Oh, God, How Excellent, How Excellent is your name in all the Earth. (Oh Lord, Our Lord, How Excellent is Thy Name, alt.-Richard Smallwood)
We so very often celebrate excellence of production. We go in search of it, and give rewards for it. We expect it and even demand it in the human and more than human world. It is passed as a critical value to be held by next generations in hope and prayers for helpful implementation and realization of it in the many ways that they will express themselves. Excellence is also often weaponized through criteria set to evaluate it. Who gets to say what it is? Whose work gets to be considered excellent? How do we communicate about it? Whose work is held up as excellent based on implicit and explicit criteria and whose is not?
These questions are not ideological bird walks; the stakes are high. Excellent work gets tied to personal worth—to being excellent people. To life and death. Those who are marginalized and minoritized so often have the experience of the excellence of what we produce being minimized, held under suspicion, and/or dismissed supporting doubts about our rights, our presence, and existence. Truly unfortunately, this may occur within our homes and other contexts as children, continuing along the way in the locations including institutions where most of our time is spent and connections exist as youth and adults.
What do we do as these complex and difficult dynamics around excellence arise within us and within our communities? Our scripture for this week (Mark 6:10-13) provides us support as we read, reflect on and discuss Jesus’ experience of and response to returning to his home community to share his ministry. Nonconventional Jesus, all grown up, brilliant rabbi, his excellent nonconventional gospel followed by multitudes who just want to hear him and touch him. His excellent teaching was grudgingly acknowledged, but largely rejected by his home community. Through his feelings, his actions, and his charge to his disciples, we each are encouraged to consider our own relationships to excellence and learning and growing in community, to sharing and rejection of our offerings and gifts, and to receiving the excellent gifts of others.
Please join us Sunday, on-site or by live stream at 10:30a.m. and later on demand as we explore excellence in support of each of us learning to live our purpose in joy, individually and in community. And know, at this Pride season and beyond, that whatever our relationship to production, the Creator made each of us, in abundant sacred love-excellent and worthy!
Blessings.
Dr. Carla
Spiritual Engagement Hour
Re-Experience the 2024 MCC Elder Blessing Service, a Truly Global Event
Join us Online, Onsite, and later On Demand for 9AM Spiritual Engagement Time.
What’s Happening This Sunday:
* We will be witnessing excerpts from the rebroadcast of the newest MCC Elders blessing service.
* There will be a time to lift up prayers for the MCC spiritual leaders and MCCDC leaders.
* Learn about what you can do to lend prayer support for our church and our world.
Please join us at 9am ET
MCCDC Chapel Onsite, Online & On demand.
Here are three ways to participate:
* Click here to open Zoom and join automatically
* Call In, +1 301 7158592 Meeting ID:850 0797 0818
* In Person 474 Ridge St., NW, Washington, D 20001
Washington DC Pride Events
Pride season is here and a number of events are schedule to happen. Click on the link below to see what going on for Pride in Washington DC
Events Calendar – Capital Pride Alliance
Join the MCCDC Team!
MCCDC currently has an immediate opening for a part-time custodial position.
Responsible for cleaning and maintaining all areas of church facility. Some grounds work will be required. We offer flexible hours and fair pay. Contact Melvin Moore at 202-638-7373 or email churchoffice@mccdc.com Or Rev Dwayne Johnson at 202-638-7373 or email revdwayne@mccdc.com.
2024 MCC People of African Descent (PAD) Conference
Join the PAD Conference: The Next Generation 2024 July 26 to 28 in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
MCC Detroit will be co-hosting the this year Detroit Black Pride titled “Hotter Than July.”
Additionally, this year’s Black Pride will have a gospel theme to it featuring the artist B Slade featuring special guest Bishop Yvette Flunder
We are also honored to have our Moderator the Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston and her spouse Orgena Rose with us for the conference from Australia.
Click here for detail conference and cost information
Hospitality Ministry
MCCDC Hospitality Ministry needs your help!
Please donate:
· Donate/Volunteer your time once a month on Sunday to coordinate, setup or clean up during Hospitality time.
· Donate supplies:
· Food Items: Individually package cookies, Granola bars, Fresh fruit, Yogurt, Coffee, Sugar, Water, tea bags, and juices (Individually cartons)
· Dry Goods: Coffee cups, 8 inch plates, 6 inch plates, paper towels, Clorox Cleaning Spray, dish clothes and dish towels.
Drop off all supplies Sunday morning at the kitchen window. To Volunteer see Dale Madyun-Baskerville on Sunday morning or email oam@mccdc.com
God of My Understanding: Becoming a Spiritual Force
Jackie Lois invites you to journey with her through a series of short stories on what church looks like.
You will discover opportunities for spiritual growth and community that seeks to reach out to many people who never felt at home or previously rejected by church and organized religion.
Click Here to Order Your Book!
Prayer Corner
Please lift the following people up during your prayer time:
* Bill Campbell *Jerry Giem * Tim Helm *Rose Williams *Cecilia Hayden-Smith and Esther Smith’s health *Delores Fowler * Veronica Franklin * Rev. Dr. Robin Hawley Gorsline * Glenn Conway * Anthony Goode ?Randy Punley * Marcus Garnett *Evelyn Jones * Steve Sloane * Jeffrey Luckenbach ? * Cathy Batson’s niece Lisa * Cynthia Melman *Kim Battle *Joshua Benkins’ father Isaac *Mike Washington * Buck Carlson * Doris Carter Washington of Alexandria * John Hylton * Summer Allen * Ruth Kappy Makekodunmi * Sherry Bradshaw prayers for healing.
“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!
You’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
Join other MCCDC writers in our monthly Zoom Writing Ministry meeting.
For more information contact gcsnyder01@aol.com.
Join Us on YouTube and subscribe to the MCCDC YouTube Channel!
