“Faith is the assurance of things you have hoped for, the absolute conviction that there are realities you’ve never seen. It was by faith that our forbears were approved. Through faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God; everything we now see was fashioned from that which is invisible.” ~Hebrews 11: 1-3; The Voice
This Sunday is a landmark Sunday at MCCDC. We are honored to host the 1 PM Service of Blessing and Installation for Rev. Rachelle Brown, the newly appointed Interim Moderator for Metropolitan Community Churches. Leaders from our global community are already arriving in Washington, DC. Now more than ever, our world needs a movement like MCC, a body willing to push from the edges to find hope at the center.
Hope will be emergent throughout the day, resonating through song, prayer, scripture and word. To celebrate the day, expanded hospitality will be offered following the 9 AM and 11AM worship services. At 1:00 PM, the expanded community will gather in a spirit of hope, to look forward with absolute conviction that God is doing something new in the midst of our congregation and denomination. Join us this Sunday for the hopeful new thing that God is creating.
By Faith, Rev. Elder Dwayne
THIS WEEK OCTOBER 2016
MCC Denominational Governing Board Names Rev. Rachelle Brown Interim Moderator
The Governing Board announces the appointment of the Reverend Rachelle Brown as Interim Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches to serve until the 2019 General Conference. Rev. Brown was ordained with MCC in 2007, and holds a Master of Divinity degree from Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, and Master of Communications degree from Missouri State University. Rev. Brown is a currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology, Ethics, and Human Sciences at Chicago Theological Seminary. She has served as an Intentional Interim Minister, North Central U.S. MCC Network Leader, and MCC Emerging Church Specialist.
For more information http://mccchurch.org/mcc-governing-board-names-interim-moderator/
Mass Community Choir for the MCC Moderator’s Service of Blessing, Saturday October 15th at 5:30pm
If you are interested in singing in a mass community choir for the MCC Moderator’s Service of Blessing, the rehearsal will take place on Saturday October 15th at 5:30pm. Please contact Rev Dwayne at revdwayne@mccdc.com or 202-638-7373 for more information.
ELECTRONIC GIVING
With EasyTithe, supporting the church is as simple as clicking a mouse or whipping out your smart phone. Our new online system allows you to make a financial donation to the church with your credit card or direct debit from your banking account.
Click Here to Give Online
You’ll be asked to set up your MCCDC EasyTithe Account. You can set it up to make a one-time/anytime donation or make a recurring donation.
You also can give by text 202-999-3841. Please contact the church office with questions at 202-638-7373 or churchoffice@mccdc.com.
YOGA CLASSES
To nourish your physical body in addition to your spiritual body. Join us for yoga classes on Mondays at 7pm. The class is donation-based. If you are interested in starting or continuing please contact Rev Cathy at revcathy@mccdc.com or 202-638-7373.~ Namaste (“The Spirit in me honors the Spirit in you”)
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE
Adult Sunday School is held from 10:15 to 10:50. Please bring your coffee or tea to the upstairs conference room for the brief yet powerful time together. For more information contact Rose Herring at churchoffice@mccdc.com or 202-638-7373.
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY
Please join the Tuesday Night Bible Study from 7-8pm in the Welcome Hall. A time of community, fun learning and sharing. For more information please contact Dale Madyun-Baskerville at churchoffice@mccdc.com or 202-638-7373.
Share Program Ministry of MCCDC
Share Program Ministry of MCCDC will offer food value packages through the SHARE Food Network Program. Everyone is invited to participate. You can purchase one of these wonderful food value packages by seeing one of our Share Program Ministers-Fenicia Ballard, Mark Kornmann, and Wendy Hamilton.
The SHARE Program Ministry is also a great opportunity for high school students to receive community service credit hours. SHARE Program schedule follows:
ORDER PICKUP*: 10/22/2016
*Pickup is at the MCCDC Welcome Hall at 9:30 am.
For more information, please contact the church office at mark@mccdc.com.
CHURCH NEWS
CONGREGATIONAL FORUM AND MEETING
This year’s Congregational Forum will take place on November 6th at 12:30. The Congregational meeting will take place on November 20th at 12:30. Please mark your calendars and plan on attending to lend your voice. Please contact Knut Panknin or Rev Cathy with questions at revcathy@mccdc.com or 202-638-7373.
“Discovering God’s Future for Your Church” Conference and Live Stream
Saturday, November 5, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
What next faithful step is God calling your church to take? It is vital to know God’s direction — or vision — for your congregation.
At Discovering God’s Future for your Church, you will learn how to discern this vision — a step-by-step process for considering the strengths, challenges, and people that God has given you both in your church and in your community. This process can reveal what God is calling your congregation to be and to do.
And you will learn how to make this vision come alive in your church to be faithful and fruitful to God’s will. Attendees may participate in person at Wesley Theological Seminary or via live stream from their own computer or mobile device across the globe. Discovering God’s Future for Your Church is ecumenical and designed for both laity and clergy. Click for more information [http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1101612645524&ca=4b6dcc73-0c99-40a8-a842-7bafcb4f7b3d]. Please contact Rev Cathy if you are interested in attending. RevCathy@mccdc.com or 202-638-7373.
NEXT MEMBERSHIP CLASS TO TAKE PLACE OCTOBER 23
If you have questions about MCCDC and what membership is about, class will be held on October 23rd from 12:30 to 2:30 in the lower level conference room. All are welcome to attend. A light lunch will be served. PLEASE register so that we may have enough food and materials. Contact Rev Cathy at revcathy@mccdc.com or 202-638-7373.
Gender Neutral Restrooms Coming Soon
We are pleased to announce MCCDC will be implementing gender neutral restrooms. In early August, we will replace the “Men” and “Women” signs with signs indicating our restrooms are gender neutral. Some time ago, the Board approved moving to gender neutral restrooms for our church. The Trustees began working on implementing this decision.
They met and discussed developing new signage and the types of locks to put on the exterior doors to the main floor restrooms. As they were discussing these matters, a clear and strong consensus developed among the Trustees that we need to implement true gender neutral restrooms and simply replace the signage and not install locks on the exterior entrance doors to the restrooms on the main level. The trustees shared this approach with the Board.
Everyone should feel not only welcomed in our church, but each person should feel that they truly belong here. This decision reflects our mission. The plan is to install signage that clearly indicates our restrooms are available to everyone and will display a depiction of either two toilets or one toilet and one urinal. The signs will inform people of the types of facilities available in each particular restroom.
The two restrooms on the lower level will remain private (locking) single occupancy use for people preferring that option.
If you have questions or comments to share about this change, please share them with the trustees know at trustees@mccdc.com or feel free to visit with them when you see them at church.
“I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are. I just know if I have to pee, I don’t care where it’s going to be.” — Dolly Parton, in the Advocate, June 6, 2016.
