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 December 2007 A Message from the Regional Elder During this Christmas season I pray that you take time to remember the reason behind this holiday season. Is it just obligation to give gifts and attend parties and wear red? Is it only for children, and is the significance more Santa Claus and presents? Or, is there more? Where is God in Christmas? It's so easy to forget or miss it. I sometimes think that in the rushing it is hard to hear the sweet, gentle whisper of the Spirit speaking life into this world, into us. The birth of Jesus may or may not be important to you. But for me, not only was Jesus' birth 2,000 years ago important in history but it transformed and forever changed my life. Today, I not only want to celebrate the life of Christ, I want to celebrate the Christ living in me, and in you, and in the Christ living and thriving in this world. My hope and desire is that this Christmas we might all live out the Christ within each of us..... touching lives that no wanted, feeding the hungry, offering blankets to the those who are cold, in other words to be Christ to those who have no hope or are alone. May this Christmas be a rebirth of Christ within and a reason to reach beyond your need. Christmas blessings, Arlene NOTE: Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman will be away from the office through January 6, 2008. If there is an emergency, please leave a voicemail message. The phone will be checked for emergencies. The Administrative Assistant, Rev. Jennifer Glass, will also be checking email messages. H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S ! Update on Rev. Delores Berry As many of you know Rev. Delores Berry has been extremely ill for just over one full month and will most likely be unable to travel for another few months. She is recovering from a massive infection that ran throughout her body and a fractured back. Had she not fallen they might not have found the major infection until it was too late. The infection is now under control and Delores is now working on being able to stand for a couple of minutes a day. Please pray that she will be able to start walking again soon. A surgery may still need to happen but they are waiting for the final word. Please continue to keep Delores and Judy in your prayers and it would be helpful for people to send your continued prayers. If you could send e-mail greetings ( REVDBERRY@aol.com ) of encouragement and hope to Delores and Judy, they would be greatly appreciated. Finally they will need financial support for the next months because when they are not visiting churches they have no income. If any of you can assist them it would be a great blessing. Their mailing address is 314 Bentley ridge Blvd., Lancaster , PA 17602 . Clergy Transitions Rev. Candace Shultis , long time pastor of MCC Washington has announced her resignation following her election as pastor last Sunday at King of Peace MCC in St. Petersburg , FL. Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman has begun transitional work with the board and congregation. Congratulations to Rev. Candace. Rev. Lori McPherson has just been appointed by the Regional Elder as the new Interim Pastor of MCC Fredericksburg. She has already begun working with the church. Rev. Marilyn Bowens has been elected pastor of MCC New Haven, CT. She will be moving soon. Our prayers and best wishes go with her. The Church Plant in the Dominican Republic continues to receive blessings in their mission to serve the GLBT community in Santo Domingo , Dominican Republic . Tim Helms from MCC Washington and some of the people from MCC Santo Domingo provided food and relief supplies to the victims from Tropical Storm Noel in November. The church is also planning a second trip to some of the areas affected by the storm during Rev. Guzman's December visit. Of special note is a "fiesta con los ángeles" (party with the angels) that Rev. Guzman will be hosting at the Club Amazonia in Santo Domingo on December 14th. This will be the church's biggest outreach event to date. They are hoping to host over 150 folks from the GLBT community in Santo Domingo! Press Coverage of New Life MCC's Trans Day of Remembrance Events New Life MCC in Norfolk , Virginia generated three stories in the Virginian-Pilot newspaper, one of the largest newspapers in Virginia . One of the articles, which is linked, mentions that the services were led by MCC: 50 gather at Norfolk church to remember transgender victims http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=137334&ran=124352 MCC Resource Kit: World AIDS Day 2007 includes Region 3 Pastor's Resource As part of the World AIDS Day Resource Kit for 2007, the Liturgical Resources For World AIDS Day Observance were authored by Rev. Jeffrey Jordan, Senior Pastor, MCCPhiladelphia. You can still access all materials online: MCC Region 3 Pastor Receives Scholarship for “Missional Church” Event Rev. Karla Fleshman, Pastor at Imago Dei MCC, Glen Mills, PA, received a scholarship for “Exploring the Missional Church ,” a Lifelong Learning event to be held May 19-23, 2008 at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur , GA. Elders Appoint Region 3 Folks To Serve Lay Ministry Council ~ Paul Johnstone (Open Arms MCC Rochester , New York ) Elder's Nominating Committee ~ Rev. Elijah Nealy , Chair (MCC New York ) Region 3 MCC's "Stewardship Leaders" for September 2007 Out of the 40 US churches listed as MCC “Stewardship Leaders” in September, 15 are from Region 3: S E C T I O N O NE: LEADERSHIP IN STEWARDSHIP 1. Holy Redeemer MCC, College Park , Maryland / ICM Holy Redeemer 5. MCC New York, New York / ICM Nueva York, Nueva York 10. New Life MCC, Charlotte , North Carolina / ICM New Life, Charlotte , Carolina del Norte
12. MCC of Northern Virginia, Fairfax, Virginia / ICM del Norte de Virginia, Fairfaix S E C T I O N T W O: 20 MCC Local Church (Payments dated by October 10 and received by October 20, in accordance with MCC By-laws.) 1. MCC Washington, Washington, DC / ICM Washington, Washington DC Amanda Ackerman Singing Since the Calgary General Conference many people have asked for a copy of Amanda singing “Breathe.” It is now available. Here is the video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNCWqTC9Qiw On Monday, September 10, Amanda sang the National Anthem at the Lancaster Barnstormers baseball game. She got this opportunity because last year she was the first place winner of the Lancaster Headliners Contest. You can listen to this also on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqarc03nscg 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. |