicate who I am and not just what I think? How can I grow in trust? Who is Christ? What does Church mean to me? Do I pray? Why? It is a non-threatening opportunity to really get to know yourself, others and God. To register contact Courtney Webster at the church office or by email . It will be facilitated by Carol Wagner and presented by a team from MCC Austin. It will be awesome! Lunch will be served - love offering only. Please be prompt and plan to spend the entire day. It will definitely be worth your time. Open to 21 years and older.
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 New Member Class
Sunday December 5
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Come learn about the history of MCC Austin, what our current ministries are, and where God is calling us as a church for our future. You will also find out how to get involved in ways that are meaningful to you. If you're interested in attending the class, please RSVP to Courtney Webster, by email or by calling the church [291-8601]. Please include your first and last name, email, and the best contact number for you. Back to Top |
PRIDE BUILD 4 (PB4)
Join MCC Austin's PB4 Team
Saturday, December 18 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
For the fourth year in a row, the Austin Pride Build is partnering with Austin Habitat for Humanity to embrace Austin's diversity by bringing together the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgender community and our friends to build a healthy and affordable home for an Austin family in need. The 2010 build begins in October and once again the hard work and big hearts of Austin's LGBT community will come together to pull off another amazing Habitat for Humanity project. For more information on Pride Build 4 please click here.
MCC Austin is providing a team to go out on December 18 to dig in, help out, and show our pride for the community. So climb on board! No experience necessary, just the willingness to swing a hammer, slap some paint, spread some caulk and a variety of other tasks. If you would like to be on this AMAZING team and help MCC Austin represent, please contact Courtney Webster at church office or by email.
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 Holiday Office Hours
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 Give to MCC Austin Online
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BEYOND OUR WALLS: MCC News From Around the World
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News from MCC churches around the world.
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BEYOND OUR WALLS: News & Community Events
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Allgo Presents:
Dialogue and Conference Call: Suicide and the LGBT Community
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Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT)
Click here for our November Newsletter
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Capitol City Men's Chorus Holiday Concert
Saturday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m.
University United Methodist Church
To purchase tickets online for $20, please click here.
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Our Prayers...
- For MCC Churches around the world.
- For our Building Team and Board of Directors as they work with our new General Contractor in the next steps of the building process.
- For our GLBT brothers and sisters around the world who live in fear of violence and discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
- For all who struggle with the blues during the holiday season.
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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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Quick Links
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Pastor's Message
Still waiting...
Well, while I'm waiting, I think I'll just look over and read this Sunday's scripture from the first chapter of Luke. It's a long one; certainly by the time I'm finished reading it, the world will be changed for the better.
But no, things are still very much the same. So I'll take a little more time to reflect on what I read. By then, Christmas will have had time to change the world.
Mary. I sometimes can't believe that Mary even survived long enough to give birth to Jesus. Forget the challenges of explaining an out-of-wedlock pregnancy to your parents, your rabbi, and your fiancé. Forget the hours of traveling on a donkey in the final days of pregnancy. I'm surprised she made it past the angel's visit. Really, would you be perplexed if an angel appeared before you and announced that you had found favor with God? I wouldn't be perplexed; I would be collapsed. Lord, she must have been so afraid.
Still waiting...
It takes a whole lot less than what Mary went through to make me afraid. Does that happen to you? Ury and Fisher say that we humans are predisposed to fear. They use this story from the New York Times to prove their point: "They met in a bar, where he offered her a ride home. He took her down unfamiliar streets. He said it was a shortcut. He got her home so fast she caught the 10 o'clock news."
Surprised by the ending? If you were, you aren't alone. We have a human tendency to anticipate the worst. Believe the worst. Pass along the worst...even when it is contrary to our personal experience.
What kept Mary from succumbing to fear? What changed her from an inexperienced child to a woman of God? It certainly wasn't the news that she was going to have a child. I don't think it was the miracle of her cousin Elizabeth giving birth at an advanced age; after all, Mary grew up with stories of Abraham and Sarah having Isaac in their nineties.
It must have been those other words: the Lord is with you...do not be afraid...nothing will be impossible with God.
How did she dare believe those words? Is that what got her through? Is that what changed her?
What if I dared believe those words? Dared believe they might be spoken to me as well as to Mary? Dared believe God is with me and I don't need to be afraid and nothing is impossible with God? Would it change me? Really change me?
And what if all God's children learned to believe those words? What if all people dared to believe that God is with them and they don't need to be afraid and nothing is impossible with God?
Well, then, people might just change...and if people changed...
Love to You & Thanksgiving for You, 
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