The Electronic Newsletter of MCC Austin at Freedom Oaks 
| December 29, 2010
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From Your Pastor
 I'd like to share a few thoughts with you about the January sermon series "New Year - ReNew You," starting with why I chose "ReNew You" instead of simply "New You" for the title. I was concerned that if I called it "New Year - New You," I would be playing into a common misperception about radical transformation in our lives-namely, the misperception that all we need to do to change is decide to change. However, our human nature is such and our nurturing experiences are such that to think we can radically change a behavior or habit or mindset or fitness level just by deciding to is like thinking that we can change our IQ if we just decide to. Research on New Year's Resolutions bears this out...
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What's Happening at MCC Austin
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January 2 Worship at 9 & 11 a.m.** Sunday Morning Bible Study at 9:30 a.m. in the Wray Building 5 Holy Conversations at 7 p.m. 6 God In My Life faith sharing group meets at 7 p.m. 9 Worship at 9 & 11 a.m., Children's Sunday School resumes 18 Positive Perspectives HIV/AIDS Support Group at 7 p.m. 20 God In My Life faith sharing group meets at 7 p.m. 22 New Member Class from 9-11 a.m. 24 "The Way of Prayer" Class begins, 7-9 p.m. **Please note: Children's Sunday School will not meet on December 26 and January 2. Classes resume regular schedule on Sunday, January 9.
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New Year - ReNew You!
Start the New Year off right with this special sermon series from Rev. Thompson.
January 2: ReNew Your Heart
January 9: ReNew Your Mind
January 16: ReNew Your Body
January 23: ReNew Your Soul
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 Sunday Morning Worship on January 2
9 & 11 a.m.
New Year - ReNew You: Heart
Rev. Karen Thompson
Matthew 15:10-28Then Jesus called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?" He answered, "Every plant that God has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." Then Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."
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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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Holiday Church Office Hours
The office will be closed Thursday, December 30 through Monday, January 10 and and will re-open on Tuesday, January 11 for regular office hours. The church staff will be taking care of annual projects during this time and will be checking the church voicemail regularly. Please call the Deacon CareLine at 291-8819 for any prayer or care needs you may have. We wish all of you a Blessed and Happy New Year!
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Holy Conversations
An Invitation to Faithful Dialogue
"Trans-formations & Trans Experiences"
January 5 at 7 p.m.
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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 God in My Life
Thursday, January 6 at 7 p.m.
This faith sharing support group is open to everyone, and meets every other Thursday evening in the Wray Education Building. If you have any questions, please email Carol Wagner.
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 New Member Class Saturday, January 22 from 9 - 11 a.m. |
 The Way of Prayer Monday evenings from 7-9 p.m. January 24 - April 11 Cost: $20 (includes participant guide)Facilitator: Pastor Alycia Erickson
The Way of Prayer has two primary components: individual readings and daily exercises throughout the week. The daily exercises help move from information (knowledge about) to experience (knowledge of). The time commitment for one daily exercise is approximately thirty minutes. Participants are encouraged to keep a journal for recording thoughts, reflections and questions throughout the class. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Pastor Alycia in the church office or by email.
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BEYOND OUR WALLS: MCC News From Around the World
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News from our denomination.
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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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Ring in the New Year with allgo!
allgo is a statewide queer people of color organization
To find out more click here. Back to Top
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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 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.
- For a blessed New Year of 2011.
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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
Did you know that 97% of us who participate in making New Year's Resolutions will break them within the first 30 days? That puts a pretty big damper on what has always been one of my favorite activities.
So back to the sermon series. I didn't want you to think that when you came to worship this month, all you would hear are exhortations about the kinds of resolutions you should make as regards your spiritual life. That's not it at all, and that's another reason why the series is "ReNew You" instead of "New You." What I hope to offer you are opportunities for renewal, ways to consider and make peace with and gain affection for who you already are. I'm hoping you leave church the next four Sundays feeling like you just stepped out of a full spa treatment for your heart, mind, body, and soul. I'm not looking for a new you but a renewed you...a you with a quicker smile and a kinder word and a longer fuse and a brighter light and an easier conscience and a constant prayer.
Now of course, none of this will happen just because you come to church in January. I don't have magic words and Daniel doesn't have magic music. There will be lots of wonderful people in church, but even they can't offer you this renewal. Only God can do something this big; our job is simply to say "yes" and mean it.
Eugene Peterson wrote, "The assumption...is that always God is doing something before I know it. So the task is not to get God to do something I think needs to be done, but to become aware of what God is doing so that I can respond to it and participate and take delight in it."
I'm inviting you to enter into 2011 with a single resolution: I resolve, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to be constantly mindful of what God wants to do in my life so that I can participate and take delight in it.
Grace and Peace,
 Rev. Karen Thompson
Senior Pastor
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