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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)
November 6, 2003
MCC Fredericksburg celebrated its Inaugural Worship
On Sunday, October 26th - 91 people gathered for worship, with 30 from
other MCC congregations. We were blessed to have representatives from
MCC of Northern Virginia, MCC DC, New Life MCC, MCC Blue Ridge and our
parent church, MCC Richmond present. The Virginia MCC's participated in
a Litany of Blessing the Faith Community, which culminated in Rev. Dr.
Robin Gorsline (Senior Pastor MCC Richmond) proclaiming the dedication
and blessing of MCC Fredericksburg. MCC Fredericksburg's choir, God's
Own sang two pieces: Give Thanks and Majesty. Members of MCC Richmond's
choir, Spirits of Joy also say two pieces: They Will Know We are Christians
By Our Love and A Celtic Blessing. Rev. Stephanie Burns (Pastor, MCC Fredericksburg)
preached a sermon entitled "Digging Our Own Wells!" on Genesis
26:17-22, inspired in part by the Marsha Stevens song "Dig Your Own
Well!". Other highlights included special words of welcome from the
Honorable Mayor Bill Beck (Mayor of Fredericksburg) and the presentation
of a special altar cloth given to us by the children of Chapel Hill Christian
Church. Following worship, MCC Fredericksburg hosted a reception at Eyeclopes
Studios, where the Inaugural Service was held. Sunday worship will resume
at MCC Fredericksburg's regular worship site: The disAbility Resource
Center, 409 Progress Street, Fredericksburg @ 11:00 a.m. MCC Fredericksburg
is the newest church plant in Region 3.
Prayer Request - Rev. Gail Hicks
Last week Rev. Hicks underwent ankle replacement surgery. She is recovering
well but will be unable to put weight on her foot for at least 12 weeks.
You can email her at mawbarker@aol.com.
MCC RESOURCES FOR SPANISH-SPEAKING MCCERS
Norberto D'Amico of ICM El Centro (Buenos Aires, Argentina, Region 7),
Rev. Dr. Pablo Navarro, longtime MCC leader in Puerto Rico (Region 3),
and Rev. Elder Armando Sanchez (Region 2), have worked to establish
an MCC e-mail list for Spanish-speaking MCCers. To sign up for this
free e-mail service, send your request to Noberto at: comunicacionesdelcentro@speedy.com.ar
Pastor of New Light MCC Announces Resignation
Rev. Robert Griffin has announced that 23 November will be his last
day at New Light Church in Hagerstown, MD. His plans are to return to
school and to spend more time with his partner. He will continue to
serve as the assistant to Rev. Elder Gillian Storey.
Robert is grateful for all that has been accomplished in Hagerstown
during his almost eight years as the founding pastor of New Light. He
is particularly proud of New Light's commitment to people with AIDS
and homeless people and New Light's attractive and functional building
which they purchased while still a very young church. New Light has
successfully introduced progressive theology, religious community, and
social activism to the region and has consistently shared a positive
message of hope and wholeness to the LBGTQ communities and their allies.
Robert Griffin has not only offered leadership for almost 8 years but
has trained and equipped leaders and he is confident that this is a
good time for him to step out in faith to pursue new directions in ministry.
He is thankful to everyone who has given time, talent, and treasure
to make New Light Church what it is. He offers prayers for the continued
success and growth of New Light Church MCC.
MCC of the Blue Ridge Purchases Historic Roanoke Worship Site
Roanoke, VA -- After renting worship space for almost 17 years, MCC
of the Blue Ridge, a predominantly gay Christian congregation, has purchased
a permanent church facility in Roanoke. MCCBR has completed the purchase
of the former Belmont United Methodist Church, which had a presence
on the corner of 8th and Jamison Streets in Roanoke for over 100 years.
The current 30,000 square foot building was constructed in 1921. A crowning
feature of the historic building is a 500 seat sanctuary highlighted
with 1920's vintage stained glass windows. According to Rev. Catherine
Houchins, senior pastor of the MCC of the Blue Ridge, "This is
a significant step for both our congregation and for the wider gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in the Roanoke Valley
and Southwest Virginia. This facility will provide worship space for
our growing church and will also provide meeting and activity space
for other groups in this area." "We're also pleased that the
church building is located in a city-sponsored renovation area,"
added Rev. Houchins. "Several residents have already expressed
their pleasure that the building will continue to fulfill its original
purpose of servicing the spiritual needs of this community." MCCBR
intends to be an active participant in the life and work of Southeast
Roanoke and be a church open to all people. The MCC congregation is
already at work beginning to make minor repairs, painting, and beginning
to provide handicap accessible facilities. MCCBR expects to begin worship
at the site in mid-November. Dedication ceremonies are slated for the
11 a.m. worship service on December 7, 2003, which coincides with the
church's 17th Anniversary.
UFMCC Lay Ministry Council Applications Sought
There is still time to send in applications to be considered for the
UFMCC Lay Ministry Council - the body that is authorized by the General
Conference to foster excellence in lay ministry through collaboration
in the assessment of needs and development of resources. If you are
an active lay person who wishes to contribute on a denomination wide
level, this may be the opportunity for you. Please see the attached
file or visit the UFMCC website www.MCCchurch.org
A Christmas Concert Saturday, December 13th 7:00 PM
Imago Dei MCC, is located at 1223 Middletown Road, Glen Mills, PA 19342
(610) 358-1716. Our Special Guests: The Imani Ensemble From Imani MCC,
Durham, NC If you were at General Conference in Dallas, TX and heard
them minister during a worship service, you will know how powerfully
gifted they are by GOD! This Christian choral group was established
in 1999. Their musical repertoire ranges from traditional to contemporary
songs of inspiration and hope. This night of celebration will inspire
the soul and include a time for a congregational sing-along of Christmas
Classics. The Imani Ensemble stand ready to share God's holistic message
of Christ-mass love to all this Joyous Season! This concert is FREE.
A Love-offering will be received to cover their travel expenses and
provide an honorarium.
MCC Harrisburg - Dinner Theatre
Spaghetti Dinner and the Play, Looking for Normal - Nov. 1 at 6:15 P.M.
MCC of the Spirit, 2973 Jefferson St., Harrisburg, PA 17110
Come to dinner, the play or both. The play is a bittersweet transgender
domestic comedy drama about a multi-generational family and its reaction
to the transition of its main character from Roy to Ruth and her search
for normalcy in her life. The play wrestles with the meaning of marriage,
family, love and commitment. This play contains adult language and situations.
$10 for meal OR $15 for the play OR $20 for both Church office 717-236-7387
mccofthespirit@cs.com
A Pastors Reflection - taken from the Open Door MCC E-Newsletter
November is traditionally a month to think about blessings... it is
also a month in the church to think about stewardship as we plan for
next year's budget. Normally, stewardship is interpreted to mean finances:
Here's the budget and here's what we need you to do to help finance
the church. That's really not stewardship though, that's finances. And
that's not what Christ calls us to at all! Stewardship is the use of
all our resources: our time, our treasure (finances) and our talents,
the three T's if you will, for the good of God's work in this world.
The scriptures are clear: we are called to give the first fruits, the
best of what we have to help further the Gospel in the church and the
community. The first fruits, not the last of what we have left over.
But to do that, we need to examine why it is that we give at all. So
often it is presented as giving to meet a budget, when in fact it should
be giving because we have been given so much. Blessed to be a blessing
as the scriptures tell us. Throughout this month, we will be challenged
to think not about finances, but about blessings. What has God done
in your life? What difference does a relationship with God make in your
life? And how can you respond in ways that can bring that same blessing
to others? On November 23, we will be invited to bring our responses
to the altar in the form of pledge cards which will then be given to
God as the first fruits of our offering for the year 2004. May God continue
to bless us and open our eyes to the greatness of God's love, that we
might truly be blessed to be a blessing to others in new and exciting
ways.
November 13, 2003
MCCLV MARKS HISTORIC MOMENT
On November 9, MCC of the Lehigh Valley, Allentown, PA will welcome
five new members into the church, bringing the total number of MCCLV
members to 104. This is the first time in MCCLV's history there are
100+ members.
New Episcopal Bishop To Speak At UFMCC Conference
Bishop Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire (USA) and the
first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, has accepted Troy's
invitation to speak at the 2005 General Conference in Calgary, Canada.
The New "2004 Liturgical Calendar" is Out!
"A Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary, Year C, November 2003 through
November 2004," compiled by Dr. David Kerr Park. Spiral bound,
8 ½" x 11", 84 pages. $10.95 each, six or more copies
for $8.95 each, plus shipping and handling. Now available on our Web
site at http://www.chirhopress.com/products/devotionals.html#Park2003.
Rev. Elder Ackerman Out During December
I will be out of the office throughout the month of December. I will
be having surgery on Dec. 3 and will take the rest of the month to recovery
and enjoy the holidays. I do ask that you keep me in prayer.
Regional Elder Travel Schedule -
Nov. 4 New Light MCC, Hagerstown, MD - Board Meeting
8 - 9 MCC Washington, DC - worship, forum, ordination service
15 - 16 MCC NoVA, Falls Church, VA - SGI follow-up
19 Large Church Pastors Gathering - Norfolk, VA
20 - 23 New Life MCC, Norfolk, VA
27 - 28 Thanksgiving Holiday - office closed
Dec. The office will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mary,
the Office Assistant, will be in from 10 - 2. In case of emergency
leave a message on the answering machine.
Rev. Elder Ackerman will be out of the office during Dec.
25 Christmas - office closed
"How sad it is for those who have eyes and cannot see,
but sadder still are those
who can see and have no vision."
Helen Keller
"I don't know what your destiny will be,
but one thing I know:
the only ones among you who will be really happy
are those who will have
sought and found how to serve."
Albert Schweitzer
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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