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E-Link Newsletter
News from Metropolitan Community Church of Austin
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 April 27, 2011
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From Your Pastor |
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Since Sunday, I've been thinking quite a bit about the final question I asked you as part of our series "I Wonder as I Wander." That question--Who will you be tomorrow?--was an invitation to "put away the old" and "welcome the new." It was a challenge to let the Easter promise of resurrection and transformation become real for you.
When I woke up on that Monday morning, the "tomorrow" I mentioned on Sunday, I woke up ready to take on the world! I had plans, strategies, ideas, and every scheduling device I own (including an old-fashioned paper calendar) within easy reach.
Before I started to work, though, I took my Bible and one of my favorite Henri Nouwen books out on our deck, checked on the tomato and pepper plants growing in their "square-foot" gardens, swatted half an inch of oak pollen out of my favorite chair, and began to read. I started with John 20:19 since we had ended our Gospel reading on Easter Sunday with John 20:18.
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What's Happening at MCC Austin
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April
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Sunday Morning Worship | | |
May 1 at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.
"Cinco de Mayo"
Rev. Karen Thompson
1 Peter 1:3-9 (from The Message)
What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have this God of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven--and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The day is coming when you'll have it all--life healed and whole.
I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of God's victory.
You never saw Jesus Christ, yet you love Jesus Christ. You still don't see Christ, yet you trust Christ--with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation.
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| SOUL Connections Events | | Saturday, April 30 at 5 p.m.
 Picnic at Pine Lane Farm ~ Hosted by Donna Nichols
Begins at 5 p.m.
Details posted at the SOUL Connections website RSVP on/before April 25th to: Donna at 512-360-4931 or donnaplf@myxol.net. If you wish to carpool, check with someone listed in the SOUL Connection directory.
Sunday, May 1 after the 11 a.m. service
SOUL Connections Luncheon
Lunch at Texas Land & Cattle on Stassney & I-35
Following the 11 a.m. worship service. Y'all come on out! We'd love to visit with you!
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| Children's Choir | | 
The Sunday School is planning its next Children's Choir Presentation for the end of May. For a child to be part of this fun, Praise God experience, please make sure they attend Sunday School during the 11:00 service these next two months. Sunday School accepts preschool-aged children three and up, as well as Grades 1 through 6.
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| Holy Conversations | |  Wednesday, May 4 at 7 p.m.
Topic: The Church
Holy Conversations is a series of theological discussion guides prepared by the MCC Theologies Team. 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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| Proud Parenting: Shoots & Ladders |
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Saturday, May 14, 2011 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at MCC Austin
A Gathering for Parents or Those Interested in Becoming Parents
Whether you have children or are thinking about starting your own family, it takes a village to raise children and we have a colorful village! Come to listen, learn, or share your experiences. If you have specific issues or topics you'd like to hear about, please email Emily and we'll make sure we cover them. Please register for this event by emailing Courtney Webster in the church office.
The morning will include topics like:
- What does the research say about GLBT families that we knew all along?
- What are different avenues for creating a family such as adoption and insemination?
- How do I protect my family legally?
- OMG! I'm turning into MY parents! Help!
- Parenting 101
- Blending families and dealing with custody situations
- Where do I go for.....????
Emily Parks is a Licensed Master Social Worker and has been working with children and families for over 15 years. She and her partner have two children. Her oldest, age 6, was adopted from foster care and her youngest, age 4, was conceived by her partner. Emily currently works for the Department of State Health Services where she oversees the Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women program and the Personal Care Services program for clients needing attendant care services. Emily has worked in a variety of settings including Juvenile Probation and Detention, Child & Adolescent Residential Treatment, Foster Care and State Government.
Have you blessed the life of a child today?
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| Twelve Step Study - Part 2 | |  Saturday, June 4 from 1 - 4 p.m. at MCC Austin
This Workshop is an overview study of the Twelve Steps. Its focus is not on the drug of choice, but rather the disease of addiction. It is an open meeting, so whether you're an addict, have experience with Al-Anon, or would simply like a better idea of how the twelve steps work, all are welcome.
This Step Study is divided into four parts: Part II examines Step 4, 5 and 6. Each of the parts begins with focused meditations and prayers and introduction of the speakers. Next are the specific sessions on each Step with insightful readings on the Step. A guest speaker will share personal experience on the Step followed by an open Q & A and sharing time. Each session will be followed by a ten minute break. Finally, each attendant will receive a handout that follows this entire series and includes questions that are intended to help focus personal reflective writing on each Step.
To register, please email Courtney Webster in the church office.
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| Our Prayers... | |
- For all affected by the fires, thunderstorms, tornadoes and flooding during this past week.
- For the people of Libya, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Bahrain.
- 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 the family and friends of Norma and Maria Hurtado who were murdered last week here in Austin.
- For our church as we discern next steps for our building process.
- For GLBT people seeking asylum in the United States because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
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| From Your Pastor, continued | | |
I read through the appearance stories and celebrated that Thomas got his chance to see Jesus face to face and that Peter had three opportunities to confess his love for Jesus after his three heartbreaking denials on Good Friday. Then I went right on to Acts and read up to the Day of Pentecost.
As I read about Jesus' disciples during those 50 days prior to Pentecost, I thought about their actions in light of my post-Easter question: "Who will you be tomorrow?" For the first time, I realized how little there was to base any kind of answer on as regards the disciples. For those 50 days, other than a few appearances from Jesus and the selection of a new, twelfth disciple, we know very little about what the disciples did.
We have to put the story of those 50 days together for ourselves, and the two main observations on which we can base our thoughts are these: Jesus told the disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the disciples stayed in a single room most of that time with the door shut.
I looked again at my note cards and my calendars and I thought, "Maybe this busy Karen, no matter how noble her ideas and plans and no matter how strong her post-Easter inspiration, is not the best I can do with the promise of transformation." I remembered something Martin Luther once said, "I have so much work to do today I cannot hope to finish it without spending the first three hours in prayer."
I hope you will take up the challenge of my Easter question, but more than that I hope that you will remember the disciples and their 50 days prior to the Spirit's coming upon them powerfully at Pentecost. What might they have been doing those 50 days? We know they spent some of them talking with the risen Christ and receiving encouragement and instruction. Beyond that, I think it's reasonable to guess that they shared lots of stories and memories of their teacher, Jesus. I bet they wondered about what it all meant and who they should be, could be, would be in light of their experiences with him.
All this is to say that if you weren't sure who you were going to be on the tomorrow after Easter, if you chose to slow down, reread the Gospels, remember Jesus' teachings, and pray about God's desires for you, you were being faithful. You were being faithful just like the disciples must have been.
May God prepare you today and always for the you that God desires you to be tomorrow.
Love and Blessings,
Rev. Karen Thompson
Senior Pastor
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| Beyond Our Walls: News from MCCs Around the World | | |
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 | | |
ALLGO Community Anti-Violence Forum
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National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Update
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Transgender Education Network of Texas
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A Service in Celebration of Unity
Sunday, May 1 at 7 p.m.
At First United Methodist Church: 1201 Lavaca
Featured Speaker: Rev. John Elford, of University United Methodist Church
The Reconciling Communities of First UMC mobilize people of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform the United Methodist Church and our world into the full expression of Christ's inclusive love
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2011 AIDS Candelight Memorial Service
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Interfaith Action of Central Texas - iACT Newsletter
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Going Up Kick-Off Day Community Service
Austin's 1st Annual "Day of Giving Back, Never Giving UP" on May 14th, 2011.
A Call to Volunteers, Project Leaders, and Project Creators, we are reaching out because we need you!
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