“Our transformational stories and vibrant art will open new windows into the loving heart of our Creator. The love of Christ will shine through our lives reflecting a generous welcome with affirming acceptance. Our movement is becoming a faith community of many ages, cultures, and walks of life.”
~ From MCCDC Vision Statement ; July 17, 2016
The vision of MCCDC echoes our scripture for this Sunday from the prophet Joel who proclaims: “I will pour out my spirit upon everyone; your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old ones will dream dreams, and your young ones will see visions “(Joel 2:28).
Imagine a community where the love of Christ is not diminished by the toxic political climate. Imagine a community where every culture is valued for revealing the vibrancy of our Creator. Imagine a community where all ages and walks of life are honored for shining through to unveil the face of God. That is the community that MCCDC seeks to be!
Joel is a prophet of vision, even during difficult times. He holds to the hope that God’s Spirit is always at work, touching people in ways both visible and unseen. The writer J.M Hanke notes that Joel believes that “God will again do that which is powerful, unexplainable, magnificent, and bring persons to salvation and wholeness.”
I believe that the Holy Spirit is ready to pour out. The recent revival gave us a great taste of the Holy Spirit. There is more to come! Our call is to open ourselves as vessels to receive the pouring. Then, let us move forward in amazement as “the love of Christ shines through our lives reflecting a generous welcome with affirming acceptance.” See you Sunday at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM as we share the inspiration from the prophet Joel
By Faith, Rev. Elder Dwayne
THIS WEEK OCTOBER 2016
THANK YOU! MCCDC for your Support of Interim Moderator Blessing
Thank you to all who contributed their time, talents and treasures to making the MCC Interim Moderator Blessing a success. Thank you for your very hard work to get the message out to our global denomination. Each of your efforts is very much appreciated and the event could not have happened the way it did without you. Thank you
About Love Is All You Need? The Movie
Love Is All You Need? is a Romeo and Juliet movie story set in a world where homosexuality is considered normal, heterosexuality is taboo, and heterophobia runs rampant. The film has won numerous festival awards across the world and is based on the 19 minute short film of the same name, which went viral in 2014 garnering over 40 million views.
Join us Sunday, October 23nd at 7pm for the Love Is All You Need? The Movie national tour. This sneak peek screening will take place at Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C., followed by a special Q&A with director, K Rocco Shields, and members of the cast, crew and other VIP Guests. Come see this very important film!
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 ORDER PICKUP, 10/22/2016
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
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.
MCC Eastern Network Gathering, October 29th, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
MCC Eastern Network Gathering will take place on October 29th at MCC Rehoboth, Rehoboth DE from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
All are welcome. For more information visit our FB page at MCCEasternNetwork. This Gathering will have workshops on HIV/AIDS, Race, Racism and Racial Reconciliation as well as roundtables for BoD, Lay Delegates and Ministry Members/Leaders. If you would like more information, please contact Rev Cathy 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.
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 Here for more Information
Please contact Rev Cathy if you are interested in attending. RevCathy@mccdc.com or 202-638-7373.
CONGREGATIONAL FORUM AND MEETING, November 6th at 12:30.
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.
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.
