“. . .I have courted the Beloved long enough to know what it is like to receive a divine visit: it is like coming home after a long time away; it is like being held by someone with all the time in the world; it is like remembering a dream that opens a door.” ~Barbara Brown Taylor, Learning to Walk in the Dark
To explore the dark is a move towards our true home. In ancient times, night was seen as sacred. Indeed, the night was so revered that there were “priests of the night” who had the primary responsibility of praying for all those sleeping. The prayers were for the protection of the sleepers, and even more so, for their transformation.
As we sleep we give up control. Our spirit is open to the moves of the Holy Spirit. As the Spirit works, our sleep releases our tendencies to push back. This is an ancient concept. There are threads of nightlife and dreamlife all through the Bible. These stories of transformation invite us to ask what may await us if we turn ourselves to the possibilities of the lunar hours.
Deep sleep or even surface sleep can be a form of prayer. Mark Thibodeaux is a spiritual writer who invites us to consider a spiritual practice called praydreaming. It involves asking God to inhabit and work through our sleep in dreams. It is also daydreaming in the context of prayer, through breath and meditation, allowing holy will and spiritual unction to bubble forth. Thibodeaux writes, “I allow God to dream a dream within me of the wonderful ways I can be a channel of God’s faith, hope, and love for the world. These praydreams give me the wisdom and passion to carry out God’s marvelous plans for me in the coming day” (Reimagining the Ignation Examen, 83).
Our scriptures for Sunday are fertile. Psalm 16:7 invites, “I will praise my God who counsels me. Even at night my heart instructs me.” In a similar vein, Psalm 19:2 describes the hope of the lunar hours: “night to night declares knowledge.”
In the message Sunday we’ll further explore the invitation from Barbara Brown Taylor and the Bible to do spiritual work with the dark, opening ourselves to new dimensions of soul work.
By Faith,
Rev. Elder Dwayne
Ash Wednesday
Join us for a special weeknight worship service via Zoom next Wednesday, February 17th at 6:00 p.m. Our theme is “Finding Love in the Ashes,” as we mark the start of the Lenten season and introduce our new worship series, “Love Makes A Way.”
C19 Vaccine
Public health officials are urging us to help ensure people who are 65 and older know that they are eligible for the C19 vaccine. (Depending on your location, people with certain underlying health conditions are also eligible.) For more information, visit these links—District of Columbia, Maryland & Virginia —for vaccine procedures and answers to frequently-asked questions.
Another Web site reported by News 4 today helps you manage/plan your C19 appointment in one place no matter what state you live in. Click here to go to the web site.
Worship Series:Learning to Move in the Dark.
We invite you to join us in conversation about our new worship series. We’ll meet via Zoom for six Sundays after worship, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern, starting January 10th and continuing through February 14th.
We’ll gather to talk about the message of the day, to meditate and to think about the issues brought up in the chapters of Taylor’s book.
We will also have an opportunity to share with each other about what we have learned when we learn to Move in the Dark.
Here are three ways to connect at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday:
• Click here to open Zoom and join automatically
• Launch Zoom and enter Meeting ID 821 1321 8266
• Dial (301) 715-8592 by phone, using the same Meeting ID
Click here to download our study guide: Learning To Move In The Dark Week #6
For more information, contact Rev. Cathy at revcathy@mccdc.com
2020 Giving Statements Are Coming Soon.
The treasurer and assistant treasurer are preparing your giving statement for tax year 2020. Giving statements will be emailed in phases during the coming weeks. For those who do not have a working email address on file or who do not have access to email, the 2020 giving statement will be sent out via postal mail.
Please contact treasurer@mccdc.com with questions.
Join MCC Resurrection Book Study
Your invited to Join MCC Resurrection for a book study Sermon on the Mount, Dr. Jill-Amy Levine 13 January – 10 February at 8 PM EST
In Sermon on the Mount, Dr. Jill-Amy Levine invites us to grow in faith as we explore the powerful teachings of Jesus from Matthew 5-7.
This series will be facilitated by Dr. Carla Sherrell, interim programming support staff, RMCC, and Pastoral Intern, MCCDC.
Registration required at ResurrectionMCC.org/sotm
MCC Denominational Events
Click here to explore events presented by our denomination and other MCC churches throughout our country and the world. (To sign up for this info via email, click here and subscribe to “MCC General News_ENG.”)
“Virtual Church Events”
Virtual Choir
Come and join the Virtual Voices of MCC Choir! Lift your voice in our virtual rehearsals while singing from the comfort of your home. For more info, email Music Minister Deidre Mouton Gray at msdeedeemusic@gmail.com.
Spiritual Gifts, Get Involved!
Your’re invited to consider sharing your spiritual gifts by making a Scripture Reading Video or sharing a Video Testimony on what MCCDC means to you.
It does not have to be long and the AV team is standing by to help you with the video. Please email me at revdwayne@mccdc.com for more information.
Moving Spirit Dance Ministry
Come dance for God! No experience needed. Email Cathy Batson at cathybatson1@verizon.net for more information. Check out past performances on our YouTube channel, including “I Can Only Imagine” (April 2019) and “Mighty River”(February 2018).
Singing to God
Join the Virtual Voices of the MCC Choir. Lift your voice in our virtual rehearsals while singing from the comfort of your home. Email Music Minister Diedre Gray at msdeedeemusic@gmail.com
JOIN REV. DWAYNE IN PRAYER FROM NOON TO 12:30 PM Monday thru Saturday
Phone Number: 646-558-8656, Code: 407 740 6668
Intercessory Prayer Team
Meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays each month at 7 pm
Contact LaMar Jenkins at 202-750-08887
Drama Ministry Practice Via Zoom
The 3rd Mondays each month at 6:30 pm Eastern
Contact Clara Carter at c4mcarter26@gmail.com for information
Bible Study
Tuesdays at 7:00 pm Eastern
Click here to Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/434566329
or Dial: (301) 715-8592 ,Meeting ID: 434 566 329
Contact Dale Madyun-Baskerville at mccdcbiblestudy@mccdc.com for more information.
Pastoral Care Meeting
Meet 1st and 3rd Wednesday, each month at 6::30pm
Contact pastoralcare@mccdc.com for more information or interest in joining this vibrant church ministry this Fall
“Ministry Spotlight”
Join Us on YouTube and subscribe to the MCCDC YouTube Channel!
Click here to see more MCCDC Videos
LiveStream Volunteer’s Needed!
Volunteer! No experience is required. We will train you or someone you recommend. (Perhaps a student interested in picking up new skills?) Opportunities include:
o Producing the livestream itself on Sundays and for special events (greatest need)
o Assisting on Sundays by video recording and managing cameras
o Video editing (this requires access to your own computer and video editing software)
Share our message! Inspired by Rev. Dwayne’s spiritual instruction? Moved by a praise & worship song? Post it on Facebook. Send a link to friends and family. They can tune-in to our livestream or watch worship services on demand at livestream.com/mccdc, through our website at mccdc.com, or browse clips on our YouTube Channel.
Click here to visit MCCDC YouTube channel
Email Johanna at mccdclive@gmail.com or talk to any one of the AV team members to volunteer or for more information
The Soundboard Ministry Needs YOU!
Soundboard volunteers are needed for 9 am and 11 am services. No experience needed!
You will be trained on a state of the art soundboard and learn how to set up mics for services.
Ideally, you will train at the 9 am service and continue training at the 11 am service, but we are flexible.
Please contact Michael Cunningham at mjcunningham2013@gmail.com or stop by to talk with any soundboard volunteer.
Prayer Corner
Please lift the following people up during your prayer time:
Please lift the following people up during your prayer time:
*Jerry Giem’s Son, Jason and Nephew, Travis * Valeria Myers’ daughter Chantelle * Michelle Lax * George Kerr, III * Mama Cee’s sister and niece
* Rose Williams * Randy Punley * Lynn Sulyma * Esther Smith * Marcus Garnett * Renee Valentine * Rose Herring * Elaine Durden-Hunter’s mother, Earline * T. Green * Evelyn Jones * Valeria Myers’ son Donald * Bob Jones’ son Chuck & wife Karen * Steve Sloane * Glenn Conrad * Arden Shutt * Renee Valentine’s brother * Kim Battle * Juanita Dara * Jeffrey Luckenbach * Anthony Goode *Diedre Gray * Elaine Durden-Hunter’s friend Saint Williams family * Cathy Batson’s niece Lisa * Cynthia Melman * Delores Fowler * Bill Stanclift’s brother James, niece Krista, nephew Paul, and several cousins *Buck Carlson at the loss of his husband Keith Richardson
