“Forgiveness is a process: a messy, non-linear, and often barbed process that can leave us feeling whole and liberated one minute, and bleeding out of every vein the next.” —Debi Thomas
It is four days to Sunday and I am well aware that the message for Sunday is one of the most difficult I will ever offer. I’m wrestling. It is a message that can offer wholeness or harm. In advance of Sunday, I’m already praying, “God, let me do no harm.”
In Sunday’s scripture from Matthew 18: 21-35, Jesus is asked how often one should forgive. The asker takes a turn at their own question by suggesting one should forgive seven times. Jesus says how about seventy times seven.
Jesus makes it clear that forgiveness is exceedingly important. Yet often we have candy coated the topic, caked it in guilt, and turned it into a shouldism that leaves us stranded on the periphery of misconceptions and misperceptions. The one asking for forgiveness often rushes the question “will you forgive me?” with so many strings attached, it threatens to strangle everyone. The one being asked to forgive is often not ready for the question. Forgiveness, when misunderstood and misapplied, can sadly deepen the harm. Too often this has happened in churches and in public life.
In preparation for Sunday think about these questions:
• Why should we forgive?
• How can forgiveness become a form of shouldism?
• In what ways can forgiveness be a form of denial?
• In what ways can forgiveness be a detour or a shortcut?
• In what ways is forgiveness different from healing or reconciliation?
• In what ways is forgiveness a process rather than being quick and easy?
Shout out to Debi Thomas from the webzine Journey with Jesus. She is the source of many of the thoughts that are churning in me and her flow of thought prompted the above questions.
Debi quotes one of my pastors, Henri Nouwen: “Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly. The hard truth is that all people love poorly, and so we need to forgive and be forgiven every day, every hour increasingly. Forgiveness is the great work of love among the fellowship of the weak that is the human family.”
By faith,
Rev. Elder Dwayne
MCCDC Announcements
Virtual Breast Cancer Walk
Join Team MCCDC in the 2020 Komen Washington DC Virtual “More than Pink” Walk to End Breast Cancer
While we may not be able to walk side-by-side, we can come together virtually to share our stories, support one another, and raise money to save lives. Click Here to Join The Teamand say you’re “in” on Saturday, September 12th. See this Q&A or contact Rev Cathy at revcathy@mccdc.com for more information 202-638-7373 for more information.
Giving & Generosity
Join us for an all-church generosity webinar from 10:00 a.m. to noon Eastern on Saturday, September 19th. Tom Melzoni of Horizons Stewardship will lead the session. He helps churches design and implement stewardship plans and recently explained why “Funding ministry in 2021 will be more difficult than ever.”
Older Adult Ministry
Our Older Adult Ministry will meet via Zoom at 1:00 p.m. this Sunday, Sept. 13th. This month’s topic is Medicare and Medicaid help for Seniors in DC, featuring guest speaker Greg McCoy of General Agent Secure Benefits. Contact Dale Madyun-Baskerville at mccdcbiblestudy@mccdc.com for more info.
Vote for Rev. Dwayne
Our senior pastor, Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson, is one of five individuals nominated for the “Best Clergy” category of the Washington Blade’s Best of Gay DC Readers’ Choice Awards. Click here to vote. You’re able to submit one vote per day, per email address, from now through Sunday, Sept. 20th.
Join MCCDC’s Bible in 90 Days Journey 2021!
Click Here to Join the MCCDC Slack Community
Click Here to Order B90 Bible:
“CHURCH NEWS”
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
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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).
MCCDC Virtual Ministry Working Group !
A Virtual Ministry Working Group is forming now and you are invited and encouraged to join!
It is important, now more than ever, to develop our strategy for online ministry and membership – even when we are able to meet again in-person, the work we do now will help us as a community ensure we can re-imagine our ministry in a way that welcomes and engages everyone – regardless of whether they can participate in person or virtually.
If you are interested in joining the working group, or have questions, please contact Ministry Intern Dr. Carla Sherrell at drcarla@mccdc.com.
JOIN REV. DWAYNE IN PRAYER FROM NOON TO 12:30 PM Monday thru Saturday
Phone Number: 646-558-8656, Code: 407 740 6668
Bible Study
A time of community, fun, learning, and sharing!
Tuesdays from 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Via FREE ZOOM Video Conference Call
Click here to see the MCCDC 2020 Bible Study Schedule
Phone Call in number is: 301 715 8592 US,Meeting ID: 434 566 329
Password: Email Dale Madyun-Baskerville at mccdcbiblestudy@mccdc.com for login invitation
“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:
* 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,* Keith Richardson
