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E-Link Newsletter
News from Metropolitan Community Church of Austin |
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 April 6, 2011
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Words on Whatever...
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| | From Your Pastor
I'm hoping that I will remember 2011 as "The Year I Got (at Least a Little Better) Organized." I know two things: One, being better organized helps me slow down and live in the moment rather than worrying constantly about the next thing. Two, being better organized helps me be a better leader, partner, parent, and friend.
Now, for those of you waiting on me for a report or an agenda or a syllabus or an article or a picture or...anything at all, please continue to extend grace AND rejoice with me in that at least for today, in one area, I'm right on top of it. Today, a full two weeks in advance, I'm inviting all of you to come over for dinner on Wednesday, April 20. (Come on over to God's house at 8601 S. 1st, that is.)
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What's Happening at MCC Austin | | |
April
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Sunday Morning Worship | | |
Sunday, April 10 at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.
"The Doctrine of Original Sin"
Rev. Karen Thompson
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| Holy Week | | |
Palm Sunday
April 17
"The Question of Free Will"
Seder Dinner
April 20 at 6:30 p.m.
A traditional Jewish Passover meal
Good Friday Service
April 22 at 7:30 p.m.
"What about Heaven and Hell?"
Easter Sunday
April 24
"What about Resurrection?"
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| Holy Conversations |
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Tonight, April 6 at 7 p.m.
Topic: "Who is Jesus?"
Holy Conversations is a series of theological discussion guides prepared by the MCC Theologies Team. The topic for April's discussion is "Who Is Jesus?" 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.
Holy Conversations takes place in member's homes. For this month's location and directions, please email Courtney Webster.
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| Purple Bunny Project | | 
During this season of Lent, your Deacons invite you to participate in the Purple Bunny Project. Through donations from our generous congregation, the Purple Bunny Project will support the mission and needs of The Settlement Home for Children, an organization that provides shelter and services for women and children fleeing domestic violence and abuse.
Our Purple Bunny will be set up on the left side of the sanctuary stage. This Sunday is the final Sunday to take one or more of the eggs from the Bunny's baskets and purchase the item indicated on the tag inside. Tape the tag to the item (no need to gift wrap) and return the item to the same area by Sunday, April 17.
Thank you for your generosity!
Your Deacons
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| Twelve Step Study |
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Part 1: Steps 1-3 THIS Saturday, April 9 from 1 - 4 p.m.
Join us as we journey through Steps One, Two, and Three of the Twelve Step program. Find out why this amazing yet simple program has worked for millions. Addiction is often hidden in our community and we offer this session to help all people in recovery find support. There is no charge for this workshop. We will meet from 1 - 4 p.m. at MCC Austin To register, please email Courtney Webster.
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| Journey Retreat |
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Saturday, April 16 at MCC Austin from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
JOURNEY is an 7-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, please contact Courtney Webster in 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! The cost is only $10 and lunch will be served. 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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| Garden Work Day |
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April 16, 2011 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Help us prepare our church for Easter! On Saturday, April 16 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. we will especially focus on the bed in front of the building. We will clean out the bed, weed, plant, mulch and water. If there is time and enough people, we may be able to work on other areas. To volunteer or contribute financially to this project, please email Bud Twilley.
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Annual Easter Egg Hunt
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|  Easter Sunday, April 24 after the 11 a.m. service
Save the date and plan to attend the Sunday School/Children's Ministry Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday after the 11 a.m. service. Children of all ages and their parents are welcome.
If you would like to donate to the event, we can use individually wrapped candies and/or cash donations. Please leave donations with Pastor Alycia or a Sunday School teacher in the Wray Education Building by Palm Sunday. Thank you for your generosity!
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| Boundaries Workshop | |  Part II: Saturday, April 30 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Ever have trouble saying no to people who take advantage of you? Every have trouble saying yes to people who sincerely want to help you? Every found yourself unable to set limits on the time, energy, or resources you spend on others? Ever accept unfair or even abusive behavior because you'd rather do that than show your anger or risk a confrontation? If you've ever felt any of these things--especially if you've felt them because they cause conflict with what you believe is the "Christian" thing to do, this workshop is for you. In this second session, we will offer opportunities for participants to integrate what they're learning into relationships in their own lives (work, family, partners, etc.). Rev. Karen and Rev. Alycia will lead this two part workshop at MCC Austin. Please register by emailing Courtney Webster. **You can come to Part II even if you couldn't make it to Part I.** Back to Top |
| Our Prayers... | |
- For MCC Auckland in New Zealand.
- For all affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and for the unfolding nuclear reactor failures and radiation leaks in Fukushima.
- For the people of Libya and Syria.
- 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 our church as we discern next steps for our building process.
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| From your Pastor, continued | | |
On Wednesday April 20, we'll share once again a traditional Jewish Seder. Gathered in the sanctuary, we will read from the Velveteen Rabbi's Haggadah, enjoy a wonderful Passover meal, and enter bodily and spiritually into the story of Israel's Exodus from Egypt. We'll worship the One who is mighty enough to hold back the waters of the Red Sea and gentle enough to brush back our tears. We'll remember that God's desire for all of us is to live a liberated and loving life. Everyone is invited.
I do have an ulterior motive in this timely invitation. My ulterior motive is to initiate those of you who have never taken part in a Seder meal and to reacquaint those of you who have in such a way that you will open yourselves to the possibility of making a ritual meal part of your regular spiritual practice. I think my chances of coaxing you into the blessing of a weekly Sabbath meal are much greater if I can get you to one (or get you to another one) than if I simply encourage you to take on a NEW! MEANINGFUL! RELAXING! SPIRITUAL! practice.
I'm just sure that if I can get you to come on over, sit down, light the candles, welcome the Sabbath, repeat the prayers--Baruch atah, Adonai, eloheinu ruach ha'olam, asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Yom Tov. Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Breath of Life, who sanctifies us with your commandment to kindle the holiday lights-I'm just sure that if I can do that along with offering you some simple resources, you'll at least consider offering yourself, friends, and family the blessing of a Shabbas.
Shabbat dinner at our home is one of the truly beautiful things we do together. (I use that term "beautiful" in the only way a household with two adults working fulltime, three children that span almost two generations, a stable of pets that often includes a grand-kitten and will soon welcome a grand-bunny (named Hef by our younger daughter...but that's another story), occasional friends of the kids who think we're weird, archaeologically impressive layers of dust lying about, a table adorned with mismatched knives and forks, plastic cups from Rudy's and UT games, and most of a week's mail plus a stack of graded assignments brought home in the Tuesday folder can be.)
Our Sabbath meal-which happens on Friday because that's the only day we have any real hope of keeping free-can be anything from tortilla soup to salmon. We've even had pork roast! We eat early or late depending on what everyone has going on. We eat in the house or on the deck. Only three things can we count on with any degree of certainty: lighting candles, saying grace, and telling each other about our days.
We made several false starts before we gained any consistency with our Sabbath dinner. We forgave ourselves for those rushed days when our Sabbath meal came from a drive-thru or the frozen section at the HEB. We soon realized that we didn't care what it looked like-we cared what it felt like, and it felt a little like resting in the lap of God, even when it was my turn to cook.
If you'd like to try creating a Shabbat experience for yourself, the best way is probably to have someone teach you. (There will be many teachers here on April 20!) If you're a bibliophile like me, you might want to check out Shabbat: The Family Guide to Preparing for and Welcoming the Sabbath by Ron Wolfson. You might want to liberate yourself from tradition and strike out on your own. However you go about it, your spirit will thank you.
Y'va-reh-ch'cha ADONAI veeyish-m'reh-cha
Ya-ear ADONAI pa-nav ei-leh-cha vi-chu-neh-cha
Yi-sa ADONAI pa-nav ei-leh-cha
V'ya-saym l'cha sha-lom
The LORD bless you, and keep you
The LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you
The LORD lift up his face upon you
and give you peace.
Rev. Karen Thompson
Senior Pastor
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| Beyond Our Walls: News from MCCs Around the World | | |
MCC's 2011 Easter Offering for Global Ministries
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MCC Impact: News from Churches Around the World
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MCC Headline News
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P.A.D. Conference (People of African Descent): Loving Ourselves into Liberation
Emergence Newsletter
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| Beyond Our Walls: Community News & Events | | |
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Update
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Transgender Education Network of Texas Spring Picnic
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AgeLess Reception at a West Austin home
I was smitten with this idea right away: At-home care of all kinds for elderly GLBT community members, who are four times more likely to age alone. Follow the link to continue reading.
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The Alzheimer's Association Presents: ALZ 101 - Facing the Challenge
April 12, 19, 26 and May 3 Reserve your spot for any or all of these at TXPrograms@TXAlz.org or (512) 241-0420.
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