REGION 3 UPDATE
Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands and the U.S. States of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, the District of Columbia (Washington, DC)
June 6, 2003
Imago Dei MCC Has A New Home
Last weekend I had the privilege to worship with Imago Dei MCC, Media, PA in their new space. They are now leasing a building from a United Methodist congregation. They have completely refurbished the space which includes worship space, offices and meeting rooms. Last Sunday they had 93 in worship. New Address: 1223 Middletown Road, Glen Mills, PA 19342, worship is now at 9:30 AM.
Rev. Ron Helms Receives - "Faith In Action" Award
Award Text: Believing that if the Word of God is to be truly heard it must be lived, Greater Rochester Community of churches presents this day, June 3, 2003 A Faith In Action Award to Rev. Ron Helms.
We celebrate those who glorify God by loving people, by serving with compassion, courage, prophetic truth, and creating with God, a vision for a just, whole and holy people.
Honoree Writing: For the community of Open Arms MCC, Rev. Ron Helms is a spiritual giant. He is a pastor that is Christ centered, exemplifying the love of Christ in all that he does. Ron is an activist in our Rochester community, standing up fir the rights of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people, speaking out at City School Board meetings, and advocating on behalf of social justice issues at City Council meetings and the County Legislature.
Ron has organized and led an Outdoor Community Worship Service at the Annual Gay Pride Picnic, and encouraged Open Arms and many supporting congregations to march in the Gay Pride Parade. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Rochester Community of Churches and held the position of Vice President for Organization for two terms. Ron stands as a witness of Christ at all times and in all places. He reaches out to those in need. He works for the rights of the GLBT community so well as others who suffer discrimination. He is a leader to be followed. He does all of these things in community, as well as serving the family and friends of Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church.
Prayer Request
Rev. Delores Berry - has been recovering from surgery. After two weeks of recovery an infection set in and she had to return to the hospital and underwent another round of surgery. They are expecting a full recovery.
Holy Ghost Revival Weekend at Vision of Hope - June 20 - 22
Vision of Hope MCC in Mountville, Pennsylvania will be having our annual Holy Ghost Revival Weekend on June 20 - 22. Bonnie Radden, the dynamic and gifted pastor of Refiner's Fire Church in Long Beach, California, will be the guest preacher. Our kickoff service on Friday night will be all praise and worship featuring the praise offerings of our choir and singers and dance and poetry praise offerings. At 5:30 on Saturday, one of our talented Vision of Hope couples will cater a sumptuous dinner. MCC-Philadelphia's marvelous Praise Team will be providing worship leadership and praise at the Saturday night service on June 21. Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. will complete the weekend with joyous worship and Spirit-filled instruction. Prayer ministry will be offered at the end of both Saturday night and Sunday night services.
For more information, please contact Sam Wyman, Director of Empowerment at Vision of Hope at 717-285-9070 or e-mail him at FriarSam@aol.com
Call for Nominations for Chair and Assistant Chair for the MCC Commission on the Laity (COL)
At General Conference in July in Dallas, the Lay House will elect a chair for a 4 year term and vice chair for a 2 year term. These two elected positions will become the first chair and vice chair of the new Lay Ministry Council pending passage of that bylaw amendment. (see page 76 in General Conference Business Packet)
Since I have prayerfully decided to not run for either position this year, I will chair the nomination process. We will receive nominations for both the chair and assistant chair positions from the floor at the Lay House business meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 1st, 3:30 PM. The actual voting will then occur in the General Conference business meeting on Wednesday, July 2nd.
Please prayerfully consider running for the positions. Feel free to put together and bring a short bio (optional - 300 copies) to hand out with a summary of your leadership experience and vision statement for MCC and lay ministry. We will also ask all people nominated at the Lay House meeting to briefly (3-5 minute) address the lay house as well as answers questions as time allows from the floor to the candidates.
Questions may be sent to Stan Kimer, current chair of the Commission on the Laity, at sckimer @us.ibm.com or calling him at 919-787-3091.
While traveling away from the office I can be reached through my cell phone at 717 368-2352. Mary, the office assistant will be in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 - 2.
Pastor of MCC Cristo Sanador Announces Resignation
Rev. Pablo Navarro-Hernández last Sunday announced his resignation as senior pastor effective at the end of July. He reports that he feels that after seven years of service that it is time to move on. Pablo is considering his future plans and is interested in teaching and possibly church planting within MCC.
MCC Hudson Valley Gay Pride
MCC of the Hudson Valley, Albany, NY participated in the Capital Pride Parade and Festival. We marched in the Parade and had a booth at the Pride Fest in Albany's Washington Park. MCCHV has been a visible presence in Albany's Pride for the last several years proclaiming the message of God's Inclusive Love.
Rev. Delores Berry Update
As some of you may know on May 13th Rev. Delores Berry had her 'Tummy Tuck' surgery. At that time the surgeon found another hernia (one was fixed when she had her Stomach Stapled) that was repaired using some sort of mesh material. Several days after being dismissed from the hospital she started having abdominal pains and ran a fever. Antibiotics didn't diminish these symptoms so she was put back in the hospital. Again she had to have surgery, discovering that the some of the mesh was infected. Luckily the hernia had heeled enough to allow the surgeon to remove the mesh. Rev. Delores then received stronger antibiotics and had three blood transfusions. She was in the hospital for 12 days after which she was dismissed with drains that were to remove any fluid buildup. Well, after two days at home the drains fell out and fluid began backing up. Back to the ER where 600cc of fluid was drained with an 8 inch needle, and then back to surgery to have the drains put in again. Judy has to change the antibiotic bag once a day. On Wednesday (June 18th) she will see the surgeon and the infection specialist doctor to have her blood tested. Due to all the problems Rev. Delores had to cancel 7 different church appearances. The doctors say she should be able to go to General Conference in Dallas, but she and Judy are in need of monetary help. We know that things are tough for many of us, but please anything you can spare will be greatly appreciated. Remember the only income they have is when Rev. Delores makes church appearances. Please make checks payable to: Rev Delores P. Berry Ministries and mail your much needed and valued donation to:
Rev. Delores P. Berry Ministries
314 Bentley Ridge Blvd.
Lancaster, PA 17602
Thank you and God bless you all, Betty J. Olding Prayer Support Team Coordinator for DPBEM and the Board of Directors
Prayer Requests
Rev. Gail Hicks - last week Gail had surgery on her knee. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.
Rev. Delores Berry - continued healing
All those attending General Conference (Over 125 from Region 3 will be attending.)
Excel Weekend A Success
Just a note to report what a wonderful success the Excel weekend was on June 6-8, 2003. The team and friends consisted of people from Texas, Tennessee, Washington, DC and Maryland and we worked together like we'd known each other always. Unfortunately, Delores Berry was so ill, she was not able to be our spiritual counselor and we were not able to find a last minute substitute. We decided we would take to heart the saying "we are all ministers" and the team ministered to the participants in any way possible. (We did have a licensed psychologist on the team if there were severe problems but God prepared the way so that help was not required.)
We had an awesome weekend! You could tell God was there when we arrived and just stayed with us all weekend! Since Sunday was Pentecost, it helped us to remember the work of the Holy Spirit in all our lives and to take that back with us into our own churches. We had 14 participants and 10 have signed up to become part of a permanent team here in the Region 3 area--Praise God! Plus 5 from the team and friends who want to continue to be part of the team...pretty cool, huh!
Remember Bill on Vacation
There is a popular misconception that the church bills go on vacation when you do. Did you know that is not true? Our rent, salaries for our Pastor and Music Director, telephone, advertising, and so forth, continue even while you on R & R. Did you know the church envelopes are mailable to the church? Send your check (prayerfully, of course) before you leave or from your beach chair. If you don't have church offering envelopes, pick up some this Sunday from the Greeter/Usher at the Welcome Table at one of our services. (Taken from the newsletter of MCC of the Chesapeake)
Regional Elder Travel Schedule - June
June
15 MCC Rehoboth, DE
17-20 Vacation
27 Leave for Dallas, TX
July
1- 6 General Conference
7 - 9 Board of Elders Meeting
10 - 16 Travel home from General Conference
19 - 20 Fredericksburg, VA - Church Plant
21 - 25 Alban Institute - Bishops Training
Rev. Elder Arlene J. Ackerman
UFMCC Regional Elder
Region 3
PO Box 276
Landisville, PA 17538
Phone: 717 898-3713
Fax: 717 898-3714
E-mail: arleneackerman@MCCchurch.org
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