This Week’s Reflection
“Respect for your freedom, your timing, and the uniqueness of your personal response to God is the very essence of Christian spirituality (though too often violated).”
~Flora Slosson Wuellner
Some say: “I’m not religious. I’m spiritual.” According to Pew Research, the number of people who self-identify as spiritual but not religious is growing each year. Why this trend? For some it is a sense that religion is confining while spirituality is liberating.
It is true that religion has often been associated with war, violence, and persecution. Religion has been used to exclude LGBTQ+ people, with the word “abomination” used as a bigoted label. With the rise of Christian nationalism and its dangerous and divisive implications, the word Christian has itself become complicated. Some have sought to clarify their identity by self-describing as Christ Follower, rather than Christian.
Sunday’s scripture, Luke 5:1-11, offers a lens into the dynamics of religious versus spiritual. In this story, a team of fishing partners has religiously fished all night. They have done what they’ve always done. And it is not working. They catch nothing. Jesus invites them to go deeper. From a new place they experience a breakthrough to abundance. And, there is much more to explore in this story. Filled with nuance, it offers the opportunity to explore the question of religious versus spiritual from a variety of angles, with different though not necessarily opposing answers.
Patricia Nolan Savas gives us something more to think about by suggesting the use of the word relationship rather than spirituality. Savas notes: “Religion is an obligation, often resulting in guilt and anxiety. Relationship is an adventure, producing joy and wonder.” I find this quote helpful. And it also makes me wonder: could there be a religious path that is liberating and filled with awe, possibility, and Spirit?
I’m looking forward to exploring these questions this Sunday as we continue our new series, “Living Liberation.” Join me at 9:00 or 11:00 a.m. Eastern via livestream, or later on demand. In the meantime, send an email to RevDwayne@mccdc.com with your thoughts on this question: “Do we need to lose religion to find spirituality?”
Grace & Peace,
Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson
MCCDC Senior Pastor
Our church building is closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Our COVID-19 Advisory Team and Board of Directors will re-evaluate community risk after New Year’s.
Interactive Worship Features
Beginning this Sunday, we’ll offer a period of quiet reflection during our 9:00 a.m. Borderfree Worship. At 11:00 a.m., we’ll invite everyone to share comments or questions in the YouTube or Facebook chat. Our A/V team will relay messages to the pastors to answer during service. Please address ay questions to Rev. Dwayne and Rev. Cathy at revdwayne@mccdc.com or revcathy@mccdc.com
Older Adults Ministry Meeting
Our Older Adults Ministry will gather via Zoom at 1:00 p.m. this Sunday, February 6th. We’ll talk about resources available to seniors to avoid being isolated as the c19 pandemic enters its third year. Frank L. Finamore, Jr. is our guest speaker. He’s executive director of Cleveland & Woodley Park Village.
• Click here to open Zoom and join automatically
• Launch Zoom and enter Meeting ID 824 9552 3942
• Dial (301) 715-8592 by phone, using the same Meeting ID
Save This Date !!!
MCCDC will premiere our Black History Concert on Saturday, February 26th at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Watch this spot for more info and tune in at youtube.mccdc.com
2021 Giving Statements Are Coming Soon.
MCCDC church administrator and assistant treasurer are preparing your giving statement for tax year 2021. Giving statements will be emailed in phases between January 17, 2022, and March 4, 2022.
For those who do not have a working email address on file or who do not have access to email, the 2021 giving statement will be sent out via postal mail. Please contact churchoffice@mccdc.com if you have questions.
Washington DC Black History Events
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History is offering a festival of virtual events celebrating Black History Month.
c19 Test Kits and More
Visit covidtests.gov to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests via USPS. Every household can order four tests.
The federal government is also making N95 masks available for free. These will be distributed through pharmacies and community health centers. CVS, Walgreens and Whitman-Walker have all said they’ll announce more details when available.
You may also want to download a free contact exposure tracking app for your smartphone. These are available for the District, Maryland and Virginia and use location-based technology to notify you if you’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive.
Writers’ Ministry
Our Writers’ Ministry meets this Saturday,February 19th at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. Click here for the Zoom link and contact Dr. Robin Hawley Gorsline, Writer-Theologian in Residence, at writer@robinhawleygorsline.com for more information.
Prayer Corner
Please lift the following people up during your prayer time:
Jason Jedlinski mother for healing • Bob Jones & Bob Jones’ son Chuck & wife Karen • Jerry Giem & Jerry Giem’s son, Jason and nephew, Travis • Valeria Myers’ daughter Chantelle & son Donald• Michelle Lax • George Kerr, III • Dr. Veronica Franklin • Celecila Hayden-Smith and Esther Smith health. Rose Williams continue healing• Randy Punley • Lynn Sulyma • •Marcus Garnett • Renee Valentine & Renee Valentine’s brother • Arden Shutt • Delores Fowler • Evelyn Jones • Steve Sloane • Glenn Conrad • Anthony Goode • Jeffrey Luckenbach • Cathy Batson’s niece Lisa • Kim Battle • ABilly Jones-Hennin • Bill Campbell • Mark Kelly • Joshua Benkins’ prayers for health of Father Isaac David Benkins • Elaine Durden-Hunter asks for prayers of healing for her dog, Angel • Elaine Durden-Hunter’s mother, •Earline T. Green, •Angela Terrell,• Maria Hill •Marvin White’s step mother passed of COVID19• Tim Helm • Micheal Washington
“Church Ministries & 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 PRAYER FROM NOON TO 12:30 PM Monday thru Saturday
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7078722334
Meeting ID: 707 872 2334
The dial in is 301-715-8592
Meeting ID: 7078722334
Intercessory Prayer Team
Meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays each month at 7 pm
Contact LaMar Jenkins at 202-750-08887
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
Writer’s Ministry
The MCCDC Writers’ Ministry mission is to offer to our church and the world more reflections and devotionals throughout the year. If you’d like to join this project, now or in the future, please contact Rev. Dr. Robin Hawley Gorsline, Writer-Theologian in Residence, at writer@robinhawleygorsline.com
Join Us on YouTube and subscribe to the MCCDC YouTube Channel!
