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December 13, 2014         Volume 8, Number 32
Our Mission:
.
CLAIM
our Birthright
GROW
in Wisdom
SERVE
in Gratitude
SHARE God's Love 
  
  
In This Issue

Spirit Blog

Upcoming Events

Church Happenings
  
This Week
 
Sunday Service
10:30 AM
 
 
Weekly Office Hours
Wed &Thurs
10:00AM-3:00PM
(813) 239-1951
408 E. Cayuga Street 

 

 

Christmas Cabaret

Advent Series

  

Prayer Shawls

Bingo Items Needed

Smile.Amazon.com

Board Meeting

Finance Meeting

Facebook Page  

 


 

Global Justice Team

Domestic Ptnr Registry

Pop Tops For Shriners HIV Testing

  

 

Join Our Mailing List

 

 

 

Spirit Blog
         


 

Dear Reader:


 
The world of spirituality is full of serious people.  We are serious about our spiritual quest, serious about our practices, and serious about the transformation of ourselves and our world. And this year for Advent, thanks to prophetic voices ancient and more recent, we are asked to seriously contemplate what comfort really is? 

 

A religious prophet in the Isaiah tradition once uttered the famous words, "Comfort, oh comfort my people," to a disenfranchised remnant and diaspora of a once mighty Jewish kingdom.  In a similar vein, Karl Marx in a 19th century critique of religion once wrote, "Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people." While it might seem like Marx and Isaiah are strange bedfellows, they are each taking a serious look at societal suffering and charting different courses for bringing relief and change.

 

And yet, even with such serious fodder, we are being asked to chew on 'Joy' as our traditional third Sunday of Advent theme.  This particular Sunday has been called Gaudete Sunday for hundreds of years, which means 'Sunday to Rejoice!'  In our Advent wreaths, we light a pink candle instead of our penitential blue or purple tapers.  Children are often highlighted in our activities as if through them we can remember within our seriousness the simple joy of being alive.  We also remember that Christ taught us that the wisest of faiths cultivates a beginner's mind through spiritual experiences - seeking them with openness as if we are children - approaching each day with a re-born awareness and limitless moral imagination to make peace with our lives, in our time.  In this way, the Infant Christ remains an image of an eternally formative part of our selves that one day may very well save us through its iconoclasm toward our hardened religious certainties. Oftentimes, these 'certainties' have merely divided up our experiences and our world to keep suffering at bay rather than joyfully, if at times painfully, transforming it with integrity and grace. 

 

And children know a thing or two about suffering as well.  They are on the front lines in a year that Unicef and the World Health Organization have characterized as particularly brutal for millions of children in our war-torn and virus ravaged world.  The comfort in gaudete during the Advent journey is not about becoming childish with sugar plum fairy illusions, as Marx was critiquing, a deeper spiritual comfort is offered in taking a serious look at the consequences of the unequal worlds we create and waking up with a tenacious joy in the vision of our equal enfranchisement as children of a just Creator.  

 

During the Christmas season, we are not worshiping in order to zone out, rather we reflect in order to zone in to a particular child's life midwifed by compassion. We are challenged with the question, "Why not every child?" We are given a name for this one child's life as a sign of comfort, Emmanuel.  It means God-among-us, a feet-on-the-ground-and-in-the-muck act of iconoclastic intervention and generosity.  The Christ event reminds us that God cared enough to come to earth to save us from our fears, escapism, segmentation and religiosity through the revelation of a forgiving and transforming Divine Love as the hope and substance of the experienced spiritual life.  And the deep joy that can be found in living the generous Way of Christ is our sign that the arc of God's history is always toward peace and merciful justice - for our children, our children's children and all of us.  

 

So friends, let us take comfort and rejoice in the substance of Christ's vision of love with open eyes this season, not despite our suffering world but among it with compassion. 

  

Glad you're there,

Rev. Pressley

 

 

 

 

 


      
UpcomingUpcoming Events

CHRISTMAS CABARET TONIGHT!!!- MCC Tampa's Christmas Party will be Saturday night, December 13th starting at 7 PM. Come join this festive Celebration of Christmas for the whole family.  Mingle and Jingle!   Light snacks and sweets of the season will be served. Performances by the MCC Choir and others. Holiday music, games, and FREE Admission.  


 
ADVENT SERIESJoin us as we Explore the Four Aspects of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.  Series starts on Monday, December 1st and runs 4 consecutive Mondays ending on December 22nd.   Call the church office at 813-239-1951 for more information.


 

 

      

HappeningsChurch Happenings

 

PRAYER SHAWLS - We currently have shawls available on the prayer wall for anyone managing life's challenges. 

 

ITEMS NEEDED FOR UPCOMING BINGO EVENTS - We have an ongoing need for items for bingo prizes; gift cards, wine, event tickets, etc.  Please drop off in the church office as we have several bingo events scheduled in the upcoming months.

 

ATTENTION SHOPPERS - FOUND MONEY AT SMILE.AMAZON.COM - The next time you shop at Amazon.com please go to smile.amazon.com instead and select Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa as your charity of choice.  Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to MCC Tampa whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.  There is no additional cost to you and MCC Tampa benefits from your purchases.  Here is the direct linkhttp://smile.amazon.com/ch/59-1429783 .

 

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING - The monthly board meeting is on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:15 pm. All board meetings are open meetings.

 

MONTHYLY FINANCE MEETING - There is a monthly finance meeting every 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm.  This is an open meeting.


OUR FACEBOOK PAGE - Follow MCC Tampa on our Fan Page.  Go to MCC Tampa, under church and organizations to "Like" and "Share" with your friends.  Also spread the word about upcoming events and invite your friends to join us. 



      

SocialSocial Justice

MCC TAMPA GLOBAL JUSTICE TEAM NEEDS YOU!!  - If you are passionate about issues of justice and would like to contribute your time and talents, we need you!  Please sign up in the back of church, speak to Cathy James or call the church office at 813-239-1951.


    
 2014 Candlelight Memorial for Homeless Persons ... We Remember - Tuesday, December 16th        5:30-7:00pm at Lykes Gaslight Park, 410 N. Franklin Street, Tampa, FL  33602.

 

 

TAMPA DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP REGISTRY - Is open for business at  the City Clerk's office at 315 E. Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL. The fee is $30.00 (cash or check payable to the City of Tampa). A Driver's License or Class 1 ID is required for each person. Both partners must be present at the same time to register. 

 

POP TOPS FOR SHRINERS HOSPITAL - MCC Tampa's recycling ministry is now collecting the pop top tabs from aluminum cans. We will donate them to the Shriners Hospital to help with children's medical needs.

  

TAKE THE TEST & LEARN YOUR STATUS! - When was your last HIV test?  Has it been a while?  If so, its not too late!  Metro Wellness & Community Centers will be providing confidential HIV testing services at MCC Tampa. The next date is January 18th from 11:00am -1:00pm.  Test results provided within 20 minutes! 

 

 


      
LifeIn the Life of Our Church

 

Ministry Opportunities

Please consider becoming "one of the many ministers in the life of this church." You've been longing to become active and involved in your church, so here are some of the many ways you can do so in life of your church. 
Below is a list of ministries and contact people. Please see them, visit the church website:  www.mcctampa.com  or call the church office at 813-239-1951 for more information.


MINISTRY                                                             Contact Person 

 

Audio Team                                                          Mac McGowan

Board of Directors                                                 Sonya Bufe

Children & Families                                                Tris MacWilliam
Congregational Care                                              Ross Scudder
Creating Sacred Spaces                                         Ross Scudder 

Deaf Interpreters Ministry                                       Catherine Gill
Eucharistic Ministry                                               Vance Hamilton

Food Pantry                                                          Tina Brunner

Hospitality                                                             Frank Azzarello

Lectors Ministry                                                     Kevin Klahr
Living Green Ministry                                             Tina Brunner

Music Team                                                          Jeffery Morton

Office Angels                                                         Robert Krebs

Pastoral Search Committee                                     Kevin Klahr
Programming Team                                                Ellie Weber

Sacred Grounds                                                     Richard Skinner

Social Justice                                                        Cathy James

Ushers                                                                  Vacant

Visuals Team                                                         Angelica Cuevas
Welcome Ministry                                                  George Summers 

 

CONGREGATIONAL CARE TEAM AVAILABLE FOR YOU

We want to remind you that if you, or someone you know, is in the hospital, becomes homebound or is in need of some congregational care - Please let us know. We now have a very active Congregational Care Team, and they are here to serve your needs.  The team is available every Sunday before and after worship service.

If you need special prayers, have concerns you would like to discuss, need someone to talk with, or would like a call,  then visit our Congregational Care  Ministry Table in the foyer, or E-mail us at [email protected] or call the us at 813-230-1542
 

 
BECOME A CREATIVE FINANCIER FOR MCC TAMPA
 
THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR FAITH COMMUNITY:
In addition to making your own commitment-use others' money to grow that commitment and ensure MCCT's financial security.
 
Tithes and Offerings: It's not too late to make a pledge that makes a difference.
 
Ministry Volunteers: Feel your passion and join a ministry team that nurtures you as you fulfill your commitment to "Serve in Gratitude."
 
Fundraisers: Please support church efforts to nurture you and your friends and family at our special events throughout the year.  Watch for announcements on upcoming events.
 
AND NOW, FOR THE FREE $$$:
 
Corporate Matching Gifts: Give to MCCT without spending a dime-your employer may be one who matches giving to a 501c-3 (nonprofit) organization. Check with your Human Resources office to see if you can double your giving at no cost to you but with great benefit to MCCT.
 
Travelers and Social Butterflies Website: Book through http://ytbtravel.com/mcctampaor go to www.mcctampa.com and click on "travel." Either way, making travel arrangements (air, sea, land), sending flowers, buying theater and other event tickets benefits MCCT through commissions.
 
Recycling: The Living Green Ministry can use your help with greening MCCT while raising money from recyclables. Bring in newspapers (complete with slicks),cardboard, phone books, magazines, basically anything paper that tears. Aluminum cans (soda/beer), printer cartridges, cell phones (no chargers) and junk vehicles. Please recycle your plastic bottles at home at your curbside. LETS' KEEP IT GREEN!! and greener $$$$$$$$$
 
Surf the Web at www.goodsearch.com and MCCT receives one cent for every search.  What could be easier and more helpful? It's the search that keeps on giving.  How about getting a surfing team together that raises $20 each month?  How about challenging others to do the same?
 
Shop online at www.iGive.com and more free $$$ comes back to MCCT.
 
Recurring Credit Card Donations
We are now able to offer automatic debit withdraws for tithes and offerings. These forms are available on the table in the lobby. Once you have completed the form, the church office will process your information and you will receive a confirmation of when the first payment will be processed.  You may choose what day of the month you would like the withdraw to occur and you may cancel recurring donations at any time; however, we ask that you notify us 10 days prior to the date of your next donations so that we can process your cancellation in a timely manner.  If you have any questions concerning this process, please feel free to talk with a member of the Board of Directors or contact the church office.
The church office can also process one time donations from credit cards.  If you would like to make a one time gift, please see the church office for the one time authorization form.  Your gifts and offerings have a direct impact in the life of MCC Tampa and continue to make a difference in our church and our community. Thank You!
 
To learn more about what is happening in the MCC Fellowship, visit their Website at:
www.mccchurch.org
or
Sign Up for the MCC Churches Newsletter!
 

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