“I believe that Spirit is one and is everywhere present. That it never leaves me. That in my ignorance I may withdraw from it, but I can realize its presence the instant I return to my senses. It is this belief in a power larger than myself and other than myself which allows me to venture into the unknown and even the unknowable. I cannot separate what I conceive as Spirit from my concept of God. Thus, I believe that God is Spirit.”
~Maya Angelou from Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now
It is often difficult to live out the call of Jesus. It takes a powerful person to put into practice Jesus’ most important sermon, the Sermon on the Mount. It also takes the Holy Spirit to fill us with the power to live a new way of life. To live with the Spirit is to live the blessing of the Community of Heaven, a commonwealth where the heart of God intersects with the heart of people. At the center of the intersection are relationships.
The congregation that heard this message for the first time was comprised of the powerless. They were a people under the oppressive rule of Rome. Jesus called them to rethink the meaning of power, claim their blessedness, and live with higher integrity. It was a call that came with an invitation to trust God, rather than the self-absorbed religious authorities who sought to use God for their own purposes.
In our scripture this Sunday from Matthew 5: 38-48 Jesus applies his call to higher integrity to relationships. Beyond “an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” Jesus teaches, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (MTT 5:44).
The spirt of our times is to strike back. The Spirit of the heart of Jesus calls us to live and love differently. This Sunday at 9 AM and 11 AM we will look at what it means to be powerful people as defined by the life of Jesus.
See you Sunday at 9 AM, 11 AM, and 6:30 PM!
By Faith, Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson
UPCOMING EVENTS FEBRUARY 2017
BIBLE IN 90 DAYS COMMUNITY
Wednesday, 7 PM
Please go to this blog page for more instructions and to follow along: Click here to enter the blog
The call in number for our community meeting times will be (641) 715-0632, Access Code: 190766, yet we encourage you to attend in person if you can.
Click here to see upcoming schedule: 2017-bible-in-90-days-schedule
If you have questions, contact Rev Cathy at revcathy@mccdc.com or 202-638-7373. Please call or email to let us know if you plan to participate. All are welcome.
Black History Month 2017
Al Jarreau Theater Actor, Television Actor, Songwriter, Singer (1940–2017)
Al Jarreau was the quintessential contemporary jazz artist, and the first vocalist in music history to receive Grammy Awards in three separate categories (jazz, pop and R&B).Singer-songwriter Al Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on March 12, 1940. His first album was released in 1965. The quintessential contemporary jazz artist recorded more than two dozen albums over several decades, becoming the first vocalist in music history to receive Grammy Awards in three separate categories (jazz, pop and R&B). In 1996, the Best of Al Jarreau compilation was released, featuring his career hits. He died on February 12, 2017 at the age of 76.~biography.com
Save This Date!!!Black History Concert
NEW FOR 2017,February 26th at 2:00-3:30 PM at African American Civil War Museum
1925 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
Ignite is a new monthly Sunday Night Worship. The mission of this new service is to create a worship space that celebrates the diverse tapestry of God’s creation, seeking to explore innovative ways to interact with the Divine who lives in us all. Mark your calendar now and stay posted for more information!
Mark Your Calendars!!!
CHURCH NEWS
MCCDC MEMBERSHIP CLASS
If you have questions about MCCDC and what membership is about, class will be held on February 26th 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.
Young Adults Ministry (YAMs) Chili Sale!!
When: Sunday, February 19th, 2017, 12:30 PM near the Information Station.
What: Various Types of chili to suit your dietary restrictions and tastes.
Cost: $2 for a cup, $4 for a bowl. Sodas and bottled water will also be available for $1.
2017 Lenten Daily Devotionals — Please Contribute!
During the month of February, we are seeking participants to create the content for MCCDC’s 2017 Lenten Daily Devotionals. For 40 days beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 1, these Lenten Daily Devotionals will be simultaneously published on MCCDC’s Facebook page and distributed by email to the congregation. Our theme this year is taken from MCC’s Denominational Office of Church Life and Health — “Naked Faith: Revealing Resurrection.” Please contact Rev Cathy at revcathy@mccdc.com or Frank Wirmusky at fwirmusky@aol.com or call 202-638-7373 if you would like to participate, have ideas on how to broaden participation, or thoughts on how best to articulate the theme through words, music, or video.
Communion Celebrant Training
Interested in altar setup, praying and distributing of the Holy Sacraments to the congregation during each church service each Sunday? Communion Celebrant training is being offer on Feb 19, 2017 at 12:30 pm upstairs in the chapel. (Alternate training date for March will be announced soon!)
Anti-Racism Workshop
The Eastern Network of MCC has a terrific opportunity in March to participate in a workshop designed to re-frame our work against racism and to galvanize our faith community to engage in racial justice.
MCCDC will host Rev. Dr. Jennifer Harvey on Sunday, March 26 from 3:30p-8:00p in the lower level conference room. You can find out more about Rev. Dr. Harvey and her work at the following links:
Jennifer Harvey Huffington Post
Suggested registration donation of $25 per participant, more if it’s possible and less if
needed. You can visit the registration page You can visit the registration page to sign up, to contribute through PayPal, or to make a commitment. Please contact Rev Cathy at revcathy@mccdc.com or Rev. Dr. Robin Gorsline at revrobin@mccdc.com if you have questions.
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY
Please join the Tuesday Night Bible Study from 7-8 PM 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.
Save this date! Easter Spring Bazaar
For More Information contact C.C. Petee at 240-305-9922 or Fenicia Ballard at 540-841 1633
Come Join Us! MCCDC Older Adult Ministry,Free Computer Classes
The second class will be Microsoft Word 2003 – Essentials, Sunday, February 26th ,from 12:30 – 2:30 pm in the Computer Lab, lower level.
Course Description:Learn the essentials of Microsoft Word and word processing. Create, navigate and save documents, apply character and paragraph formatting, insert symbols and create headers and footers. Find out how to check spelling and grammar, add page breaks, work with document views and learn how to print. Adding graphics and clip art will also be covered.
MCCDC LIVE STREAMING
MCCDC is going live! We have an opportunity to use of our AV system to reach outside our walls to many people who may not be able to join us in person. To make this happen we must have a subscription service that will provide us the ability to stream our services, concerts and special events, and expand opportunities for participation in our bible studies and other activities remotely. The testing done so far with streaming has generated a lot of excitement, particularly by those who have been unable to visit our church.
You can be a part of making this happen in a number of ways: (1) pray for our reach beyond the walls of our church (2) join others in donating to cover the one-time annual cost of the service and associated AV training for our volunteers; and (3) consider joining the AV ministry.
Click to Donate!
You can contact the church office with questions at 202-638-7373 or churchoffice@mccdc.com.
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.
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.
Click to Donate!
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
YOGA Classes at MCCDC! There is room for you!
To nourish your physical body in addition to your spiritual body. Yoga is held on Mondays from 7-8 PM. Hope to see you then. If you have questions or desire additional information 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.
Jonah at Sight and Sound Theater
The Tuesday night Bible Study Ministry is sponsoring a trip to see the stage production of Jonah at Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster, PA. The trip will be on Saturday Aug 19 leaving MCCDC by caravan at 8 AM and returning to MCCDC around 8 PM. This production will also complement the Tuesday Night Bible Study focus on the prophet Jonah in August. For more information please contact Dale Madyun-Baskerville at baskerd6109@gmail.com or 202-638-7373.
Click here to find out more information from about the show.
