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E-Link Newsletter
News from Metropolitan Community Church of Austin |
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 December 28, 2011
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From Your Pastor
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I love new beginnings. I love New Years and the First Sunday in Advent and the First Day of School (Yes, I capitalized that on purpose!) and Spring Cleaning and even the start of Daylight Savings Time. I love any opportunity to start over, to start fresh, to experience the grace of a new beginning.
I know that all of you are not looking forward to the New Year with the same kind of enthusiasm I am. I know that financial news is grim. I know that many of you will enter 2012 unemployed or underemployed. I know that many of you have endured broken hearts and broken dreams this year and it seems that even a thousand new years will not ease the pain.
I know that some of you carry the guilt of having hurt or failed others. Some of you walk daily under the burden of feeling that you will never be good enough for your partner, your children, your parents, or your associates.
As we begin a new year, I hope you will allow yourself the grace of a new beginning....
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| What's Happening at MCC Austin | | | December
January
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| Worship Services | | |
Sunday, January 1 at 10:00 a.m. ONLY
"Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens"
Rev. Karen Thompson
Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
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*ASL Interpretation for the 11:00 service will be available upon request. Please send your requests via email to the church office.
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| Coming to MCC Austin in January... | | |
occupy verb trans - to engage the attention or energies of
Jan 8 - "Occupy Wall Street"
Jan 15 - "Occupy Christianity"
Jan 22 - "Occupy Borders"
Jan 29 - "Occupy Earth"
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| Holiday Schedule at MCC Austin | |
 New Year's Day - January 1 10:00 a.m.
"Black-Eyed Peas and Collard Greens"
MCC Austin Holiday Office Hours
Closed December 26-27
Open December 28-29
Closed January 2-6
Resume Tues-Fri, 9:30-5:30 p.m. on January 10
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| Soul Connections | |  Lunch on Sunday January 8 after 11:00 service
Soul Connections is a group at MCC Austin that welcomes people 45+ and their friends for fellowship and service. On Sunday, January 8 after the 11:00 service, we are meeting at Texas Land and Cattle for lunch and fellowship (5510 S IH 35--on the northwest corner of IH-35 & Stassney Lane; near Fiesta Mart and Lowes). Future activities for Soul connections are available on our website. If you have any questions regarding this event, please email Dana McVey. |
| Sunday Morning Bible Study | |  Discernment Study
The Sunday Morning Bible Study group is currently exploring the topic of discernment. In this study they will search the scriptures regarding the decision-making process. Join as we learn about the gift of discernment and explore scriptural tools for making good decisions. The Sunday morning study group meets each week in the Wray Education Building from 9:30 to 10:30. Newcomers welcome!
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Worship Participants Team Meeting
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We need YOUR skills and gifts! MCC Austin celebrates the diversity of the Worship Team Participants. Understanding that everyone is unique, everyone offers different gifts, skills, and spiritual maturity, we welcome all who would like to serve as: - Acolytes - hold the elements during communion.
- Servers - offer a blessing during communion.
- Intercessors - lead the congregation during the community prayer and the offering.
- Presiders - lead the congregation during the scripture reading and the communion liturgy.
Come be a part of the Worship Participants Team! Lunch will be provided so please RSVP to Velma Garcia to be sure we have enough food or if you would like to know more about serving on the Worship Team. |
| MCC Austin's 2012 Congregational Meeting | |
Sunday, January 22, after the 11:00 Service
At our annual congregational meeting, the members of MCC Austin in good standing will elect three new board members and be presented with a 2012 budget for approval. Please plan to attend.
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| Our Prayers... | |
- For all who struggle financially during this holiday season.
- 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 a fabulous year in 2012!
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| From Your Pastor, continued | | |
Just for this day, know that you are created in the image of a God who is love, who is goodness, who is kindness, compassion, joy, hope and every good and beautiful thing. Know that you cannot destroy that, void it, ruin or renounce it. Just for this day, believe that with all your heart. Speak from that knowledge, act from that knowledge, and love from that knowledge.
Just for today, let your heart believe this promise from 2 Corinthians 5:17: Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!
Look at it! Celebrate it! Believe it!
Always in Hope,
Rev. Karen Thompson
Senior Pastor
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| Beyond Our Walls: News from MCCs Around the World | |
MCC Headline News
December deadlines and a LIVE Christmas message from our moderator, Rev. Dr. Elder Nancy Wilson!
Prepare for Kwanzaa with Rev. Elder Darlene Garner
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