Stewardship Institutes
The MCC Region 3 stewardship institutes are fast approaching. May 20/21 at MCC of the Lehigh Valley in Allentown, PA. and June 3/4 at MCC Richmond, VA. If you have not yet registered you can do so by emailing ajoy1@aol.com and request a registration form. Registration fee is now $25. Please send in your registration soon so we will know how many to plan for.
We now have a list of hotels for the Richmond institute.
Richmond Hotels
Marriott Courtyard - 6400 West Broad St, Richmond, Virginia 23230
Reservations: 1-800-321-2211
$89.00 per night
Holiday Inn Crossroads - 2000 Staples Mill Rd., Richmond, Virginia 23230
Reservations: Contact Tiffney Liso @ 804-521-5484 for special rates.
$75.00 per night
Holiday Inn - W. Broad St @ I-64, 6531 W. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia 23230-2013
Reservations: 804-285-9951
$75.00 per night
Prayer Requests
Rev. Jim Mulcahy - undergoing tests to see if cancer has returned. Please keep him in your prayers.
Directory Change
Rev. Miller Hoffman is in the process of building the core group as the next step in our attempt to plant a new church Binghamton, NY. Rev. Hoffman now has a new cell phone number - 607 232-0463. Email: revmillerjen@earthlink.net.
Installation of The Rev. Edgard Danielsen-Morales. You´re invited!
The Rev. Pat Bumgardner and the congregation of MCC NY invite you to the Installation of The Rev. Dr. Edgard Danielsen-Morales as Pastor for Congregational Life, on Pentecost Sunday (May 15th). First called to the ministry at age 17, but rejected by the faith community of his birth, Rev. Edgard found his spiritual home in MCC in 1996 and was ordained to the ministry on December 15, 2002. Formerly the co-Pastor of our sibling congregation in San Juan, ICM Cristo Sanador, he was a founding member of the first Queer religious group in Puerto Rico, Reencuentro, and has worked extensively in ecumenical circles to train pastors as social activists and empower the laity for the ministry. Rev. Edgard and his partner of more than 14 years, William, bring many gifts to MCCNY. William is the proud father of teenage daughters, Hilcia and Patricia. For more information, you may call the church office at 212-629-7440.
Journey through Conflict - A Pastoral Reflection
Rev. Stephanie Burns, MCC Fredericksburg - As a pastor, you tend to notice when things are just a little off - when worship seems to be flat - when the energy level is low - when even simple decisions become difficult - and when the congregation seems unhappy. This is what happened at MCC Fredericksburg. It is hard to say exactly when it began, but by January of this year, we were a congregation in conflict. Our honeymoon as a new church was over and we were struggling with disagreements and other challenges. People who loved and cared for one another were not speaking - households were divided - ugly e-mails were flying about - the act of coming together for worship was difficult at best. I kept asking myself - how did we get here? What could I have done differently? How could I have led us to this place? I doubted virtually every aspect of my call and my abilities. It became evident to me that regardless of what had led us to this place, we needed help to get out of it - and I was not alone. Members of the congregation, the Board of Directors and myself all reached out and requested the formal Conflict Resolution Process in an effort to get us back on track. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I also knew that it was our only hope to save our community. No one wants to make that phone call to your Regional Elder. But we did - and it made all the difference. Almost everyone at MCC Fredericksburg dedicated themselves to try to be part of the solution and while the conflict resolution process was emotional and painful it has made a tremendous difference to our community. We have really grown through this process and begun to make substantive changes in how we "be" community together. We have moved beyond and "us vs. them" mentality and are really working together to make our community better. We have committed to improve lines of communication and are striving to ensure that people be heard even if we disagree. And we are working to really commit to direct deal with one another, especially when it is most difficult. For many of us, it would have been all to easy to have quit or give up or to have lost hope. Thank God we didn't. Today, our community is back on track and I am, more than ever, so proud and honored to serve as the Pastor of MCC Fredericksburg.
From the Elder's View: I never like to see a church go through difficult times but the truth is all churches do at one time or another. The leadership of MCC Fredericksburg were different from many other churches. When they realized that they were stuck in their conflict they all asked for help. Our Regional Conflict Mediation leader, Rev. Debbie Coggin, went in and worked with the board. Next, I went to the church and did a full assessment hosting meetings with leaders and interviewing 22 people, participated in worship and held meetings with the board, pastor and others in two and half days. Following the assessment I returned for a follow-up weekend to do training for the board and the congregation and made recommendations for follow-up. In my observation, this time of challenge was a natural part of the development of a new church. Secondly, the maturity of the pastor, board and lay leadership has brought them into new dimension of ministry. This church had challenges that were real and the lessons learned were not easy but I am proud to have had the privilege of working with such a fine group of faith-filled people.
General Conference Workshops
There are a number of different tracks of workshops that will be presented in Calgary at General Conference in July. There are:
" Boards of Directors and church administration
" Christian Education
" Church growth, including church planting and the revitalization of existing communities
" Financial Development for local communities
" Global Activism
" Health Care as a Human Right, including GLBT health, HIV, substance use and cancer
" Sexuality and Spirituality
" Spiritual Growth, including theological diversity
" Worship, including topics such as youth, music, innovative 21st century worship
If you have not yet registered for General Conference go to www.MCCchurch.org
Holy Ghost Revival - You are invited!
Vision of Hope MCC, Mountville, PA is hosting a revival. Other MCC's formally participating so far: MCC Philadelphia, MCC Baltimore, Imago Dei MCC, MCC of the Lehigh Valley and MCC of the Spirit, and MCC Washington.
Thursday, May 12 * All-Music Praise Service 7pm
Friday, May 13 * Afternoon Workshops, 3 - 5pm
* Dinner from 5 to 6:30
* 7pm Service with Music, Prayer, and the Rev. David Smith, Preaching
Saturday, May 14 * Morning Workshops, 9-11am
* Lunch from 11:00 to 12:30
* Afternoon Workshops,12:30-2:30pm
* 6pm Service with Music, Prayer, and the Rev. Jeffery Jordon, Preaching
Sunday, May 15 * Pentecost Sunday Service, 10:30am
* The Rev. Deborah Coggin, Preaching
Special Music for weekend provided by
Vision of Hope MCC's Joyful Noise Choir
MCC of the Spirit's Gospel Choir
Imago Dei's Drumming Circle
MCC of the Lehigh Valley's Praise & Glory Singers,
MCC Philadelphia, MCC Washington (D.C.), and more!
To help ensure that we have enough food, advance registration is required for meals:
(actual payment is not due until day of event)
Friday dinner: $5.00 Saturday Lunch: $3.00
Childcare available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, children's activities on Saturday
For more information, or to register, please call the church - 717-285-9070 Or register by e-mail @ visionofhopemcc@aol.com
Vision of Hope MCC
130 East Main Street, Mountville, PA 17544
717-285-9070 www.visionofhopemcc.org visionofhopemcc@aol.com
The Intensive in the Practice of MCC Ministry
June 19-24, 2005 Pacific School of Religion Berkeley California, USA
Dear MCC Students and Clergy, The Office of Leadership Development is pleased to announce the Intensive in the Practice of MCC Ministry program for 2005. The intensives are a key part of the educational program for MCC student clergy. It is designed as a supplement to seminary education where our students are encouraged to engage the unique context of ministry within predominantly GLBT communities. The 2005 curriculum will focus on skill building in the areas of worship, community organizing, and vocational discernment. Students will leave the program with concrete skills in worship, preaching, and community organizing that will enable them to plant and/or pastor churches that effectively meet the needs of 21st century people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. We are particularly excited about the exceptional faculty that will be mentoring and teaching our students. Rev. Penny Nixon will be presenting a segment on queer preaching. Bob Crocker will serve as our music director for worship throughout the week.
The 2005 intensives will take place on the campus of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley California June 19-24. Tuition for the program is $500. The total package of tuition, room, and board (including linen service and 3 daily meals) is $1000 double occupancy. Registration forms can be downloaded at MCCchurch.org/education. For questions or more information please contact Charles Tigard, charlestigard@MCCchurch 310-360-8640 x 216. Yours in Christ, The Department of Leadership Development Rev. Jim Mitulski revjimmitulski@MCCchurch.orgCharles Tigard charlestigard@MCCchurch.org.
The 2005 Intensive Faculty Rev. Dr. Edgard Danielsen-Morales - Puerto Rico/ MCC New York, Rev. Elder Nori Rost- Pike's Peak MCC, Colorado Springs, CO, Rev. Kharma Amos- MCC Northern Virginia, Fairfax, VA, Rev. Elder Darlene Garner, Regional Elder for Region 6, Rev. Jim Mitulski- Director of Seminary Relations, Rev. Cindi Love- Executive Director
May 18, 2005
I recently had the privilege to meet with nine of our ordination candidates from around Region 3. Roben Waddel of MCC of the Spirit, Jen Glass of Vision of Hope MCC and Lu Johnson also of Open Arms MCC, Kristen Foley and Helen Daniels of MCC Baltimore and Harry Patterson, Lori McPherson, Skip Jordan and Janet Avery of MCC Washington met with me at Vision of Hope MCC in Mountville, PA. We spent a day together and I was blessed to hear about their calling, where they come from and where they believe God is calling them in ministry. Some of them are going forward for ordination just before General Conference while other will go next year. If they are any indication of the future clergy leadership of MCC we will have a bright future. Arlene
Stewardship Institutes - Registration
Registrations are still coming in for both Institutes. If you are planning on attending the Allentown, PA institute this weekend please email (do not send) the Region 3 office and let us know so that we can plan appropriately. For more information on dates, location, hotels, etc., please email ajoy1@aol.com and request the information be emailed to you.
Stewardship Institute Schedule
Friday - 7 PM Worship Service followed by a reception
Saturday - 9 AM Registration & coffee
9:30 Mark Vincent - begins
12 Lunch included in registration
5 PM Institute Ends
Stewardship Institute Locations
May 20/21
MCC of the Lehigh Valley phone 610 709-8800
1901 South 12th Street
Allentown, PA 18103
June 3/4
MCC Richmond phone 804 353-9477
2501 Park Ave.
Richmond, VA 23220
Prayer Requests
Rev. Jim Mulcahy, pastor of Open Arms MCC, Rochester, NY, writes, "There was good news and not so good news. The good news is that the CT scans of chest, abdomen and pelvis and the bone scan were all negative for detectable cancer. The not so good news is that the PSA, which indicates the presence of prostate cancer, continues to rise. It went from almost undetectable to its present level of 3.6." Jim reports that he is considering taking part in a clinical trial of a drug that hopefully will help.
Rev. Debbie Coggin, pastor of Vision of Hope MCC, Mountville, PA underwent a hysterectomy yesterday and is doing very well. She hopes to be released from the hospital on Thursday.
The Rev. Jeffrey H. Jordan, left, of the Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia and the Rev. Karla Fleshman of the Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church demonstrate during the Equality Forum celebration in Philadelphia, Sunday, May 1, 2005. Equality Forum, a gay right civil rights group, celebrated the 40th anniversary of the gay civil rights movement in events held around Independence Hall.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) check out the local story.
Spiritual Retreat Resource
Hinton Rural Retreat Center is located in the Appalachian Mountains in Hayesville, NC. About 2 1/2 hours from the Atlanta airport, Hinton offers facilities for personal spiritual retreats. They have three Hermitage Houses - one room cabins with kitchenettes and a wonderful front porch available for self directed spiritual retreats. Hinton also has two Spiritual Directors on staff that are willing to meet with you during the course of your retreat experience. Hinton's special offer for clergy and lay leaders is the first night is free and then each subsequent night is $25 for up to one week. Meals are available at the dining hall if there are retreat groups on site. For more info go to: http://www.hintoncenter.org/
A Note From Rev. Delores Berry
Hello! Judy and I will be selling tapes and C/D's at General / Jubilee Conference.
We would love to share a table if a church or individual might be interested. We would share the cost of the table. We will not sell any other items. We need to hear from you very soon, please. At some time during the conference on Saturday and Sunday, I will be at the table to offer autographs. (You can email Rev. Berry at RevDBerry@aol.com)
We will also be selling my NEW CD!
"Sign Me Up For The Rainbow Jubilee"
Some of the songs are:
You Raise Me Up, Walk Around Heaven. I Bowed On My Knees And Cried Holy, The Jesus Express, Fix It Jesus, Sign Me Up, and I'm Going With Jesus All The Way, and more! I will be singing "All The Way " at the conference!
Scholarship Someone To General Conference
You have most likely seen the notices that the Elders are trying to raise funds to help people from outside of the US and Canada attend General Conference. We still need to raise another few thousand dollars. Can you help? If so, email me ASAP.
MCC Strategic Plan - Your input is Needed!
Please take a few minutes to visit www.mccchurch.org and take the Strategic Planning Survey found on the home page. Your input is important!
Closing Thought
Each of us is important in the cause of Christ. Whether you are a leader or a follower; whether you are a lay person or clergy; whether you do your ministry in the church or in the community - you can and do make a difference!
Are you doing what God has called you to do? Are you using the gifts God has given you? Are you serving Christ or waiting to be served? We know God loves us, but do you know that God is calling us? If you are just waiting to be asked, change your strategy. Instead go see your pastor or ministry team leader. Take the first step - just do it!
"If you find a path with no obstacles,
it probably
doesn't lead anywhere."
- Frank A. Clark
May 4 - 6 Office
7 Ordination Candidates Gathering
10 - 13 Office
14 Lancaster Seminary Graduation
16 - 19 Office
20 - 21 Stewardship Institute - Allentown, PA
22 MCC of the Lehigh Valley - worship
25 - 26 Office
27 - 31 Vacation
Arlene Ackerman