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), North Carolina, South Carolina November 2007 A Message from the Regional Elder While I was at the Board of Elders training session with Alice Mann and then attending the Ministry Excellence conference in Florida (November 5 – 10), I had been reflecting on the many things happening in ministry within Region 3. Mostly I want to ask for your prayers. Please keep Rev. Delores Berry in prayer as she was moved to a rehabilitation hospital, while she continues to deal with the staff infection and the fracture in her back. She is still facing an amputation of her toe with the possibility of more of her foot. Judy wrote, “Delores has her up and down times, she has been leaning on the many prayers that you all are sending as am I. The one thing that is hard right now is keeping our moral and spirits up. The doctors believe that by the end of the year, Delores should be able to begin visiting churches again. In the meantime, it is very scary because she had to cancel all engagements in November and December. Delores and I need these things from you right now, \your continued prayers and if you could send e-mails ( REVDBERRY@aol.com ) of encouragement and hope to Delores and finally we will need financial support for the next two months because when we are visiting churches we have no income. If any of you can assist us it would be a great blessing. We are trusting in the love of Jesus.” Their mailing address is 314 Bentley ridge Blvd., Lancaster , PA 17602 . In addition, I ask your prayers for MCC Washington and MCC of the Blue Ridge as they look at the possibilities of pastoral transition; MCC Christ the Liberator as they continue their pastoral search; MCC Fredericksburg as they consider Rev. Lori McPherson as their new interim pastor. Also, please pray for the leaders of your local church , the churches in region 3 , your regional elder and staff and for the international ministry of MCC around the world and your board of Elders. Lastly, but not least, congratulations to New Life MCC, Norfolk, VA in the election of Rev. Reg Richburg as their new pastor! We are on a God journey. What is God calling you to do today? What is God calling of your church? How does what you do make a difference in the cause of Christ? You matter!!!!!!! Accept your blessing. MCC trip to Germany May 2008 !!! Have you ever traveled together and had to pretend you were "just friends"? have you ever wanted to travel in a group where you could be with folk like you? Join us for a trip sponsored by the Open Door Center for Spirituality, leaving May 15th 2008. Our tour is "Historic Germany, from Berlin to Bavaria " and will include an optional excursion for three days in Vienna , Austria . All are welcome!! For those who would like to make this an educational experience through the Center for Spirituality, Rev. Dr. Rob Apgar-Taylor, Pastor of Open Door and German Professor at Hagerstown Community College will be leading an online study prior to departure on "When hate wears the face of Jesus" examining how people have abused religion and twisted Scriptures to validate the oppression of others. We will also experience an optional day excursion to Dachau Concentration Camp for those who are interested. Go to Goaheadtours.com and look at the tour "Historic Germany: From Berlin to Bavaria " for specific tour details. For more details contact Rob Apgar-Taylor at ptsem@verizon.net or call 301.916.5777. Holy Redeemer MCC, College Park , MD , Installs New Members On October 21, 2007, Rev David North extended the right-hand-of-fellowship to five people. It was a wonderful, joyous day for all of them. They also had three baptisms that same day. Below is one of the many pictures taken that day. HRMCC now has 29 members, after being recognized as a fully affiliated MCC church at the beginning of this year. Also note, as the holidays and giving gets close, MCC HV uses http://www.igive.com/mcchv www.escrip.com GOOD NEWS Daniel Schellhorn of MCC Washington was officially installed on the Board of Trustees of Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster , PA. Dan is the first MCC representative on the LTS Board. He was elected to a three year term. Rev. Joe Cobb, Senior Pastor at MCC Winston-Salem, NC, announced that Virginia Jane Alexandra Matthews was born on November 6, 2007, 3:52 PST. She weighed 10lbs 1 oz., and here were the measurements: 20 inches length, 15.75 in head circ (13 is usual) with no c-section or episiotomy, only an epidural. Danielle (their surrogate) was a hero! She's all Matthews - big head and no chin. And of course she's beautiful and all are healthy. Congratulations James and Joe! Book Recommendation by Rev. Miller Hoffman, MCC New York Jen Harvey is a friend and colleague from Union Theological Seminary. Her work is in ethics, and she's just had a book published that I thought you may be interested in knowing about. WHITENESS AND MORALITY Pursuing Racial Justice through Reparations and Sovereignty Jennifer Harvey
Find more information about this book and ordering: http://www.palgrave-usa.com/catalog/product.aspx?isbn=1403977399 888-330-8477 Continuing Education Opportunity Recommended by Rev. Eva O'Diam, MCC of the Spirit, Harrisburg , PA A couple of years ago, I happened upon a wonderful continuing ed event that happens at Stetson University in Deland , Florida . It is called the Florida Winter Pastors' School. In 2008, the dates are February 5-8. Space is limited to 250 because that is literally all they have room for in the place it is held. They always have 4 speakers which alternate presentations. The cost is $285 if you register by November 30 and includes instructional sessions, continental breakfast, refreshment breaks, and four meal functions. The speakers this year are Martin Marty from the University of Chicago Divinity School; Amy-Jill Levine who is Professor of New Testament Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School ; Thomas Long who is the Bandy Professor of Preaching at Candler School of Theology; and Walter Harrelson who is the Hebrew Bible Professor at Divinity School of Vanderbilt University. These are top scholars and you won't be disappointed. You may register at www.stetson.edu/conted then select the link to Pastors School . I was very welcome when I went and found it to be a valuable experience. I plan to attend again in the next couple of years. Website Recommendation Kittredge Cherry has a website and a blogspot that are good resources for LGBT theology and art. At http://jesusinlove.org/ look for information about her two new books: Art That Dares: Gay Jesus, Woman Christ and More Additionally, Kitt has a blogspot that is “A place to discuss queer spirituality and the arts. Open to all.” http://jesusinlove.blogspot.com Note that she has a 1-minute video that celebrated National Coming Out Day this year. Her video was included in a patchwork of video responses compiled by the Human Rights Campaign for National Coming Out Day, Oct. 11. http://jesusinlove.blogspot.com/2007/10/see-kitts-national-coming-out-day-video.html Women in Ministry 2008, January 31-February 3, 2008 in Sarasota , FL. Additional info (including a schedule and information about speakers) can be found on the website, www.mccchurch.org/WIM2008 . People of African Descent 2008, April 17-19, 2008 in St. Louis , MO. www.mccchurch.org/PAD2008 . Regional Elder Schedule 26 – 30 Office December 3 – 5 Office 6 Church Planting meeting 7 Office 10 – 14 Office 17 – 21 Vacation 24 – 28 Office is closed for the holidays The Administrative Assistant, Rev. Jennifer Glass is normally in the office from 9:30 - 2:30 Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays. Rev. Elder Arlene J. Ackerman PO Box 276 Phone: 717 898-3713 E-mail: arleneackerman@mccchurch.net MCC HEADQUARTERS MAILING ADDRESS! Please update your mailing lists and files. Please begin using this new address, effective immediately. Please share this information with your church staff and your church treasurer, in your church's newsletter, and with anyone who may need to contact MCC Headquarters. |