This Week’s Reflection
This Sunday at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., we will proclaim “Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!” We will virtually gather for Resurrection Sunday, the first of The Great Fifty Days of Easter. Our theme is “Love Makes a Way.” How do we love, really love? Our worship Sunday will inspire us to rise with Christ to live our fullest lives of love.
We live in troubled times. We face life draining, soul crushing, even deadening realities of multiple pandemics. The values and demands that surround us pull us in confusing and conflicting directions. At times, the values of power, greed, and ego lead us to compromise what matters most to us, and we hardly realize we’ve made the compromises until we notice a vague feeling that something is not quite right. Our heart has become divided. Love remains at the center, yet its force has become diffused. False values pull us away from love.
Other times it is expectations that pull. Our lives become defined by our efforts to please others, often authority figures, sometimes peers. Whether it is the pressure of authority or pressure of peers, our fears so easily lead us down the path of living someone else’s life.
It is time for the stone to roll away from the tombs of half-lives, divided lives. Now is the time for the stone to roll away that love may be fully released. Now is the time to draw on Resurrection Power to fully love as our authentic, true, and whole selves. Now is the time to seize the promise of our God-parent Isaiah who proclaims “God removes death forever” (Isaiah 25:8).
Mark 16:1-8 says the first witnesses to the empty tomb were overcome with such terror and dread that they fled from the tomb, saying nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. I pray that we too will abandon the tomb, not because we’re afraid, but because at last we are unafraid to live our truest, most vibrant lives.
In preparation for the glorious Sunday coming, I invite you to join me in praying this prayer:
“O God, for too long I have lived with a divided heart.
I pray for love to make a way for Your heart to become my heart.
I pray for love to make a way for Your will to become my will.
I pray for love to make a way for Your desire to become my desire.
I pray for love to make a way for Your life to become my life.
I pray for love to make a way for Your love to become my love.
I pray for Your love that makes a way. Amen.”
By Faith,
Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson
Senior Pastor
Holy Thursday Service, 01 April, 7 pm
Join us for a special weeknight worship service via Zoom next Thrusday April 01 at 7:00 p.m. Our theme is “Love Makes A Way.”
Join Zoom Meeting
Click Here to Join the Holy Thrusday Service
Meeting ID: 873 0702 4143
Dial 13017158592 by phone, using the same Meeting ID873 0702 4143
to Join
Good Friday Service, 02 April, 7 pm
Join us for a special weeknight worship service via Zoom next Friday April 02 at 7:00 p.m. ,
Click Here to Join the Good Friday Service
Launch Zoom and enter Meeting ID:Meeting ID: 880 5493 2731
· Dial (301) 715-8592 by phone, using the same Meeting ID: Meeting ID: 880 5493 2731
Older Adult Ministry
Older Adult Ministry will be holding it monthly meeting via Zoom. Apr 11, at 1 PM. This month topic DACL/Seabury Resources LGBTQ and MCCOAM. Guest Speaker for this months meeting is:
Kirstan Fuller LGBTQ Program Coordinator
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82495523942
Meeting ID: 824 9552 3942
Call In,
+13017158592,,82495523942# US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 824 9552 3942
C19 Vaccine
Public health officials are urging us to help ensure people who are 65 and older know that they are eligible for the C19 vaccine. (Depending on your location, people with certain underlying health conditions are also eligible.) For more information, visit these links—District of Columbia, Maryland & Virginia —for vaccine procedures and answers to frequently-asked questions.
Another Web site reported by News 4 today helps you manage/plan your C19 appointment in one place no matter what state you live in. Click here to go to the web site.
Writer’s Ministry
The MCCDC Writers’ Ministry offered devotionals during Lent, and will do so at other times, fulfilling our mission to offer our church and the world more reflections and spiritual gifts throughout the year.
We also gather monthly to support and inspire each other in our personal writing. Whether you are an experienced writer or want to begin writing, or do more, please consider joining us. Our meetings are usually on Saturday mornings, 10 am- 12 noon, but occasionally we meet on the third Wednesday evening of the month. Our next meeting will be Wednesday April 21 at 7:00 pm.
If you’d like to join this project, please contact Rev. Dr. Robin Hawley Gorsline, Writer-Theologian in Residence, at writer@robinhawleygorsline.com .
“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 REV. DWAYNE IN PRAYER FROM NOON TO 12:30 PM Monday thru Saturday
Phone Number: 646-558-8656, Code: 407 740 6668
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
Writer’s Ministry
The MCCDC Writers’ Ministry mission is to offer to our church and the world more reflections and devotionals throughout the year. If you’d like to join this project, now or in the future, please contact Rev. Dr. Robin Hawley Gorsline, Writer-Theologian in Residence, at writer@robinhawleygorsline.com
“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:
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 *Diedre Gray * Elaine Durden-Hunter’s friend Saint Williams family * Cathy Batson’s niece Lisa * Cynthia Melman * Delores Fowler * Bill Stanclift’s brother James, niece Krista, nephew Paul, and several cousins *Buck Carlson at the loss of his husband Keith
