This Week’s Reflection

13?“You are the salt of the earth. But what if salt were to lose its flavor? How could you restore it? It would be fit for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.? 14?“You are the light of the world. You don’t build a city on a hill, then try to hide it, do you? Matthew 5:13-14

Our elders, mentors, parents, partners—those who love and support us—help us to ongoingly learn more about aspects of ourselves that we are unaware of. When we think about this, we may most immediately bring to mind the challenging parts of our relationships with ourselves and others–things we’d like to change and/or areas for growth. But these support folks in our lives may also invite us to notice our strengths, our gifts and skills that we may not notice or acknowledge in ourselves. (The good things about which we may have been taught that we “should not” speak aloud.) Through our supporters, we may discover that qualities we admire in others may actually also exist in us, present, and even uniquely and creatively expressed by us, but unrecognized by ourselves through our own skin.

Our scripture for reflection finds Jesus supporting his followers in such self-discovery and more. In the gospel of Matthew, in his Sermon on the Mount following the Beatitudes in which he pronounces blessing on those routinely and conventionally marginalized (in his times and ours), Jesus proclaims to his disciples/followers, “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” Not “you are,” if you do this or that, but “you are.” He told them who they were and in doing so, Jesus tells us who we are today. Their task was, and ours today is, to take Jesus at his word and live that out. Can we believe that we, in community, are the salt and light of the world? How do we live out the reality as Jesus encourages us? How can the centrality, necessity, and power of salt and light not be of over-powering and “othering,” but of loving and living justly in accordance with Jesus’ teachings?

Maya AngeIou, African-American poet, historian, educator, civil-rights activist, said that “we are created creative.” “We can each bring our unique enduring gifts to being salt and light of the world in fulfillment of Jesus’ pronouncement of who we are as followers.” What creativity do we each bring to our MCCDC and MCC communities of salt and light? I invite you to reflect on how you creatively invite God to work through you in the world?

Please join us Sunday, in-person or by live stream at 9a.m. and 11a.m. and later on demand, as we continue to reflect on Creativity: Salt and Light.

Blessings.
Dr. Carla Sherrell

Planning Your Legacy

What will your Legacy be? ? Consider leaving a legacy gift to honor your life as a member of the MCCDC family. Your gift will ensure the continuation of our church, both now and in the future. We invite you to meet with our Generosity Team after worship at 12:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 5th via Zoom (remote only).

Please join by Zoom on February 5th. We’ll explain how to remember MCCDC in your estate plans.

Here are three ways to connect via zoom on 05 February:
· Click here to open Zoom and join automatically
· Launch Zoom and enter Meeting ID 830 5252 3783
· Dial by phone +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC), using the same Meeting ID

Annual Giving Statements

We have begun preparing giving statements for the 2022 tax year. We will be sending giving statements via email, in batches, beginning January 25th and continuing through March 3rd.

If we don’t have a working email address on file for you, or if you don’t have access to email, we will mail your giving statement via USPS, or you can pick it up in-person after an MCCDC Sunday worship service. Please contact Chocolatté Miller at chocolatte.miller@outlook.com if you have questions.

Black History Concert

Save the date for MCCDC’s Borderfree Black HistoryConcert. This year theme is : DC Style Concert on Saturday, February 25th at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.
This year’s program will feature MCCDC Community Voices,Eclectic Praise, Drama Ministry and Moving Spirit along Shirli Hughes and Arthur Diggs, Guest Soloists. As with our Sunday worship services, you’re invited to either participate online at live.mccdc.com or in person at Fifth and Ridge St NW. All are welcome!

Borderfree Worship Update

Effective Tuesday, November 1, MCCDC adopted a flexible masking policy. That means when you enter the church at 474 Ridge St NW, you have the flexibility to choose* to wear or not to wear a mask.

• · Please continue to social distance. Respect personal space.
• · Respect personal masking choices. Others may be at high risk.
• · Be responsible. If you don’t feel well, have tested positive for COVID, or are otherwise sick; stay home and join us online.

*Note: Individual ministries or other activities/events at MCCDC may still require masks under certain circumstances

Worship Volunteer

We still need volunteers to sustain in-person worship. Please visit volunteer.mccdc.com and fill out the form for the dates and positions in which you can serve your church. Have questions about roles and responsibilities? Contact Chocolatté Miller, chocolatte.miller@outlook.com

Pathways 2 Generosity, Prayer #49, by Clara Carter, MCCDC Prayer Supporter

em>“We have come to a place now where our search for Truth must no longer be for the rewards; it must no longer be our seeking a creed to follow, but it must be our living a life.” – Dr. H. Emilie Cady

Dear God, thank you for your Prosperity that flows throughout our physical bodies and our spiritual lives, the air we breathe, the beautiful blue sky, the vast oceans, wisdom and love among so many gifts. We are grateful for the gift of your Son that redeemed us. You are so good to us. Thank you for our spiritual home of enduring gifts that are so generously shared with Metropolitan Community Church of Washington DC, by our spiritual leaders, members, friends, and supporters. We are grateful for all spiritual places of worship throughout the world.

Thank you God, for the enlightenment that lets us know that “prosperity” is not something we pursue as an ends unto itself, but that we recognize Your prosperity encompasses all things in life. Help us to trust You completely in our homes, churches and business affairs to continue sharing our blessings in all that we do. God, we rely on your guidance as we continue to express wisdom and discernment as wise stewards of all enduring gifts with thanksgiving. In your many precious names, Amen.

“And in every work that He [Hezekiah] began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.” 2 Chronicles 31:21 (NKJV)

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” ~Psalm 68:19 (KJV)

Support for Tim Helm

Beloved longtime MCCDC member Tim Helm is recovering from spinal and back wound complications at BridgePoint Hospital on Capitol Hill. Tim welcomes your calls in the afternoon and evening at (202) 368-9877.

Tim, our love and prayers are with you!
~Your MCCDC Family

Prayer Corner

Please lift the following people up during your prayer time:

Johanna Hardy• Jerry Giem • Tim Helm • Min. Diedre Gray • Bill Campbell • Denise Wright, her mother Lucy Mae Coombs and her Aunt Lottie Mae King. • Rose Williams• Cecilia Hayden-Smith and Esther Smith’s health• Delores Fowler • Vernessa D. Wilson • Family of Ms. Brittany Harrell • Veronica Franklin• Rev. Dr. Robin Hawley Gorsline • Glenn Conway • Michelle Lax •Anthony Goode • Valeria Myers’ children Chantelle & Donald • George Kerr, III • Randy Punley • Lynn Sulyma • Marcus Garnett •Renee Valentine’s brother • Arden Shutt • Evelyn Jones• Steve Sloane • Jeffrey Luckenbach • Cathy Batson’s niece Lisa • Cynthia Melman •Kim Battle • Joshua Benkins’ father Isaac •Elaine Durden-Hunter’s recnet loss of her mother Earline • Angela Terrell • Mike Washington •Carol Washington mother’s health •Angela Dodd for healing •Buck Carlson •Lolita Gleaton for healing from her cancer • Mezyi Choi request prayer for her success healing from surgery • Lost of Melvin Moore Adams’ sister Krissandra Moore •Kia Murphy • Doris Carter Washington of Alexandra, Va. request prayer • Loss of Melvin Moore Adams’ sister Krissandra Moore • Patricia Ryan due to the loss of her brother Mickey

“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

Writing Ministry
Meets Monthy
For more information, contact Jacqueline Laughlin at yemayah@icloud.com.

Barnabas Culture Sessions

Barnabas Culture, Session 7:00 p.m. Eastern, Thursday. Click Here to Join The Zoom Thursday Nights. For more information contact MCCDC Ministry Intern Rev. Teresa Tygart at Email preachertygart@gmail.com.

Join Us on YouTube and subscribe to the MCCDC YouTube Channel!

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