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E-Link Newsletter
News from Metropolitan Community Church of Austin |
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 November 23, 2011
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| From Your Pastor | |  One of the great ironies of my life is that I'm afraid of heights. Really. Glass elevators, high rise buildings, suspension bridges, and even some overpasses cause my heart to race, my breathing to become labored, and my throat to close. And it's not just me; I have these same symptoms when I see someone else in a high place. My kids used to tease me about my acrophobia until they finally understood that there was no exaggeration or theatrics in my reaction to heights. I truly struggle with high places.
But there is one thing I am able to do (or maybe one thing I'm willing to do)....
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| What's Happening at MCC Austin | |
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| Sunday Morning Worship | | November 27 at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.*
"Lessons and Carols: O Come, O Come, Emanuel"
Rev. Karen Thompson
Isaiah 64:1-9
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence-as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil-to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! ...From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, you work for those who wait for you. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed.
We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O Lord, you are our Creator; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people.
*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 9 & 11
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"
Advent 2 - December 4 9 & 11
"Come, Thou Long Long Expected Jesus"
Advent 3- December 11 9 & 11
"O Little Town Of Bethlehem"
Advent 4 - December18 9 & 11
"The First Noel"
*MCC Austin Christmas Concert and Open House 6:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve - December 24 6 & 8 p.m. "O Holy Night" Christmas Day - December 25 10:00 a.m. "O, Come All Ye Faithful"
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| Call to Prayer | | 
As has become our tradition, we will join together in prayer for our 2012 stewardship campaign. Our desire is to have a 24 hour long prayer vigil that leads right up to the dedication of our 2012 Estimates of Giving on Sunday, December 4.
This year our prayer vigil will be a vigil "without walls." We are asking each person to sign up to pray for the ministry, mission, and generosity of MCC Austin from their homes, during the 24-hour period from 9:00 a.m. on December 3 to 9:00 a.m. on December 4.
This Sunday, November 27, you can sign up for a prayer time by visiting the Stewardship table set up in the social hall. Set an alarm, have a friend call, or stay up until your chosen time, and then offer prayers for MCC Austin. We hope to have 24 hours of non-stop prayer and thanksgiving for all God has done for and through us in 2011 and all God will do in 2012.
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Christmas Poinsettias
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Order a Poinsettia
You can purchase your poinsettia in honor or in memory of someone special in your life and help us complete our holiday decorating of the sanctuary at the same time. If you would like further information, please call the church office at 291-8601
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Children's Sunday School Christmas Presentation
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Attention Parents!!!
The Children's Sunday School Choir is beginning practice for their annual Christmas Presentation. The children's choir will sing on Sunday, December 18 during the 11 a.m. service.
If your child wants to be part of this fun, praise-full experience, they need to attend Sunday School as much as possible between now and then. Our classes are for ages 3-Kindergarten, Grades 1-4 and Grades 5-8. Please join us as we practice for this Christmas event.
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| Annual MCCA Christmas Concert | |  December 18, 6 p.m.
MCC Austin's Music Ministry ensembles are hard at work in preparation for the annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 18, at 6 p.m. in the Sanctuary. The program will feature special readings and musical numbers presented by the Sanctuary Choir, Chime Choir, and various soloists.
Please stay afterwards for refreshments and fellowship.
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| Soul Connections Luncheon | | 
December 4 following the 11 a.m. service
Soul Connections gathers on the first Sunday of each month after the 11 a.m. worship service.
Please join us for lunch on December 4th at Macaroni Grill, 701 East Stassney Lane, Austin, TX 78745
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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| Photo Romp Silent Auction Fundraiser | |
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Photographer: Bob K.
Title: Bleeding Hearts
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November 20 through December 11
Photo Romp was one of many Growth Groups offered this fall at MCC Austin. We focused on exploring unique ways of viewing the world through our eyes, heart, soul, and digital cameras. We are offering photographs from our Group as a fundraiser for MCC Austin.
Six photographs were produced on 12"x16" wrapped canvases and are on display in the Fellowship Hall of MCC Austin for this silent auction fundraiser. The gallery display
continues from November 20 through December 11. All proceeds, minus the cost of
production, will go toward supporting the ministry of MCC Austin.
Each photograph is titled and bids will start at $38. The auction continues until Sunday, December 11 at the end of the 11 a.m. service.
These unique, one-of-a-kind, canvas prints are a wonderful way to support our community while encouraging the gifts in each other...procrastinate and you may lose out. Thank you for your support!
Meet the photographers with the canvas photograph on December 11.
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Photographer: Nancy G. Title: Lighthouse
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Photographer: Dell L. Title: White Sands
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Photographer: Gail W.
Title: Covered Bridge
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Photographer: Toni L.
Title: Sunset
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Photographer: Becky B.
Title: UT Tower
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| Our Prayers... |
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- 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.
- For justice and healing for all children and youth who are victims of rape and sexual abuse.
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| From Your Pastor, continued | | |
I'm willing to climb up to the top of a 16ft yellow ladder, only two rungs below the one that says "Do Not Step Here," high above a concrete floor, to help hang the Advent banners in our sanctuary.
It's not that I think if I fall my fall will be softened because I'm doing God's work or that God will send a team of angels to set me down softly if I lose my balance. What it is, I think, is that when I'm in the sanctuary hanging the Advent banners, my fear of heights takes a backseat my joy. I feel like Robert Browning must have felt when he wrote, "God's in [his] heaven-/All's right with the world."
In many ways, this ladder metaphor is applicable to most of my life. What if every time I was afraid of something I stepped up instead of away; focused on finding joy rather than focusing on fear; and reminded myself that God is present and, ultimately, all will be well? What if I lived always like it was Advent, like very soon Jesus would be born because God couldn't stand being separated from us any longer? What if I lived like very soon Jesus would be born and through a miracle of flesh and spirit, all human beings would become my brothers and sisters?
I'm thinking there are areas of your life in which you'd like to apply this "Advent Principle." If so, I hope you'll share your Advent with us at MCC Austin. We've planned our services around the theme of "Lessons and Carols." We'll look closely at some of our favorite Christmas carols, learn what inspired them, and discover the many ways in which they are still relevant today.
We'll also be praying together throughout Advent. This Sunday, at both the 9:00 and 11:00 services, you'll receive a glass Christmas ornament to take home. Each Sunday after that, you'll be encouraged to write down your specific Advent prayers, place them in your ornament, and pray them throughout the season.
I hope to see you here!
Love and Blessings,
Rev. Karen Thompson
Senior Pastor
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Beyond Our Walls: News from MCCs Around the World
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MCC Headline News - Special Edition
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Beyond Our Walls: Community News & Events
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World AIDS Day Service of Remembrance & Hope
The 14th annual Central Texas area World AIDS Day Interfaith Service of Remembrance and Hope will be held on Thursday, December 1st at St. David's Episcopal Church, 301 E. 8th Street, beginning at 7:00pm.
The community is invited to gather for this annual World AIDS Day service of remembrance, which marks one of many World AIDS observances for 2011. This service consists of reflection, music, drama, poetry, prayer and the annual AIDS Bell banner. The Care Communities sponsors this along with other HIV/AIDS organizations and the St. David's community. If you know someone who is living with HIV/AIDS or has died from complications, please join in this annual Service.
If you want details about the Service, please call Roger Temme, Outreach Director by email or at 512.459.5883.
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