“No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.”
~ Marsha P. Johnson, Trans Activist influencing the Stonewall uprising
Happy Pride. The season we are choosing to recognize as “Pridetide” is upon us once again. It is a time globally to recognize, mourn, acknowledge, and celebrate who we are as LGBTQI+ people. We celebrate that we can strive to be who we are, who God created each of us to be. In the US, this time around June is not only about parades and parties, but it is also a time a remembrance and solidarity. We remember some of the personal and community struggles that got us here, keep us moving, and guide us to the next milestone of accomplishment.
Our theme for Pridetide is “God Knows Your Name”. This Sunday we will discover what it means to know that your name is confidence. Scientist and poet Dharitri Ramanlal writes, “confidence is not like a sudden downpour, it is like a ray of hope which makes farmers sow their seeds despite ongoing drought”. Those rays of hope, those drops of refreshing rain, those encouragements to continue moving forward despite seemingly insurmountable odds are the building blocks of confidence. It can take some time to build that firm assurance and belief in an individual, or action or outcome. Yet, the work can certainly be worth it. Our scripture for Sunday is 2 Corinthians 5:6-9, 14-17 which encourages that blessed assurance we can have, because we live by the faith we have and not necessarily by what we can touch and feel and prove and “see”.
Psalm 20 helps to bring this confidence into perspective as we each move as faithfully as we can through our lives.
Let us boast of the One who comes in the Name of Love.
We shall rise up strong and sure.
We will rejoice that we’ve been helped.
We will fly our flags in the name of our God.
During this Pridetide, let us boldly and courageously wave and fly our PRIDE flags in the name of the God of our understanding. Please join us Sunday on YouTube or Facebook at 9am EDT or 11am EDT.
Peace,
Rev Cathy Alexander
Associate Pastor
This Pride Season
This Pride season, join Center Faith (from the DC Center for the LGBT Community) in embracing this year’s Capital Pride theme, #StillWe!
The 2021 Pride Interfaith Service will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, June 15th at 7:00 p.m. EDT. Sign up here to receive the Zoom link in advance, or check the Center Faith Facebook page. Featured musicians include the All Souls Jubilee Singers and cellist John Kaboff. The event will honor our losses, find ways to cope, sources of hope, respond to needs, build resilience and put faith in action.
Click here for the entire Capital Pride schedule, including this weekend’s opening party and pride walk.
Celebrate Dad
As we continue practicing social distancing, many of us still want to celebrate father’s Day with our dad and dad-figure, whether blood or chosen. MCCDC wants to celebrate and remember with you, so we invite you to email a headshot of your mom with his name. Feel free to include yourself in the picture too. We will fill the sanctuary with cut-outs of dads across our church family.
Please send your pictures to Melvin Moore via email, churchoffice@mccdc.com, by Sunday, June 13th.
Congregational Forum & Meeting
Save the dates for MCCDC’s annual Congregational Forum and Meeting. At 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 20th, we’ll host a forum to discuss the church budget and operational issues. Then, at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 27th, we’ll have our annual Congregational Meeting to approve the proposed 2021 budget and expenditures from our Far Reaching Faith Trust Fund. Please plan to join us!
Prayer Corner
Please lift the following people up during your prayer time:
The family of Louis Hicks, Sr. • The family of Terry Blackstone • Bob Jones • Jerry Giem • 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 • Arden Shutt • Buck Carlson • Delores Fowler • Elaine Durden-Hunter’s mother, Earline T. Green • Evelyn Jones • Valeria Myers’ son Donald • Bob Jones’ son Chuck & wife Karen • Jerry Giem’s Son, Jason and Nephew, Travis • Steve Sloane • Glenn Conrad • Anthony Goode • Renee Valentine’s brother • Juanita Dara • Jeffrey Luckenbach • Elaine Durden-Hunter’s friend Saint Williams • Cathy Batson’s niece Lisa • Cynthia Melman • Kim Battle
C19 Vaccine
Have you been vaccinated yet? Everyone 12 years or older — including undocumented immigrants — is now eligible. Visit vaccines.gov to find a location near you and make an appointment.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing reimbursements up to $9,000 for funeral expenses incurred as a result of C19. To apply, visit FEMA’s website.
“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
Join Us on YouTube and subscribe to the MCCDC YouTube Channel!
