===========================================================================================================
HUMONGOUS GARAGE SALE - FRIDAY
AND SATURDAY THIS WEEK!!!!
This is a major fund-raiser
for Open Arms MCC. If you have not donated items to the sale yet, it is
not too late!
If you have not signed up to
help, it is not too late. We need you.
Sale is Friday and Saturday
from 8 to 5 at 60 S. Winton Rd.
Call Anne T. to donate or
offer your help
========================================================================================================
MEMORIAL DAY WEEK-END
MEMORIALS
Any gift given to the capital
campaign "in memory of" will be acknowledged on Memorial Day weekend
worship, May 28. The names of those remembered by donations will be read
during the service. The amount of the donations will not be read.
Acknowledgement of your gift will be sent to family members or friends at
your request. These memorial donations must be received by Sunday, May
21. They may be dropped in the offering basket or handed to John W.
===========================================================================================================
CONGRATULATIONS, DEB MOHR!
The SUNY Board of Trustees has
approved the 2006 Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Librarianship to
Deb M.
It is, of course, no surprise
to Deb's family at Open Arms MCC that she has been recognized for
excellence. You make us proud, Deb.
==================================================================================================
Deacon's Corner:
Yo God,
Someone was telling me a story the other day about four year old Emily.
She wanted to be left alone with her new baby brother.
Her parents were worried, as parents can be.
Was there some jealousy going on, would Emily hurt the baby?
Four is so young...so they said no.
Emily kept at it...
A four year old can be very headstrong...she insisted on having time
alone with baby William.
After much thought her folks said yes...
Emily softy closed the door to her brother's room.
However the door did not close all the way...Emily's folks tip-toed to peek
into the room.
Emily was bending over with her cheek up against her brothers cheek and
softy said...
"William, tell me what God feels like, it's hard for me to remember."
God, help me remember your soft loving touch.
I know it's there...but like Emily I need to be reminded. -Amen
Deacon Debbie
===========================================================================================================
Pastor's Reflection:
What does it mean to be a member
of Open Arms MCC? It means, in the best case, that a person has a hunger
and thirst after knowledge of God and wants to be part of a community of
faith that journeys together towards God. The church family of Open Arms
enfolds you, supports you, encourages you, challenges you. When you
worship with your church family, you are uplifted and experience the
presence of God.
That's what you get. What do
you give in return? Do you enfold, support, encourage and challenge your
sisters and brothers? Do you take pains to learn everyone's name and share
stories with them? Do you give of your time to church projects? Do you
offer your many talents for the good of the church? Do you give
responsibly? Do you tell others about your joy in your church and invite
them to worship with you? Do you live your faith in your daily life by
avoiding situations that are not helpful for you or by challenging bigoted
or racist or sexist or age-ist talk or jokes?
If any relationship is going to
work, it must run in both directions. Are you clear about what you receive
from God and from the church? Are you clear about your responsibility to
give back? And are you giving back.
Many people want to belong to
churches that won't challenge them too much or make them uncomfortable. At
Open Arms, we believe that God keeps us moving forward, even when it's not
comfortable.
We have a ways to go, sisters
and brothers, to fulfill the phrase of our Vision that says "Embracing the
Journey."
Rev. Jim
=======================================================================================================
Upcoming Events:
Women's Softball Schedule:
Wed. May 17: 7:15pm at Veterans
Memorial Park in Henrietta, field #4.
Wed. May 24: 7:15pm at Veterans Memorial Park in Henrietta, field #4.
To find out if a game has been cancelled, call the Recreation Department
Softball Weather Line at 234-1042 after 4pm.
The potluck & games night has
been rescheduled for Sat. June 3. Any questions? Contact Deb K.
Garage Sale is Friday &
Saturday, May 19 & May 20 from 8 to 5pm. We are accepting donations now.
Call or see Anne T. for details. The sale will be held at Sharon H's old
house, 60 S. Winton.
The last Artsy Fartsy movie of
the season will be on Saturday, May 27 at Regal Henrietta. We will be
seeing the movie The DaVinci Code.
===========================================================================================================
Until next time oremus pro
invicem (let us pray for one another)
Rev. Jim
Deacon's Corner:
Yo God:
Someone was telling me a story
the other day about four year old Emily.
She wanted to be left alone with her new baby brother.
Her parents were worried, as parents can be.
Was there some jealousy going on, would Emily hurt the baby?
Four is so young...so they said no.
Emily kept at it...
A four year old can be very headstrong...she insisted on having time
alone with baby William.
After much thought her folks said yes...
Emily softy closed the door to her brother's room.
However the door did not close all the way...Emily's folks tip-toed to peek
into the room.
Emily was bending over with her cheek up against her brothers cheek and
softy said...
"William, tell me what God feels like, it's hard for me to remember."
God, help me remember your soft loving touch.
I know it's there...but like Emily I need to be reminded.
Amen-
Deacon
Debbie
Pastor's Reflection:
What does it mean to be
a member of Open Arms MCC? It means, in the best case, that a person has a
hunger and thirst after knowledge of God and wants to be part of a community
of faith that journeys together towards God. The church family of Open Arms
enfolds you, supports you, encourages you, challenges you. When you worship
with your church family, you are uplifted and experience the presence of
God.
That's what you get.
What do you give in return? Do you enfold, support, encourage and challenge
your sisters and brothers? Do you take pains to learn everyone's name and
share stories with them? Do you give of your time to church projects? Do
you offer your many talents for the good of the church? Do you give
responsibly? Do you tell others about your joy in your church and invite
them to worship with you? Do you live your faith in your daily life by
avoiding situations that are not helpful for you or by challenging bigoted
or racist or sexist or age-ist talk or jokes?
If any relationship is
going to work, it must run in both directions. Are you clear about what you
receive from God and from the church? Are you clear about your
responsibility to give back? And are you giving back.
Many people want to
belong to churches that won't challenge them too much or make them
uncomfortable. At Open Arms, we believe that God keeps us moving forward,
even when it's not comfortable.
We have a ways to go,
sisters and brothers, to fulfill the phrase of our Vision that says
"Embracing the Journey."
With Love,
Rev. Jim
========================================================================================================
HUMONGOUS GARAGE SALE
- FRIDAY AND SATURDAY THIS WEEK!!!!
This is a major
fund-raiser for Open Arms MCC. If you have not donated items to the sale
yet, it is not too late!
If you have not signed
up to help, it is not too late. We need you.
Sale is Friday and
Saturday from 8 to 5 at 60 S. Winton Rd.
Call Anne T to donate
or offer your help
======================================================================================================================
MEMORIAL DAY WEEK-END
MEMORIALS
Any gift given to the
capital campaign "in memory of" will be acknowledged on Memorial Day weekend
worship, May 28. The names of those remembered by donations will be read
during the service. The amount of the donations will not be read.
Acknowledgement of your gift will be sent to family members or friends at
your request. These memorial donations must be received by Sunday, May 21.
They may be dropped in the offering basket or handed to John W.
===========================================================================================================
CONGRATULATIONS, DEB
M!
The SUNY Board of
Trustees has approved the 2006 Chancellor's Award for Excellence in
Librarianship to Deb M.
It is, of course, no
surprise to Deb's family at Open Arms MCC that she has been recognized for
excellence. You make us proud, Deb.
==================================================================================================
See our
Website:
http://www.frontiernet.net/~oamcc for the calendar listings. You can
print the calendar if you wish.
Upcoming Events:
Women's Softball
Schedule
Wed. May 17: 7:15pm at
Veterans Memorial Park in Henrietta, field #4.
Wed. May 24: 7:15pm at Veterans Memorial Park in Henrietta, field #4.
To find out if a game has been cancelled, call the Recreation Department
Softball Weather Line at 234-1042 after 4pm.
clothing
ministry
is on sabbatical until September 2006
The
clothing
ministry, is coordinated by Deacon Debbie,
2nd Thursday of the month at 6:30.
See Deacon Debbie for details.
May
11th At Asbury Church.
The Asbury
Clothing Warehouse is STILL LOW on
stock..
Please Check with Deacon Debbie
to confirm the date !!
If you have donations let us know
!!!
June 3rd
Potluck and Games night at the Church.
Bring your favorite game.
Bring a
dish to pass (sign up sheet in Fellowship Hall).
The laughter begins at 6:00
pm.
Questions? contact Deacon Debbie
Special Events Committee:
There will be meetings of
the committee on:
Thursday,
May
18 -7pm at Anne & Bess’s
home
Thursday, June
15 -7pm at Anne & Bess’s
home
To plan May 19 & 20-Gazonga Garage Sale,
Pride Parade Float (Bigger & Gaudier),
Fall Fund-Raiser!
Turkey Party!
Garage Sale:
May 19 & 20.
Save the date. We are
accepting donations now. Call or see Anne T. The sale will be held at
Sharon H's old house, 60 S. Winton.. Contact Anne T. if you have items to donate. (atischer@frontiernet.net).
25th Anniversary
of Open Arms MCC
is coming up in August.
The pastor needs a committee to work with him on this event. Please contact
Rev. Jim if you can help.
Action Item's:
No entries this week
....
How can you get
involved in the Capital Campaign?
1 - Join the
Prayer Committee by signing up in the back of the sanctuary, near the prayer
table
2 - A team of
volunteers is needed to write thank-you notes to donors from outside the
congregation - to volunteer, please sign up on the sheet posted in the
fellowship hall at church or e-mail Sherri and Donna at:
"smteaches@earthlink.net"
3 - You can
ask your employer if they match charitable donations! Many employers do!
(The Human Resources Dept. would have this information and any paperwork
necessary.) This is a prime time to ask, because contributions given during
2005 and 2006 will both be eligible for matching funds!
...whatever
you ask in prayer, believe that you will receive it, and it will be yours.
Mark 11:24
Capital Campaign
News
There is a
chart in the sanctuary showing the progress of the Capital Campaign. It
very creatively uses puzzle pieces to represent each $1000. The puzzle
pieces will fill the chart as we progress.
Stewardship
Campaign is underway. Please return your pledge forms if you have
not already done so. Blank forms are available at church.
Capital Campaign
will have three phases:
Internal
Campaign: for members and regular attendee's of Open Arms MCC began Nov.
21.
External Campaign for the wider
community began Dec. 1
Fundraisers will
happen throughout the six months of the Campaign
Until
next time, let us pray for one another (oremus pro invicem)
May 23, 2006
===================================================================================
Great thanks to all
who participated in the Humungous Garage Sale last Friday and Saturday.
We grossed $4500.
====================================================================================
Upgrade to Sound
System
On Sunday, we expect
to be using new wireless microphones. These were purchased from money that
was carried forward from last year's budget.
====================================================================================
Tearing Down Walls -
MCC's Eastern Europe Initiative
The Board of
Directors approved sending $500 from our mission budget to the
Denomination's efforts in Eastern Europe. Rev. Elder Diane Fisher and
Florin Buhuceanu, our pastor in Romania, are travelling during May and June
through several Eastern European countries to bring words of hope and
encouragement from MCC.
========================================================================================
Deacon's Corner:
Yo God,
I was wondering if I could come for a visit sometime?
You know, just drop in...and hang out.
I could use a little peace of mind.
Somehow the days just keep getting filled up.
You know how laundry is a never ending thing...
the grass needs cutting...dust bunnies are multiplying...
and how can two people dirty so many dishes?
How about I meet you tomorrow? ...We'll relax...
...if You bring the sun along, we can rest in the warmth.
I'll bring all my troubles and you and I can work through them together.
You might even convince me to just give them up to you.
Got to run...catch ya tomorrow- Amen
Deacon Debbie
===========================================================================================
Pastor's Reflection - I
am yielding this column to a sermon by our Moderator, Rev. Elder Nancy
Wilson:
A Sermon by
the Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches
|
The Rev. Nancy L.
Wilson
MCC Moderator |
MC
|
"Building An Easter Movement"
by The Reverend Nancy L. Wilson
Delivered at Resurrection
Metropolitan Community Church, Houston, Texas, on April 30, 2006
Scripture: Acts 3: 1-16
As Rev. Elder Freda Smith, a wonderful MCC pioneer, is fond of
saying, "MCC is
the most exciting church since the Book of Acts!"
I love the Book of Acts. It offers a little glimpse into the
tumultuous and often chaotic times of the earliest church. I see
Metropolitan Community Churches all through the Book of Acts, which
is the history book of the New Testament. It includes the story of
Pentecost (this year is the 100th anniversary of the Azusa Street
Revival that launched the modern Pentecostal movement) and MCC's
Pentecostal roots are very important for us. In fact, this weekend,
in Southern California, there is an LGBT-friendly celebration of
that 100th anniversary. I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit
that came on Pentecost is the same power that gave Rev. Troy Perry
the courage and freedom to start MCC.
The Book of Acts includes one of my favorite nominees for "lesbians
in the Bible" - Lydia, the seller of purple, the woman in whose home
the first church in Europe met. It also includes Paul's Damascus
Road experience, in Acts 9, which I had to memorize in 6th grade, and
the great story of the earthquake and Paul and Silas' miraculous
release from jail. The story of the Acts of the Apostles is full of
twists and turns and adventures, and most of all, the "unhindered
gospel" of Jesus Christ. It tells the story of a church that is
stretched, challenged and growing in spirit, in maturity, and in its
vision of life with the Risen Lord Jesus.
The passage we hear today follows the dramatic post-Easter,
post-Pentecost healing of the man at the Beautiful Gate. In the
biblical story, Peter and John are going up to prayer in the
synagogue, minding their own business, when a lame man cries out to
them, begging. They stop, and actually notice him, and they look him
in the eyes and utter that wonderful line,
"Silver and gold
have I none, but what I have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ
of Nazareth, stand up and walk!"
And, of course, he did!
What follows is a dance between the disciples, the people and the
religious authorities that ends up with Peter and John being dragged
before the Council. Every chance they get, Peter, John and the other
disciples use the amazing stories of healing to also share the story
of Jesus and his resurrection power. They were an Easter community,
and everywhere they went miracles happened! Healing happened!
Liberation happened! And people doubted it. They questioned it. They
tried to stop it. But the message was unstoppable. They were full of
resurrection faith and power, but the world was not necessarily ready
to receive it! Many felt that lame beggars should just stay lame
beggars, it was the natural order of things!
Imagine, Jesus gave that lame beggar "perfect health" in front of
God, the people, everyone! And instead of being a source of joy, it
became the source of enormous controversy.
MCC, God has
given us, too, perfect health, if we will claim it. And
true to form, the world still does not want to believe it! The world
is more comfortable if LGBT people and our families and friends
remain full of shame and hopelessness, full of un-health. The world
is perfectly happy for us to stay in dark bars, stifling closets, in
patterns of addiction, and in spiritual despair. But we are truly
an Easter community, the most exciting church since the Book of Acts.
And God is moving, loving, healing and using us in this time in
history.
We are at a
crossroads again, and, dare I say it, at a tipping point.
There are some who might say that other denominations are now
accepting LGBT folks and the need for MCC is diminishing. Those
people have never visited Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church
in Houston, Texas!
Nothing could be further from the truth. It is true that there is
movement in some denominations, and in every large city in North
America, and in a few other places, you can find some Open and
Affirming churches of different denominations. Of
all of them, the United Church of Christ has taken the greatest risk
to stand in solidarity with LGBT folks, and they have paid a price
for it. Still, only 10% of UCC churches are officially open and
affirming.
Other denominations are presently poised for stalling, backsliding.
Many continue to be embroiled in controversy. The two largest
Christian Churches in the U.S., the Roman Catholics and Southern
Baptists, are a long, long way from opening their doors, and the
third largest, the United Methodists, have warm fuzzy ads on TV at
the very same time as they are moving further and further to the
right. And there is a whole generation of un-churched LGBT folks who
will never darken the door of a mainstream church, no matter how
affirming they are. Who will touch their hearts with the fire of
the inclusive love of God?
Whatever other
churches choose to do, I say to us this: It is time for MCC to put
the "move" back in movement. We are needed more than ever before in
history - not only in the U.S. in large and small cities but in
cities and towns and villages around the world.
MCC has a global calling. And it is an unfinished calling. The Holy
Spirit is not done with us yet, and the resurrection power of Jesus
Christ is alive and active and creating new chapters in the Book of
Acts before our eyes.
In Eastern Europe, they are calling us the "Human Rights Church. We
are a church that has always connected Jesus and justice. Some think
you can have Jesus without justice - not so! Jesus loved the
prophets and quoted them. He spoke of a God of grace and inclusion,
who blessed those who hungered and thirst for righteousness, for
justice and for peace. He knew the words of the prophet Amos who
cried out "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like
an everflowing stream!"
I am not ashamed
of Jesus, or of our rich, diverse Christian nature. And I am not
ashamed of our passionate commitment to justice. From the earliest
days of MCC, this has been our calling.
Why are we in Eastern Europe right now? Why are we sending a team
half way around the world in May and June of this year? We are there
because our LGBT people are there! And because we have an amazing
opportunity. There are young, Christian gay activists there who are
risking so much to bring hope and liberation to our community. The
European Union has provided a window of opportunity to tear down
walls and build up hope. In the post-communist world of Eastern
Europe it just so happens that in order to join the European Union
each country must pass legislation that supports LGBT rights. Even
though these countries are passing that legislation, they are still
steeped in cultural and religious-based homophobia, and too often
they still actively persecute our people.
MCC has the powerful opportunity to be on the ground floor in the
struggle for human and civil rights, while overcoming religious
homophobia. It is through this struggle that we are also preparing
the way for there to be church planting. We cannot have
churches there until we have helped change the culture enough for
them to safely meet and minister. Young LGBT Christian
men and women are risking their jobs, their lives to make possible
what we take for granted, and MCC can help make a huge difference.
Last year, for the first time, we helped a young community hold their
first Pride parade. When the President of Romania and the mayor of
Bucharest said no, and withdrew police protection, we asked MCCers
and our allies all over the world to send e-mails to the President
and the mayor to protest. And it worked! They relented, and 300
people, including Rev. Elder Diane Fisher and other MCCers marched in
the march, safely, and they held an MCC service, along with workshops
on overcoming religious homophobia. This year, we are organizing in
5 countries - Romania again, Serbia, Moldova, Bulgaria and Latvia.
This is a moment of resurrection and Pentecost for our communities in
Eastern Europe.
Recently, many of us were in Tampa, Florida, for a wonderful MCC
People of African Descent Conference. We heard from a young man named
Gareth from Jamaica. Today, Jamaica is the most lethally homophobic
place in the Western Hemisphere, where dozens of gay men have been
brutally murdered in the past couple of years. AIDS-phobia and
homophobia have combined to make life for lesbians and gays hell on
earth there. Gareth told us the heart-wrenching story of the murder
of his best friend and roommate, Steve Harvey, an AIDS worker.
What is so painful to hear is that no one in Jamaica will stand up
for our LGBT people. And even though this story has been reported in
the press in the U.S., no one, not even in the LGBT community, seems
to care or want to take the risk to help them. This is where MCC
comes in, because we will not turn our back on the Gareths of the
world. We must become involved. He is our brother in Christ. What
Gareth says they need most of all, besides safety, is spiritual; and
pastoral help, which we are going to provide! We have to stop the
violence and share the good news of a God of love and justice whom we
know in Jesus!
In this cause, we need you, Resurrection MCC. We need all MCCers
everywhere. We need you to be bold, and strong, and out in the
community. We need you to model the "perfect health" that God bestows
even on the least of these, as we are being resurrected.
The world needs a denomination that is also a movement, one that
lives an ecumenical vision of church. We need churches that are into
saving lives, healing broken hearts, and stirring up vocation.
We need you to be about movement, here in Houston and around the
world. That may mean that some of your literally have to move, go to
school, find your God-given vocation. We need church planters, lay
and clergy, as the Board of Elders identifies the top ten cities
where we do not have an MCC and where we are desperately needed. We
need to be a church that is not afraid to tackle tough issues such as
crystal meth addiction and the changing face of HIV/AIDS. We need
churches that reach out to youth and young adults, to families with
children, offering them a safe place that seeks to put their gifts
and energy to use.
Today, all over the world, there are people who are wounded, injured,
hopeless - people who think that their destiny is to beg for crumbs
at the Beautiful Gates of our day. God needs disciples of
Jesus Christ who will actually notice them, look them in the eye and
say, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give to you - in
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, be whole and be free!"
Amen.
________________________
Sermon Delivered By:
The Reverend Nancy L. Wilson
Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches
www.MCCchurch.org
|
===========================================================================================
Upcoming Events:
The Artsy-Fartsy Film
group will meet for their last film outing of the season. They will see
"The DaVinci Code" at Regal Henrietta. They will meet at 11:45am for a
12:10 showing.
GAMES NIGHT 6/3/06
6:00 to 10:00
Drinks...Hots... and paper products will be provided.
Bring a dish to pass...your favorite game...
and lots of laughter...
Womens' Softball
Schedule
Wed. May 24: 7:15pm at
Veterans Memorial Park in Henrietta, field #4.
Wed. May 31: 6pm at VMP, field #2
Special Events
Committee Meeting - June 15 at 7:15 at Anne & Bess' home
==========================================================================================
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