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E-Link Newsletter
News from Metropolitan Community Church of Austin |
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 September 21, 2011
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Have you signed up for a Fall Growth Group?
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From Your Pastor
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Two weeks ago we either held or didn't hold the 10th annual Pride Multi-faith Service. Depending on whom you talk to, you will get a different opinion about which anniversary of the service it actually was. Some thought there had been more than ten, and some purists wondered whether we should include in our count the early services that were Christian and not multi-faith.
Disagreements ended there, however, and the people who gathered welcomed in full unity a spirit of peace, hope, love, and joy. Some called the spirit "light," some "goddess," others "G_D," and others "Christ." Some called the spirit "community," and some felt no compunction to name the presence of whatever it was that transcended the sum of our individual "selves."
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What's Happening at MCC Austin
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Sunday Morning Worship*
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| September 25 at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. *
Rev. Karen Thompson
Scripture: Genesis 17:1-8
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous." Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him,
"As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and rulers shall come from you.
I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God."
Luke 22:13-20
So they went and found everything as Jesus had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the realm of God." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the realm of God comes." Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."
*ASL Interpretation for the 11:00 service will be available upon request. Please send your requests via email to Courtney Webster in the church office.
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Notes from the Board of Directors
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MCC Cares is a project of MCC Austin conceived and initiated by Rev. Elder Ken Martin and Rev. Bill Young in 2004. In this program, members and friends of MCC Austin make a small contribution through automatic credit card debits each month to MCC Austin. This contribution (often $10 or $20 a month) is then aggregated and a grant is awarded each month to a worthy cause. Originally enough was raised for a $1000 grant each month. In the last couple of years the grants have averaged between $500 and $700 per month. Over $50,000 has been distributed since the program began. By pooling a very small contribution we are able to award a substantial grant each month to programs which make a real difference. Recent recipients include OutYouth, the Spiritual Pride Project, the Care Communities, Aids Services Austin, and Town Lake Animal Shelter. Please consider becoming a part of this worthwhile project which allows each of us to contribute to our favorite organizations to a degree far greater than most of us could by oursevles. Contact Courtney Webster in the church office if you would like to participate in MCC Cares.
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| Deacons Offer Fire Response from MCC Austin | | |
Many of you have already offered your time, resources, and homes to victims of the Bastrop fires. We are grateful for your caring and generous hearts!
In addition to the ways you have already reached out, the Deacons wanted to offer a way for MCC Austin to respond as a faith community, and we explored ways to best do that.
We will be joining First United Methodist Church of Bastrop in their assistance drive. FUMC is collecting $20 gift cards which they are then distributing to families that need to replace lost belongings such as clothing, personal items, cooking utensils, etc. All families affected by the fires are welcome to receive gift cards; all they have to do is sign for them so that records can be kept.
If you would like to donate through MCC Austin, you may place your cash or checks made payable to MCC Austin in the FIRE RELIEF envelopes that you will find at church on Sunday. Write your name on the envelope and you will be credited for your donation on your MCC Austin giving statement.
We also want you to know that MCC Cares will make an extra grant this month and add $500 to the amount collected by the Deacons. Many of you contribute to MCC Cares to make those grants possible, and we thank you for that.
If you have questions, please ask any of our Deacons in person or call the Care Line at 512-291-8819.
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| LAST WEEK to Sign Up for Fall Growth Groups | | |
 It only takes 90 seconds!
Growth Groups are groups of 10-15 people who get together each week in a convenient Austin location to grow and have fun together. It's a great way to meet new people while growing in your faith.
Fall 2011 Growth Groups begin the week of September 25 and last for 6-10 weeks. We have 19 different groups meeting all around town with lots of different topics. Growth Groups will meet for 60-90 minutes each week. To register and for more information, please go to our website.
It's a short term commitment for something that could change your life!
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| A Note of Thanks from the Deacons... | | |
Thank you, MCC Austin, for having such BIG hearts. The Fire Relief Funds, the Back to School Drive and the Deacon's Christmas tree are three huge examples of the generosity of the people of MCC Austin.
Each time the deacons have sponsored a drive to help others over the past year, our congregation has responded in a HUGE way. Each time, I've observed the deacons talking among themselves about the incredible generosity of the people of MCC Austin. We want to make sure you all know how amazing we find our congregation to be!
Thank you for being the loving, caring, GIVING people you are...
Blessings,
Jan Manning
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| Blessing of the Animals | |  Saturday October 1 from 10 - 10:30 a.m.
On Saturday, October 1, at 10:00 a.m., we will hold our annual Blessing of the Animals service at MCC Austin. We will meet on (what's left of) the grass in front of the Pet Memorial Garden. If you have a pet that you are unable to bring to the church, bring a picture or something that is special to your pet and we will bless your pet in absentia. Please note: all animals must be on a leash or in a carrier at all times.
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| Soul Connections Lunch | | October 2 after the 11 a.m. service
Soul Connections is a group at MCC Austin that welcomes people 45+ and their friends for fellowship and service. This month we are meeting at Texas Land and Cattle (5510 S IH 35--on the northwest corner of IH-35 & Stassney Lane; near Fiesta Mart and Lowes). Soul Connections gathers on the first Sunday of each month after the 11 a.m. worship service. Future activities for Soul connections are available on our website http://soulconnect.weebly.com/. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Dana McVey.
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| Walk with MCC Austin in the AIDS Walk | |  Join the MCC Austin Team!
Sunday, October 16, 2011 - 2:00 p.m. Walk Step-Off
Please join us for the 24th annual AIDS Walk Austin, benefiting AIDS Services of Austin. Help us to support and raise funds that will provide direct care and education to those in our community living with HIV and AIDS. AIDS Walk Austin is almost 5K, or 3.1 miles, and takes under an hour to complete.If you are unable to walk there are several other options for supporting AIDS Walk.
To register, click here, then click "Join a Team." Our Team Name is "MCC Austin," and our Team Division is "House of Worship." If you would like to make a donation for our team, simply click on the "Support MCC Austin" link and choose your method of support. The MCC Austin Team will meet at 1 p.m. along the outside wall (on Lavaca St.) of Austin Java (located in City Hall).
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| Our Prayers... | |
- For all who have lost their homes or had damage to their homes from the wildfires in our area.
- Gratefulness for the generosity of God and God's people.
- For all affected by the famine in Somalia.
- 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.
- MCC staff and governing board as they continue to lead us.
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| From Your Pastor, continued | | |
The service began with "casting the circle" and moved through prayers, readings, and songs before Dr. Stephen Sprinkle gave the address. His address was both a pat on the back for justice work we have done and a challenge to bend our backs to the work yet ahead.
All of that was beautiful and inspiring, but for me, the most moving moment came as Rabbi Marie Betcher led us in singing "Shalom Rav."
Refrain: Shalom rav al Yisrael am'cha tasim l'olam Establish abundant peace upon Your people Israel forever,
ki atah hu Melech Adon l'chol ha-shalom
for You are King, Master of all peace.
V'tov b'einecha l'vareich et am'cha Yisrael et kol ha-amim
May it be good in Your eyes to bless Your people
b'chol et uv'chol sha'ah bish-lomecha
At every time and every hour with Your peace.
Part of the "rush" I felt during the singing was being part of a choir of angels, GLBT angels and our allies, who are blessed by God and are a blessing to God whether the heterosexists would like to acknowledge that or not. Part of it was the pure, rich voice of Rabbi Betcher soaring toward the heavens. Part of it was her presence; she is full of grace and quiet authority.
A great deal of it was the Hebrew words, the sound of which on the one hand make me long for home and on the other make me feel like I've just arrived there.
Though God has chosen to reveal Godself to me in the Trinity of Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit, I resonant deeply with the "God of Abraham." This God, brought to life and shared through the writings of the Hebrew Bible, is for me the beginning-whatever that is. Though my orientation is Christian, I have no way of being Christian without the God of the Flood, the Shepherd of the 23rd Psalm, or the Liberator of Israel.
This Sunday I'll have an opportunity to share more of these ideas with you as we join our Jewish brothers and sisters in their preparation for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Unlike the New Year most of us are used to celebrating in which we primarily look forward to a new year and a new beginning, at Rosh Hashanah people look carefully back at the year just passed and mistakes they have made. Sincere repentance for those past mistakes is the seed from which the resolutions for living a better life in the New Year grow.
I hope you'll worship with us this Sunday and welcome New Year 5272. (You can wear party hats, but please leave the confetti at home!)
Shalom Rav,
Rev. Karen Thompson
Senior Pastor
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| Beyond Our Walls: News from MCCs Around the World | | |
MCC Headline News: News from our Denomination about recent meetings and decisions of the Senior Leadership team and Governing Board.
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