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"On the wings of angels come glad tidings and great news". . . . . so what better way to bring you the glad tidings and great news from within MCC Omaha???
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Happy New Year! |
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The Church Offices will be closed Thursday, January 1 and Friday, January 2 for the New Year Holiday!
The offices will reopen on Monday, January 5 for regular business hours.
Pastor Tom will be on vacation from Wednesday, January 7 through Wednesday, January 14. If you are in need of pastoral care during that time, please contact the Church office at 402.345.2563 or via Email.
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| Weekly Financial Update -
for December 2008 |
 FINANCIAL UPDATE - December 28
Last sunday, December 28(the fourth Sunday of December), offerings totaled $1,373.26 and expenses totaled $2,593. (Our 2008 budgeted monthly expenses average $10,171, a decrease from 2007).
Because it was Christmas time, there were several extra services during which additional offerings were given. Those special offerings totaled $1,252.30.
In addition to the offerings, the church raised an additional $ 19 in fundraising money for the general fund last week.
Last week, General Fund income exceeded expenses by $51.56.
With regards to our Expressions of Generosity pledges, since October 2008 we have received 39 pledges totaling $7,125.07 a month toward the 2009 Budget. These 39 pledges represent 45 individuals (40 members and 5 non members). Many thanks to each of you who have said "Yes!" to God in supporting your church!
Additional pledge forms are available from the church office. We ask that everyone fill out a new pledge form and return it to the church office, or place it in the offering plate during worship.
Your 2009 Pledge/Tithe is extremely important toward the work of our many ministries at MCC Omaha.
Separately, the Accessibility Sunroom Fund is currently at $1,603.30 with $ 20 in donations last week.
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In-Kind Donations |
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Tax time is drawing close!
If you have receipts for "In-Kind" Donations to MCC-O from 2008 that you would like included on your Contributions Report for 2008, please turn those in to the office NO LATER than January 7.
Be sure to identify what ministry the donation should be linked to.
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2008 Contribution Statements |
 Contribution Statements for 2008 will be available starting Sunday, January 11.
Please plan to pick up your statement up from the Treasury Team and help save us the expense of mailing out your statement!
Those not picked up by January 26 will be mailed.
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This Saturday - A Family Christmas Album |
The  MCC Omaha free Christmas concert was postponed due to the winter storm before Christmas.
The concert has been rescheduled for this Saturday, January 3 at 7 pm!
This concert will feature the talents of LIFE SONG (MCC's Praise Band) and other special guests. There will be original Christmas music that you won't hear anywhere else, PLUS your traditional Christmas favorites!
A wonderful raffle of various Christmas Items will also be offered, with all money raised going toward the purchase of new sound equipment.
This concert is a gift to the community, family and friends from LIFE SONG. Donations will gratefully be accepted throughout the evening.
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The Blessings of Prayer |
During the first 3 weeks of January and February, both Plug-In and ReCharge will focus on the blessings that come when you make prayer a part of your daily life.
Plug-In is a 40 minute Bible Study that focuses on the scriptures that will be used during the ReCharge Service that follows.
Plug-In begins at 6:06 pm and ends promptly at 6:45 so participants have time to prepare for the quiet reflection of the weekly ReCharge Service which begins at 7pm.
The scriptures that will be discussed at Plug-In are:
- January 7: Philippians 4:6-7
- January 14: 2 Thessalonians 1:11
- January 21: 1 Timothy 2:8
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Brick Payments |
 Are you making payments on an Accessibility Brick?
When did you make your last payment? Is it time for another?
If you would like an update as to what you have paid and what is remaining on your $340 commitment, please contact Carla Petersen via Email.
Phases 1-5 are complete except for a couple cosmetic details. All but one vendor is paid-this is where you can help!
The remaining funds in the Accessibility Account have been designated for the SunRoom and are not currently available to pay our final vendor (who has not yet billed us, but will quite soon).
Please consider paying off your brick today!
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Help Celebrate MCC's 35th Anniversary with a Program Ad |
The weekend of January 23-25 MCC will be celebrating its 35th Anniversary as a chartered church.
As part of this celebration, we invite you to consider placing an advertisement in our 35th Anniversary Program. This program will include some of the history of MCC as well as introducing some of our plans for the future.
The program will be an 8 ½ x 11 inch black and white booklet. Ad prices are:
- Full Page Ad: 7 ½ x 10 inches $100
- Half Page Ad: 5 x 7 ½ inches $ 50
- Quarter Page Ad: 3 ¾ x 5 inches $ 25
- Business Card: 2 ½ x 3 ¾ inches $ 15
Please send ad payment to: MCC, PO Box 3173, Omaha, NE 68103
Ad Copy and money must be received by January 6, 2009. Questions may be addressed to Sharon Van Butsel, Program Coordinator, 556-9907 or email sharonv@mccomaha.org.
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Lunch & Learn ~ Domestic Violence |
 MCC will present a Lunch and Learn educational event on issues of Intimate Partner Violence in the GLBT community presented by nurse educator, Hilda Newell. This presentation will be held at 12:30 pm on Sunday, January 11 in the Social Hall. Lunch will be provided.
As participants will learn, one in five couples experience "Intimate Partner Violence" in their relationship. Physical violence, Emotional intimidation, Financial exploitation and Sexual Violence become a way of life for people who experience Intimate Partner Violence. A violent relationship can lead to injury and death if not stopped. And the percentage of couples who experience a violent relationship is exactly the same for GLBT couples as it is for heterosexual couples.
However, same sex couples face different challenges than heterosexual couples: the threat of being outed, greater custody risks when children are involved, lack of resources, fewer support systems, and potential lack of understanding from law enforcement. With these greater challenges, LGBTS people need to become more aware of the issues and what they can do to assist those living in violent relationships.
For more information on this topic, plan to attend the Lunch and Learn on Sunday, January 11, immediately following service.
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Help Wanted |
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Our new Ministry of Fellowship is looking for helpers to assist with upcoming events:
- 35th Anniversary in January -- prelminary plans are being made. Looking for lots of help in planning, making contacts and arrangements, as well as the set up, decorating, cooking, cleaning for each event.
No special qualifications are needed. If you enjoy helping with celebrations in any way, this ministry is for you.
If you are interested in helping or planning any of these events, or giving any input, you are invited to contact Karla Oliver at karlao@mccomaha.org or by phone at 614.8996.
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Metropolitian Community Church of Omaha
402.345.2563
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| Sunday at MCC Omaha |
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9 AM and 11 AM
Worship with
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Worship with MCC
every Sunday |
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We invite you to join us for one of our services which best suits your schedule.
All services are held at 819 S. 22nd Street in Omaha.
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Sunday Worship Celebration - 9:00 A.M.
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Fellowship - 10 A.M.
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Sunday Worship Celebration - 11:00 A.M.
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Children's Sunday School - after the Children's Time during Worship Celebration
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Are you called to a certain MCC Omaha Ministry?
Attend one of the upcoming meetings/events to get involved:
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Council of Ministries Meeting - Tuesday, Jan. 6. . .6 pm in the Social Hall
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Anniversary Team Meeting - Thursday, Jan. 8. . .6 pm in the Social Hall
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Accessibility Team Meeting - Friday, Jan. 9. . .6 pm in the Sanctuary
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Worship Team Meeting - Monday, Jan. 12. . .7 pm in Ted's Room
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Prom Team Meeting - Tuesday, Jan. 13. . . 6 pm in the Sanctuary
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Budget Task Force Meeting - Wednesday, Jan. 14. . . 7:30 pm in the Social Hall
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Anniversary Team Meeting - Thursday, Jan. 15. . . 6 pm in the Social Hall
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Fish Fry Planning Meeting - Friday, Jan. 16. . . 6 pm in Ted's Room
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Membership Class - Saturday, Jan. 17. . . 10 am in the Sanctuary
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Board of Director's Meeting - Saturday, Jan. 17. . . 2 pm in the Social Hall
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| Jan/Feb Issue - Now Online |
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The January/February issue of Connections, MCC Omaha's printed bimonthly newsletter is now available online.
For those who have indicated that you will read the newsletter online, rather than having a printed issue mailed to you, the current issue can be viewed by clicking here Current Issue of Connections.
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ReCharge on Wednesdays! |
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Do you need
a ReCharge to finish the week?
Need a spiritual boost?
Spend 30 minutes during the week at MCC Omaha in worship!
Take time to ReCharge at 7 pm on Wednesdays at
MCC Omaha!
ReCharge is a short 25 minute service that will get you back on track each week.
This quiet candlelight worship is largely in the Taize style of meditative worship. Together we will experience the beauty of dozens of candles, gentle meditative singing, and the regenerative power of silence.
Join us for the weekly candlelight meditative ReCharge Worship service.
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| MCC's Celebration
Corner! |
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Join us in wishing
Marilynn Bonney (1-7)
Marcus Kilgore (1-10)
Dre Betts (1-10)
Karla Oliver (1-11)
Pastor Tom Emmett (1-11)
Tamra Burlingame (1-11)
Monty McClean (1-12)
Ellen Belt (1-18)
Kip Kelly (1-22)
Chase Anthony Kilgore (1-27)
Patty Lou Cravatta (1-28)
Luann Bean (1-29)
Congratulations to the following couples celebrating their
ANNIVERSARY:
Glen Gutridge & Michael Barcus (1-7)
Carla Petersen & Sharon Van Butsel (1-13)
Jessica Benak & Liza Towne
(1-28)
If you are an Active Member, or a regular attender of MCC Omaha, we would like to be able to recognize you on your birthday and also during your birthday week. In order for this to happen, MCC Omaha is asking for your birth day and month. If each person would take a moment to respond via email to the church office or by phone at 402.345.2563, we will add you to the birthday list! We would like to be able to recognize you on your important day.....you don't have to provide the year - just the month and day! |
| Are You on MySpace? |
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Did you know that MCC Omaha has a MySpace.com social networking site?
We are connected to many of the other MCC's across the United States via our MySpace site!
If you have a MySpace site on the web, you can visit our page and request that MCC Omaha become one of your friends. Once the request is received and approved, you can then move MCC Omaha into your top friends spaces and thus, help promote and make more people throughout Nebraska aware of our great church ministries!
Our MySpace site is in the infant stages of creation, but it will soon grow to join our new website to help keep MCC Omaha at the forefront of the LGBT Community of Nebraska and western Iowa. Check us out!
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| Website Links which
are of interest to
MCC Omaha. . . |
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MCC Omaha's Printed Newsletter
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches
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