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E-Link Newsletter
News from Metropolitan Community Church of Austin |
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 November 9, 2011
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| From Your Pastor | | Over the  past eleven months, I've attended four retreats in a series called "Courage To Lead." The retreats are based on the work of Parker Palmer, a spiritual teacher from the Quaker tradition. I've been completely surprised by my quickly developing, yet deep friendship with silence. This week I want to invite you to experience the gift of silence, and I offer these two thoughts to accompany you on your way...
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| What's Happening at MCC Austin | |
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| Sunday Morning Worship | | November 13 at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.*
"The Old Testament: Texts of Terror"
Rev. Karen Thompson
Judges 11:29-39
Then the spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh on to the Ammonites. And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, and said, "If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, then whoever comes out of my house to meet me, when I return victorious from the Ammonites, shall be the Lord's, to be offered up by me as a burnt offering." So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them; and the Lord gave them into his hand. He inflicted a massive defeat on them....Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah; and there was his daughter coming out to meet him with timbrels and with dancing. She was his only child. When he saw her, he tore his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low; you have become the cause of great trouble to me. For I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot take back my vow." She said to him, "My father, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, now that the Lord has given you vengeance against your enemies." And she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me: Grant me two months, so that I may go and wander on the mountains, and bewail my virginity." "Go," he said and sent her away. So she departed, she and her companions. At the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to the vow he had made.
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*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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Advent and Christmas at MCC Austin
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| | This year we anticipate and welcome the birth of Jesus through the theme of "Lessons and Carols." Each Sunday in Advent, both Christmas Eve services, and our Christmas Day worship will be focused on the meaning and message of one of our best-loved Christmas carols. We hope you will join us for every opportunity to celebrate the "reason for the season"!
Advent 1 - November 27
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"
Advent 2 - December 4
"Come, Thou Long Long Expected Jesus"
Advent 3- December 11
"O Little Town Of Bethlehem"
Advent 4 - December18
"The First Noel"
*MCC Austin Christmas Concert and Open House
Christmas Eve - December 24 "O Holy Night" Christmas Day - December 25 "O, Come All Ye Faithful"
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Fall Homeless Outreach Project
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Help Us Reach Out to the Homeless
Caring with Care Packets Project
Project: Providing Care packets to the homeless
What can you do: We will be collecting donations of these items for homeless care packets: socks, bottled water, lip balm, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, washcloths, bus tickets, anti-bacterial wipes, canned meats with pop-tops, and granola or breakfast bars. There is a large basket located by the front door of the church to receive these donations. We will receive donations through Sunday, November 27.
Our goal: We would like to distribute at least 50 complete kits. For more information, please email Courtney Webster.
*We are receiving donations ONLY for these items. Please do not bring other items! Thank you.
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| Soul Connections Upcoming Events | | 
November 11 - Lady Longhorns' Basketball
Our SOUL Connection Event for Nevember will be a fun evening at a UT Women's Basketball event: UT vs Stanford at the Erwin Center on Friday November 11, 2011, at 7 p.m. We will meet 15 minutes before game time on the concourse by Section 49. General Admission is $8. FYI you cannot bring in any drinks or snacks and they do check purses, backpacks, etc. Look forward to seeing y'all at the game cheering for the Lady Longhorns!
Please plan to join us. We'd love to see you!
Future activities for Soul connections are available on the Soul Connections website. If you have any questions regarding this event, please email Dana McVey.
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| New Member Class | | 
Saturday, November 19
9 - 11:30 a.m. - MCC Austin
Come learn about the history of MCC Austin, our current ministries are, and where God is calling us as a church for our future. You will also find out how to get involved in ways that are meaningful to you. If you're interested in attending the class, please register with Courtney Webster, by email or by calling the church [291-8601]. Please include your first and last name, email, and the best contact number for you. |
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| Our Prayers... |
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- For Rev. Alycia Erickson and her family as they grieve the death of her father, Leighton Erickson. Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 11, from 5-7 pm at WC-F funeral home at 3125 N. Lamar. Memorial service at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 3525 Bee Cave Road, at 2:00 pm on Saturday, Nov. 12.
- For all who hunger in our world, especially those areas affected by famines.
- 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.
- For all who suffer from economic injustice and inequality.
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From Your Pastor, continued
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from a poem by Vaclav Havel...
Whether all is really lost
or not depends entirely on
whether or not I am lost.
from last Sunday's sung scripture response...
Come and find the quiet center
In the crowded life you lead
Find the room for Hope to enter
Find the frame where you are freed
Clear the chaos and the clutter
Clear your eyes that you can see
All the things that really matter
Be at peace, and simply be.
Peace and Love to You,
Rev. Karen Thompson
Senior Pastor
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Beyond Our Walls: Community News & Events
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Transgender Day of Remembrance
TENT, Transgender Education Network of Texas, will host the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance event on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 6:00 PM at Austin City Hall Plaza.
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Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos
Tonight from 6:30-8:30 pm at allgo (701 Tillery St Suite A-1, Austin, TX 78702): a statewide queer people of color organization. For more information, please check out their website.
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