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E-Link Newsletter
News from Metropolitan Community Church of Austin
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 June 22, 2011
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From Your Pastor
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The pessimists warn us that each day of life brings us one day closer to death, and they see this as a bad thing. The optimists, though, spin that thought into Tim McGraw's encouragement to "live like you were dying," and that, they assure us, can be a good thing. I tend to side with the optimists philosophically, and I can see the value in "living like you were dying," in setting the intention each day to make amends, to love more deeply, and to take more risks.
This week, sadly, my theories have collided with reality. This week I'm experiencing how one might choose to live when one has known from the beginning that barring accident or miracle, one's life will end in a certain way, at a certain time. This week I'm experiencing this reality with my cousin, Debbie, who is dying.
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What's Happening at MCC Austin
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June
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Sunday Morning Worship*
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June 19 at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.
"Life Journeys: The Fantasticks"
Rev. Karen Thompson
Genesis 29:15-30
Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?" Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah's eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me."
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed." So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and Jacob went in to her. When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?" Laban said, "This is not done in our country-giving the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years." Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife. So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He served Laban for another seven years.
*Please note: Sign Language Interpretation will not be available during the month of July. Beginning in August, interpretation for the 11:00 service will be available upon request. Please send an email to Courtney Webster in the church office to request it.
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| MCC Austin's 4th Annual Broadway Series | | |
 June 2011: Life Journeys
Join us during the month of June as we bring you our 4th annual Broadway series, a careful and reverent exploration of themes and music from Broadway woven into our Sunday morning worship services. This last Sunday in June we will share "Life Journeys" from The Fantasticks.
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| Sunday School Notice | |  Sunday School will NOT be held during the months of July and August. The teachers look forward to seeing everyone return in September! The Sunday School needs a portable CD player, new or used. Please email Courtney Webster in the church office if you have one you would like to donate. Thank you! Back to Top |
| Sunday Morning Study Group | |  9:30 - 10:30 a.m. in the Education Building
JT Hicks is leading a study on the 12 Steps of AA through the lens of scripture. The group meets from 9:30 to 10:30 in the Wray Education building. The class is a diverse group of singles & couples, aged 30s-70s. The class is discussion based & informal. Come join us...there's room for you!
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Soul Connections: Independence Day Picnic
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Saturday, July 2 at 5 p.m.
The regularly scheduled first Sunday SOUL Connection luncheon will not formally meet on July 3rd. Impromptu luncheon is encouraged. Please mark your calendars to attend the Independence Day Picnic on Saturday, July 2 from 5 until dark at members' home in Elgin. Hamburgers and hot dogs (all condiments, paper plates, etc) will be provided. Everyone who attends should bring side dishes to fill out the menu. Bring lawn chairs and drinks of choice. RSVP's are definitely a MUST! Best contact is 512-656-8159 or dmcveytx@msn.com. Directions to the picnic are on the SOUL Connections website .
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Come Hear Marcia Ball at Blues on the Green
| |  Wednesday, July 6 at 6 p.m. at Zilker Park
Come hear the fabulous Marcia Ball and get to know other MCCers. Alycia will set up a spot by 6 p.m. and will post the location on her Facebook page. Bring a blanket or chair and plan on enjoying an evening out doing what Austin does best! Find out all you need to know about Blues on the Green for parking, food, what to bring, etc. on KGSR's website.
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Fundraising Planning Session
| |  Sunday, July 17 at 1:30 p.m. at MCC Austin New Year's Eve Party Planning Session David Ferguson is searching for individuals who would like to plan and organize MCC Austin's next fundraising event. The Board of Directors have approved a New Year's Eve Party and we will be inviting everyone in Austin and surrounding communities to attend this fun and exciting party. Please be aware that the planning and organizing of this fundraising event may require a moderate amount of your time and energy, so if you are interested in being a part of this team, please plan on attending a meeting at the church on Sunday, July 17, at 1:30 p.m. Back to Top |
| Our Prayers... | |
- For all Central Texans who do not have air conditioning and are dealing with the high temperatures so early in the summer.
- 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 and/or building search process.
- For all who are diabetic and their loved ones.
- Thanksgiving for the rain we received last night.
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| From Your Pastor, continued |
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Because of a rare disease that hopscotches its way through my father's family tree, my cousin, Debbie, has begun to lose her balance, her memory, and her independence. All these and more have been casualties of the disease that killed her mother and our grandmother, along with several other great-aunts and uncles and second cousins. The script doesn't vary, and Debbie's progression is exactly the same as my Grandma Thompson and Aunt Kathy's were. She is 47 years old. She most likely won't celebrate a 50th birthday, and if against all odds she does, she won't be aware of it. She'll be bedridden and unable to communicate long before that.
I've only been with Debbie and her husband, Trevor, here in Missouri for a day now, but already I can see where Debbie comes down on the "live like you were dying" continuum. Nowhere. Debbie seems to have found her place on the "live like you were living" continuum. Actually, it's probably even more specific than that. It's more like a "live like you were living today" philosophy.
This is how we spent this day of living. We had biscuits for breakfast before going out to check on the calves. We were looking for 15 out in the pasture; two others, twins, are being bottle fed in the barn. Back at the house we talked while the dishwasher ran and clothes dried. We had a big lunch-"dinner" on the farm-that Trevor made from the recipe cards Debbie started making for him last fall. They're mostly simple like tuna salad: 2 cans of tuna, 4 eggs (boiled 20 minutes), 3 tbs sweet pickle relish and 3 tbs Miracle Whip (you don't like mayonnaise).
After lunch we made the 20 mile trip into town for groceries and Debbie pointed out where my father had gone to grade school and lived when he was a boy. It was cold (60 degrees) and overcast with a strong wind, so we didn't get out of the car at the cemetery where our grandmother and Debbie's mom are buried. As we drove away, Debbie said, "It's pretty here. It's good." I think she meant to save us from feeling like we needed to say anything about the obvious, empty plots near the others. I think she wanted us not to spend any of our little bit of time together being sad.
It's a quiet, graceful life Debbie lives, and soon, when she's gone, she will have left us with many memories, not of how she died, but how she lived. One day at a time. This day.
God Bless You Today,
Rev. Karen Thompson
Senior Pastor
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| Beyond Our Walls: News from MCCs Around the World | | |
MCC Impact: News from Churches Arround the World
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MCC Headline News: News from our Denomination
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| Beyond Our Walls: Community News & Events | | |
Stonewall Pride Celebration
Standing On Their Shoulders : A Stonewall Tribute
Tuesday, June 28 · 8:00pm - 9:00pm
South Steps of the Capitol
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TransTexas Monthly - June 2011
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FLOURISH The Evangelical Network 2011 Conference
July 7-10, 2011, at the Omni Austin Hotel
The 2011 conference is designed to educate and inspire every Christian to FLOURISH in their individual lives, relationships, and ministries. The conference workshops and sessions focus on helping better understand, develop, and further our God-given gifts for greater ministry in the body of Christ. The 2011 conference will feature four days of transforming teaching, intimate worship, and building relationships.
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Austin PRIDE 2011 Event | |
LYAO with Esther's Follies 
June 26, 2011 6:00 pm
The Austin Gay and Lesbian Pride Foundation (AGLPF) presents an evening of comedy with the cast of Esther's Follies at the legendary Esther's Pool in the heart of downtown Austin.
Tickets for this fundraising extravaganza are $20 and can be purchased at the AGLPF website or in person at the door. Doors open at 6:00 p.mm with showtime at 7:00 p.m. Cash bar.
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