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E-Link Newsletter
News from Metropolitan Community Church of Austin |
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 September 28, 2011
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From Your Pastor |
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This weekend we will celebrate MCC Austin's 36th anniversary and also hold our annual Blessing of the Animals service. Ever since becoming part of MCC Austin I've appreciated observing these two events at the same time each year. Our church home is the place we bring our whole selves: our praise, prayers, celebrations, sadness, needs, wants, excesses, thankfulness, hopes.... On the church's anniversary, we bring ourselves to church and also hold sacred space for all those who have come before, those who are still here, and those who will bless us with their future arrival. In light of that, it is wonderfully fitting that we also set aside a time ruing the weekend to bring our animal friends to church, our beloved pets who so often enrich our lives in a multitude of ways.
The custom of Blessing the Animals began as a remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi's love for all creatures. Francis, whose feast day is October 4th, loved the animals with whom he shared God's creation.
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What's Happening at MCC Austin | | |
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Sunday Morning Worship*
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| October 2 at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.*
"World Communion Sunday: A Place at the Table"
Rev. Karen Thompson
Philippians 3:7-14
But those things I used to consider gain, I now count as loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss in light of the surpassing knowledge of my Savior Jesus Christ, for whose sake I have forfeited everything. I count everything else as garbage, so that Christ may be my wealth-indeed, that I may be found in Christ, not having any justice of my own based on observance of the Law. The justice I possess is that which comes through faith in Christ. It has its origin in God and is based on faith. All I want is to know Christ, and the power of the resurrection, and how to share in Christ's sufferings by being formed into the pattern of Jesus' death-perhaps even to arrive at the resurrection from the dead.
It's not that I have reached it yet, or have already finished my course; but I'm running the race in order to grab hold of the prize if possible, since Christ Jesus has grabbed hold of me. Sisters and brothers, I don't think of myself as having reached the finish line. I give no thought to what lies behind, but I push on to what is ahead. My entire attention is on the finish line as I run toward the prize-the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
*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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The Board of Directors would like to say "THANKS"
Thank you to everyone for your prayers, support, and financial contributions to paying off our bond. This effort was made possible by everyone coming together for a common goal.
Speaking of coming together, there have been so many efforts to reach out to the Austin area. The Deacons asked for support for those affected by the local wildfires and you answered. They asked for your support in grocery gift cards and school supplies and you answered. What an awesome community and family we have at MCC Austin.
You all should be so proud of your support and response when asked.
You continue to show the Austin community the spirit and Christian love of MCC Austin.
Thanks from your Board of Directors
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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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| Shop on Amazon.com & Support MCC Austin | |  MCC Austin's New Online Bookstore
MCC Austin has opened an online bookstore through Amazon.com. MCC Austin receives a percentage of each purchase made through the MCCA bookstore portal. You pay the same price--just part of the purchase price goes to support MCC Austin. It's easy and doesn't cost you anything more!
Bookmark MCC Austin's Online Bookstore and buy all your books through that portal. If you're going to be buying a large number of books and you don't see it on our site, email Pastor Alycia and she can probably add it to MCC Austin's bookstore portal. You'll be giving back to MCC Austin with each purchase you make! |
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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 | | |
But the fittingness of holding a Blessing of the Animals service does not end with Francis's affinity for the animals. St. Francis is often cited as the speaker of this quote: "Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words." Who better lives out this urging than our pets?
I don't mean to diminish or cheapen the Gospel; the Gospel is first and foremost the Good News that God so loves us that God became flesh, dwelt among us, taught us what it means to love God and neighbor, and did not stop loving us even after suffering and death. We who surrender ourselves to that great love can live as resurrected people, people assured of God's unconditional love and forgiveness without end through Jesus Christ.
But our pets, without words, get right at the heart of the Gospel, don't they? They offer compassion without pity, gratitude without design, gifts without strings, and love without demands. Just think what this world might be like if every one of us started the day with the prayer that's meant to be tongue in cheek but is really heart in hand: "God, help me to be the person my dog thinks I am."
Please join us on Saturday morning for the Blessing of the Animals. If you are unable to be with us, find a time to offer up this prayer in gratitude for the pets who have blessed your life:
"Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless [pet's name]. By the power of your love, enable [pet's name] to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen."
Blessings,
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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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