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IN THIS ISSUE
Gather at the River
Marriage Equality at the Supreme Court
MFSA on the Road!
Progressive Ponderings:News and Job Openings
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Issue 5          

9 April 2015  

 

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Greetings!

Every Easter my church, Dumbarton United Methodist Church, celebrates a vigil the night before Easter Sunday. It holds a special place in my heart because I was baptized at the Easter Vigil 14 years ago. This year, as in many years prior, we have a grand spread after the service: food, drink, conversation, and music. Of course, with music comes dancing. And oh, how I wanted to dance! The music came on and I started spinning - right into the middle of a pole in the social hall! While my disco moves gave me only a little bruising and swelling, the "Great Vigil Incident" provided me with examples of what it means to love your neighbor. My pastor rushed to the rescue, someone ran for ice, one member used her healing energy skills, another made a joke to lighten the situation; these are marks of the Church - though we may have different parts, we make up one Body.

In this season (yes, Easter is more than one day!), we are reminded of the presence of the Living God among us. Even when Friday seems to permeate the headlines and our experiences of the day-to-day, Sunday is coming. That's why I love Holy Saturday: bumps and bruises don't have the last word because love and hope will always have something to say!

Listening to love and hope,

Chett Pritchett
Executive Director
chett@mfsaweb.org
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE EXTENDED & APPROACHING 
Methodist Federation for Social Action and Reconciling Ministries Network members and friends in the Rio Texas Conference are preparing to provide extravagant hospitality for Gather at the River participants, August 6-9.

If you've not yet registered yet, YOU STILL HAVE TIME!
Register now at www.gather2015.org
before April 15!



If you can't make it to Gather at the River but would like to make sure others can participate, consider giving to the scholarship fund at www.gather2015.org. See you in San Antonio!
Marriage Equality at Supreme Court

Multi-Faith Service for the Freedom to Marry

 

5:00 PM, Sunday, April 26, 2015

 

National City Christian Church

5 Thomas Cir NW

Washington, DC 20005

 

Join in a service of prayer and inspiration at this historic moment, on the Sunday before the oral arguments in the marriage cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. 

 

This prayer-filled worship celebration will give witness that the nation truly is ready for the freedom to marry.  No matter who you are, where you are on life's journey, or what your faith, religious or spiritual practice may be, you are invited, welcome and encouraged to attend.

 

The Methodist Federation for Social Action is proud to be part of the multi-faith planning team working to make this witness a reality! 

MFSA On The Road!
Thursday, April 16 - Saturday, April 18: Black Methodist for Church Renewal General Meeting, Orlando, FL
    Rev. Steve Clunn, Coalition Coordinator, attending

Friday, April 17: LGBT* in the South Conference, Asheville, NC
    Chett Pritchett, executive director, attending

Saturday, April 18: Jack Crum Conference on Prophetic Ministry, Durham, NC
    Chett Pritchett, executive director, workshop leader

Thursday, April 23 - Saturday, April 25: Transform Network's National Gathering on Urban Transformation
     Rev. Steve Clunn, Coalition Coordinator, and Sarah Cobb, Intern, attending

Sunday, April 26 - 20th Reconciling Celebration, Los Gatos UMC, Los Gatos, CA
    Chett Pritchett, executive director, preaching

Sunday, April 26 - Where There Is Love: A Celebration of Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation, 5pm, National City Christian Church
     MFSA Staff present

Tuesday, April 28 - Faith-Leaders in Support of Marriage Equality, early morning in front of MFSA Office
     MFSA Staff present

Thursday, May 14 - Saturday, May 16: Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference
    Chett Pritchett, executive director, present;

Wednesday, May 27 - Saturday, May 30: Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference
    Chett Pritchett, executive director, present; MFSA/BWARM Dinner on Friday, May 29

Wednesday, May 27 - Saturday, May 30: Upper New York Annual Conference
    Rev. Steve Clunn, Coalition Coordinator, present

Wednesday, June 10 - Saturday, June 13: North Carolina Annual Conference
    Rev. Steve Clunn, Coalition Coordinator, present

Thursday, June 11 - Saturday, June 13: West Virginia Annual Conference
    Chett Pritchett, executive director, present; speaking at Appalachians Serving All People event, Friday, June 12

Monday, June 15 - Thursday, June 18: East Ohio Annual Conference
    Chett Pritchett, executive director, present; speaking at MFSA luncheon on Thursday, June 17

Sunday, June 21: Foundry UMC, Washington, DC
    Chett Pritchett, executive director, educational event on the intersections of sexuality and white privilege
Progressive Ponderings
Methodist Federation for Social Action
212 East Capitol Street, NE
Washington, DC 20003
202.546.8806