“They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all they do, they prosper.” ~Psalm 1:3
Who could guess that what appears to be a dried up bit of nothing is actually a powerful something ready to explode with beauty? That is the power of the seed. What appears worthless contains more abundance than can be imagined at first glance. Plant the seed in nourishing soil, nurture it with what it needs, and then behold in awe: it becomes more of itself than it was before. The seed dies to its old self to rise strong as something new: roses, tomatoes, wheat, cantaloupes, zucchinis, peppers, tulips: a flourishing of abundant life everywhere! Imagine. . . one seed becomes enough to feed our souls. . .and our world!
Through this Lenten season we are rising strong. Our worship this Sunday is a celebration of God’s strength released through all of us.
Our scriptures for Sunday teach us the abundant way. Jeremiah 31:31-34 centers abundance in covenants of the heart. John 12: 20-33 offers the surprising paradox that abundance is often made possible by loss. Luke 13:20-21 points to a rising ball of dough that starts small and expands into a fulfilling gift.
In preparation for Sunday, I invite you to join me in praying this prayer inspired by Ciona Rouse: “Dear Creator, deliver us from today where all I am is never enough, where things are not big enough or nice enough and where we never acquire enough things. Deliver us, Creator God, from the economy of needing more, from the mind lies of not enough, from the judgment of who deserves what. As you deliver us from, may you also deliver us to: to a life of abundance in you. Amen.”
Faithfully, Rev Elder Dwayne Johnson
“UP COMING EVENTS”
Forum Follow-Up With Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson,Saturday March 17, 11 AM, MCCDC Memorial Chapel
Come Join Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson for informal discussion and prayer in the chapel concerning the topics discussed March 11, 2018 with Rev. Elder Rachelle D. Brown, MCC Interim Moderator. Thanks to the many who attended the forum. The follow-up this Saturday is in response to those requesting an immediate opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings. Another opportunity will be announced soon that will offer more time for people to plan to attend.
Young Adult Ministry Potluck/Meeting, March 18, 2018, 12:30 pm
Young Adult Ministry will be holding their monthly Potluck. For more information contact Chocolatté Miller at mail Chocolatte.Miller@outlook.com or call at the church office at 202-638-7373.
Women’s Ministry Gathering, March 18th, 12:30
All who identify as woman are cordially invited to women’s space. We will come together to connect and share sisterhood. We will meet in the lower level conference room 12:20-2:30. If you would like to attend please contact the church office at 202-638-7373 or churchoffice@mccdc.com
Strengths Assessment, April 21st, 9:30 am
What are your strengths and how can you best use them in accomplishing your individual goals and your goals on a team? MCCDC will host a half day session on March 21st from 9:30 AM to 4 PM with a certified Strengthfinders coach. The assessment tool will also be provided at no charge. If you would like to participate, please contact Rev Cathy at revcathy@mccdc.com. See below for more information.
An Assessment to Help You to Discover the True You
Completing the Strengths online talent assessment is your way to:
• discover what you naturally do best
• learn how to develop your greatest talents
• use your customized results to live your best life
• receive coaching to best understand how to interpret the result and use them in our MCCDC ministry setting and beyond
Understand how your talents work with others
March for Our Lives – Washington, DC
On March 24 at 12:00 PM, the kids and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today. March with us in Washington DC or march in your own community. The collective voices of the March For Our Lives movement will be heard. March location is Pennsylvania Avenue NW, between 3rd NW and 12th NW.
LANDSCAPING DAY at MCCDC – 9am-1pm, Sat., March 24th!
Join other MCCers to beautiful our church’s property for Holy Week. Easter is early this year so we’re having a special day to pretty-up our church and grounds for Holy Week. We’ll rake and collect debris, trim bushes, pull weeds, and plant Spring flowers. This is a great way to connect to meet others and play in the dirt. If you can, please bring your landscaping tools (rakes, brooms, gloves, clippers, etc.).
We’ll also have another landscaping day on April 28th when we’ll do a more extensive cleanup around our church property. Watch for further announcements closer to that date.
Ignite Sunday Service, Sunday, 25 March, 5 pm
Join us for Ignite Sunday, 25 March at the National Portrait Gallery located at 8th St NW & F St NW, Washington, DC 20001. Meet us in the atrium (in the middle of the museum) at 5p.
During this worship service, we will explore an exhibit on Justice as we wrestle with what we actually need to be whole and what we might holding onto that keeping us from wholeness
Lauren’s Liberia Trip Presentation March 25,12:30
Thank you for contributing to Lauren’s Angels and making the trip to Liberia a success!
Come, hear stories, experiences, and see photos from Lauren’s time abroad. Join us after worship on March 25th in the Lower Level Conference Room.
MCCDC Easter Remembrance
We invite you to remember someone you love with an Easter Remembrance. The names of those remembered will be included in the Sunday bulletin. Please use the kiosk inthe Welcome Hall, mccdc.com, or attach a check payable to MCCDC to this form and place it in the communication box (next to the front door) or mail it to the church (474 Ridge St, NW Washington DC 20001). A contribution of $15 per individual remembered is suggested. The deadline for being included in the bulletin is Tuesday, March 27th.
Join your MCCDC Family for Holy Week
Sunday March 25th 9 & 11 AM Palm Sunday
Thursday March 28th 7 PM Holy Thursday
Friday March 29th 7 PM Good Friday
Sunday April 1st 9 & 11 AM Resurrection Sunday Service.
Christ is Risen Indeed!
CHURCH NEWS
Thank You!
Thanks to everyone who attended the security awareness training conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department. If you would like to serve on the security awareness team, please contact Dale Madyun-Baskerville or Rev. Cathy Alexander at revcathy@mccdc.com or 202-638-7373. Additional training will be conducted soon.
Update – M Street lot sale
After the congregation approved the sale of the M Street lot on February 11th, the Board of Directors would like to give an update on the sales process and the next steps:
• The Board has authorized the appraisal process of the church/lot in order to start the subdivision process and the separation of the M Street parcel. The appraisal process is the first priority and should take 3-4 weeks total once it has been started.
• The developer (Lock7) has sent a purchase and sale agreement, a declaration of access for those parking spots that the church will continue to use after construction, and a construction contract for the basement unit of our building at 472 Ridge Street. MCCDC’s contracted law firm, Cozen O’Connor, is currently reviewing the documents on behalf of MCCDC. Cozen will also oversee the subdivision and coordinate the closing process.
• All financial obligations (lawyer fees etc.) are currently being paid with our Eagle Bank construction loan money. We have about $65,000 left of that loan and the Board estimates total costs to be about $35,000. The Board is also negotiating to have the developer pay for parts of the costs (e.g. closing or subdivision).
• The Board has scheduled a meeting with Sun Trust’s investment team to determine the design and to set up a trust bank account.
• The Trustees and Board are in close communication on the process and have agreed on a division of labor. Pressing maintenance needs will be addressed by the Trustees while the sales process is moving ahead.
• Trustee Greg Snyder is assembling a parking team that will look into creative parking solutions. Please reach out to Greg if you would like to support the effort and/or have ideas for creative parking solutions.
• Please contact the Board at board@mccdc.com if you have any questions or would like to support the process.
Life In The Middle..Join us for a drop in at Knut’s place on Easter Sunday, April 1st, 1:00 PM.
We will meet in the Welcome Center and walk over together. If you would like to join us there, the address is 57 Bates St NW, Apt A, 20001. Please bring your own Beverage and a finger food to share. For more information, please contact Knut at
knutpankin@gmail.com or 202-277-2470 or Jules Christian at enjoyingtoday@hotmail.com
or 336-419-7579
Middle Adult Ministry Coming Soon: The Middle Adults are planning a Friday trip to The Escape Room!
This is a fun, team building activity where we work together to solve clues and find the key that unlocks the room in 60 minutes or less! There is a limit of ten people in each room and the cost is $28.00 Per person. Reservations are required, so If you are interested, please contact Jules @ enjoyingtoday@hotmail.com or 336-419-7579.
MCCDC 1st Sunday Singers,
Rehearsals will be held the last Wednesday of each month. Please come out and join us.
Come Join MCCDC Bible Study to see the play “Jesus”
Sight & Sound Theatres
300 Hartman Bridge Road
(Route 896)
Ronks (Strasburg), PA 17572
800-377-1277
When August 18, 2018
Cost $79.00
Tickets can be purchase directly from Sight & Sound Web Site: Click Here To Purchase Tickets From Sight and Sound Sight
Leave from MCCDC Church at 11 am
Show Starts At 7 pm
Car Pool to and from location
Buffet Lunch is separate
Contact Dale Madyun-Baskerville :baskerd6109@gmail.com or 202 638-7373 for more information.
Join Us on YouTube and subscribe to the MCCDC YouTube Channel!
MCCDC: RISING STRONG WITH SOLIDARITY
Stay current on our video postings and help us in our goal of more than 100 subscribers to qualify for a custom MCCDC link that will help us reach more people.”
The Information Station Ministry Needs You!
We are in need of Information Station volunteers for both 9am and 11am worship services. It’s a very easy commitment of one (1) Sunday a month. No experience needed just your time and willingness to serve. Volunteering includes: greeting & directing MCC attenders, providing information about church events, and more. Please sign up at the Information Station or contact Chocolatté Miller at Chocolatte.Miller@outlook.com.
Join MCCDC AV ministry
If you have questions, please contact Johanna Hardy at nerd4mit@aol.com
MCC General Conference Registration is open.
Please Click Here to Check Out this Amazing Conference and Celebration
Please click here to check out this amazing conference and celebration
MCCDC Intercessory Prayer Team (IPT)
Are you a Prayer Warrior? Do you desire to connect and support others through prayer practices? Do you want to make a difference in our church, city, nation and world? Come join the Intercessory Prayer Team! The IPT will meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM to have a Spirit-led time of prayer. We will also host a quarterly prayer event. For more information please contact Rev. Jules Christian at enjoyingtoday@hotmail.com or 336-419-7579.
Join our Worship and Arts Ministry!
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TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY
Please join the Tuesday Night Bible Study from 7-8 PM in the Welcome Hall. A time of community, fun learning and sharing. For more information please contact Dale Madyun-Baskerville at churchoffice@mccdc.com or 202-638-7373.
MCCDC LIVE STREAMING
MCCDC is live! We have an opportunity to use of our AV system to reach outside our walls to many people who may not be able to join us in person. To make this happen we must have a subscription service that will provide us the ability to stream our services, concerts and special events, and expand opportunities for participation in our bible studies and other activities remotely. The testing done so far with streaming has generated a lot of excitement, particularly by those who have been unable to visit our church.
You can be a part of making this happen in a number of ways: (1) pray for our reach beyond the walls of our church (2) join others in donating to cover the one-time annual cost of the service and associated AV training for our volunteers; and (3) consider joining the AV ministry.
Click to Donate!
You can contact the church office with questions at 202-638-7373 or churchoffice@mccdc.com.
ELECTRONIC GIVING
With EasyTithe, supporting the church is as simple as clicking a mouse or whipping out your smart phone.
Our new online system allows you to make a financial donation to the church with your credit card or direct debit from your banking account.
You’ll be asked to set up your MCCDC EasyTithe Account. You can set it up to make a one-time/anytime donation or make a recurring donation.
Click to Donate!
You also can give by text 202-999-3841. Please contact the church office with questions at 202-638-7373 or churchoffice@mccdc.com.
