This Week’s Reflection
28?Upon arriving, the angel said to Mary, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!”?29?She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.?30?The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you.?31?Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.?32?He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. 38?Then Mary said, “I am the servant of God. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Luke 1:28-32, 38
The theme of the third Sunday of Advent is Joy. We will light the pink candle of the Advent wreath.
Joy, and Hope, the focus of our worship series, are powerful in partnership. They support and companion each other as topics generally, as Advent themes, and in our daily living. Joy can arise at a given time, but without being in a context of hope, one can wonder how long a sense of joy can be experienced. Perhaps a context of hope opens space for joy, welcoming and sustaining it. Joy in turn, and in further support of building hope, has the capacity to lift clouds and confusion of mind, heart, and spirit bringing clarity and deepening awareness of and commitment to hope. This process of hope and joy working in concert is unique to each of us as we experience and understand it, and it can be worthy of note and awareness, and perhaps gratitude.
At Advent, connection, and working together of joy and hope may be considered central as we reflect on the life of Mary. Our reading this week is the Annunciation, the visit to Mary by the angel Gabriel with news that she will become pregnant and give birth to a child who will be God’s son. Mary does not collapse or die from the fear and confusion she is experiencing as she gets the news of the role she is about to have in this amazing narrative. Was her sturdiness, at least in part, a function of hope? Mary lived in the context of a narrative of hope about the coming of the Messiah and the expectation of accompanying profound social change. Being in hope, awaiting the Messiah, must surely have supported Mary as she received and began to live her role even as it led to suffering for her. Perhaps hope afforded Mary silent thrills of joy, as well as more verbal, outward expressions of joy (such as that penned by the writer of the Gospel of Luke [1:46-55] as The Magnificat) as she contemplated her life as the mother of the Holy One.
What are your narratives of hope? What is ours as an MCCDC community? What joy arises in that we can know and share with others in support of transformation, even in these challenging, chaotic times?
Please join us Sunday, in-person or by live stream at 9a.m. and 11a.m. and later on demand, as we continue with Joy and Hope in Partnership.
Blessings,
Dr. Carla Sherrell
MCCDC Seasonal Services
Please join us for the following Seasonal Services:
• 24 December, 10 am Christmas Eve Morning: In Person and Live Stream.
• 24 December, 5 pm EST Christmas Eve with Candles: In Person ONLY
• 31 December, 10 am EST, New Year’s Eve Morning:In Person and Live Stream.
Join us in person at 474 Ridge St NW, Washington DC or live stream at live.mccdc.com
2023 Giving Statements Are Coming Soon!
The treasurer and assistant treasurer are preparing your giving statement for tax year 2023. 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 2023 giving statement will be sent out via postal mail.
Please contact treasurer@mccdc.com with questions.
End of Year Gift
Make your End of Year Gift TODAY! Help MCCDC to go into 2024 year strong.
Go to donate.mccdc.com and select End of Year Gift from the menu. This gift will count toward your tax-free contribution for 2023.
Guest Psalmists Singers, Christmas Eve Service,24 December at 10 am
Dr. KaMyka Glenn
Johnathan Walker
Cameron Jones
2024 Book Study: Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul
Rev. Dr. Robin Hawley Gorsline, invites you to join him on a 6-week book study starting on Thursday’s, 11 January and ending on February 15, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm EST.
The book “Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul” by John Philip Newell, a famous Celtic Christian writer and teacher, reviews the lives and writings of 9 important figures such as Pelagius, a second-century Christian writer.
• The book can be purchase online at Thriftbooks.com, Christianbook.com, Bookshop.org, and Amazon.com.
• Participants are asked to register first by emailing Rev. Dr. Robin Hawley Gorsline at writer@robinhawleygorsline.com who will email you the zoom information.
Pathways 2 Generosity, Prayer #89 by Clara Carter, MCCDC Prayer Supporter
by Clara Carter, MCCDC Prayer Supporter
“Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive.” ~ Hafez
Dear God, thank you for giving us the hope of peace in a chaotic world. Your son Jesus Christ is the great gift given to all so that everyone could be saved and have eternal life. We are so grateful for your unconditional and generous love. Help us to continuously show our generosity in many ways, for you are with us at all times, through grievous and joyful situations. Let us go forth courageously to accomplish your works through commitment, faith and patience. This is a season of hope, and a season of change.
We are grateful for Metropolitan Community Church of Washington DC, and all places of spiritual worship. Thank you for blessing us abundantly and for the commitment to share generously of our financial gifts, talents, skills, time, treasures, and goodwill to gather souls for your realm. We are grateful for the seed of prosperity within us to share with others, and helping people in need. Praise you in your many names. Amen!”
“May the God of hope fill you with such peace and joy , in your faith, so that you may be filled with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (First Egalitarian Translation)
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 * Vernessa D. Wilson * Family of Ms. Brittany Harrell * Veronica Franklin * Rev. Dr. Robin Hawley Gorsline * Glenn Conway * Anthony Goode * Randy Punley * 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 * Mike Washington * Buck Carlson * Johanna Hardy * Doris Carter Washington of Alexandria * Melvin Moore Adams* John Hylton * Summer Allen
“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.
Join Us on YouTube and subscribe to the MCCDC YouTube Channel!
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