“Truth {satya} implies love, and Firmness {agraha} engenders and therefore serves as a synonym for force. I thus began to call the Indian movement ‘satyagraha’; that is to say, the force which is born of truth and love or nonviolence. Satyagraha is soul-force pure and simple.””~ Mahatma Gandhi
Our theme for January is SOUL FORCE. Part of the focus will be on the Spiritual Practices of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Throughout the month we will be participating in a deeper exploration of the MCCDC Aspiration of “Becoming a Spiritual Force.” This Sunday we will search music, poetry, writings, scriptures and our very own hearts for encouragement and direction as we seek God’s guidance and direction for the New Year. The specific spiritual practice for this first Sunday of 2019 is “to pray daily to be used by God in order that all might be free.”
The gospel reading is Matthew 2:1-12, the story of the Magi. We will also be blessed with an original work by our very own Writer-Theologian in Residence, Rev. Dr. Robin H. Gorsline. The poem is entitled, “Something Is Up” and explores this same visitation in a contemporary and thought provoking manner.
The Magi, these international star gazers and priests of another culture and religion, knew that something special was happening when they saw the star rise and made a decision to follow it. They knew something life and earth changing was happening. They knew that political and spiritual systems and structures were changing. They related to King Herod that “we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”
The star at its rising signaled more than the power of kings and queens, and more than the breaking of an iron fist of an oppressive government, the rising star signaled potential. On Sunday, we will explore how the star at its rising signals the potential to be free of spirit, free of mind and free of body as well.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non violent change notes that his famous “I Have a Dream” speech from 1963 contains these lines that summarize with great economy the “soul force” path that all may pursue to create peaceful change in the world:
In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
We’ll see you at 9 and 11 to dive further into this “star at its rising” of soul force.
Peace, Rev Cathy Alexander
“UP COMING EVENTS”
Board Announces M Street Lot Closing Date!
~After months of hard work, negotiation, project management and prayers, your Board of Directors is pleased to announce the M Street Lot has been sold. Please give your shout-out to all board members, with special thanks to Jim Garner, Knut Panknin, and former board member Tim Helm (now a Live Stream member from Atlanta) for 18 months of intensive effort on this project.
~What you can do now: Join the Parking Team! The Board expects the buyer to begin construction and development of the property soon after the closing. Parking in the back lot near M Street will be impacted. The Trustees have formed a Parking Team spearheaded by Greg Snyder. If you wish to join the team, or have ideas or questions, please contact Greg at gcsnyder01@aol.com.
~If you have additional questions, please contact your board members listed in the back of the bulletin.
M Street Lot Sale Questions and Answers!
Click Here to See the M Street Lot Questions and Answers
“CHURCH NEWS”
Special Notice!!!
Recently church members have received SPAM email using THE FOLLOWING GMAIL ACCOUNT: revdwayne.mccdc@gmail
asking for money. This email does not belong to Rev Dwayne. Please do not reply to this email address and delete it should you receive it.
Older Adult Ministry Potluck/Meeting, 06 January, 12:30 pm
Older Adult Ministry will be holding their monthly Potluck. All age 50 and above are welcome to join. For more information contact Dale Madyun-Baskerville at the church office 202-638-7373
Save This Date! February 23rd 2019 at 6 pm.
MCCDC Worship Arts Ministry Black History Month Program
February 23rd 2019 at 6 pm. Please mark your calendars
MCC General Conference Registration is open. REGISTER NOW by clicking onthe link below.
Please click here to check out this amazing conference and celebration.
Join Us on YouTube and subscribe to the MCCDC YouTube Channel!
Stay current on our video postings .
Click here to see more MCCDC Videos
Inspiration Videos, Metropolitan Community Church of Washington DC
“Ministry Spotlight”
The Soundboard Ministry Needs YOU!!!
Soundboard volunteers are needed for 9am and 11am services. No experience needed. You will be trained on a state of the art soundboard, setting mics up for service and learning the technical side of handling the sound board. We would like to have you train at the 9am service and continue training at the 11am service but if your prefer to train only at one service you can.
Please contact me Michael Cunningham at mjcunningham2013@gmail.com or stop by to talk with any soundboard volunteer.
The Hospitality Ministry Needs Your Help!
If you have hospitality items that you would be willing to bring in and support Sunday hospitality, please contact Sonia Grant in the church office at
churchoffice@mccdc.com or 202-638-7373.. Items for consideration are:
Items that are needed:
White Paper Towel Rolls
Large Cans of Regular Coffee
Large Cans of Decaffeinate Coffee
Box of Coffee Straws
Napkins
Fresh Apples
Fresh Oranges
Plums
Yogurt
Granola Bars
MCCDC Bible Study
A time of community, fun, learning, and sharing!
Tuesdays, from 7:00 – 8:00 PM in the Welcome Hall
For more information please contact Dale Madyun-Baskerville at the churchoffice@mccdc.com or call (202) 638-737
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Prayers!
Please continue to hold in your prayers Keith Richardson and Fannie Woody who are in Nursing Homes
Join our Worship and Arts Ministry!
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