The e-Newsletter of MCC NOVA | December 2005
Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia
Website: www.mccnova.com Email: info@mccnova.com |
INDEX: 1. From the Laptop of Rev. Kharma 2. From the Hearts of the Community 3. MCC NOVA News and Upcoming Events 4. SPOTLIGHT ON MINISTRY 5. Important On-going Activities 6. Community Notes, Etc.
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1. FROM THE LAPTOP OF REV. KHARMA
Building Relationships this Advent!
Sometimes, you just never know how an idea will take off. At the Worship Planning Team meeting, as we brainstormed about our Advent worship rituals, one of the ideas tossed out was to develop some sort of prayer exchange with our partner church in Montevideo, Uruguay — La Diaconía Cristiana en la Diversidad / Iglesia de la Comunidad Metropolitana de Uruguay (ICM Uruguay). So, we asked the leaders of ICM Uruguay if they might be interested, and they responded rapidly, with enthusiasm and a list of prayers from their community. Then, in our worship on November 20, we asked you to bring your prayers up to the altar as you came for communion – petitions you wanted the members of ICM to remember in prayer with you. With little time, each of our petitions went through a process of translation, and we made the exchange. A relatively simple thing, I suppose … but what a difference it seems to be making as we continue building our relationship as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Advent is a season in which we prepare for the coming of Christ, the coming into being of God in the flesh – of tangible new manifestations of the Spirit here and now. In many ways, Advent is a season of building relationship with the God of humanity, and of learning again to recognize the presence of God in our human relationships.
I will confess that I was not prepared for how this exchange of prayers would impact me personally. You see, I got to see all the stuff happen behind the scenes: I got to type the 75+ prayers that were collected from members and friends of MCC NOVA; I got to read the list of nearly 50 prayers that the community of ICM Uruguay sent here. I have to tell you that I was more than a little bit moved by all of this. Had you observed me, you might have guessed I had watched a marathon of Hallmark commercials, for all the tears I cried. It wasn’t a bit pretty, I assure you.
I share this with you only to say how meaningful I believe this ritual is/can be for us, as we share in the intimate and sacred act of building relationship by exchanging the sincere (and sometimes hard to utter) longings of our hearts. Each Sunday during the Advent season, when you come forward to receive communion, you will be invited to take a prayer request from the basket and to join in prayer with the person making that request throughout the week/season. The same thing is happening in Montevideo, as their community gathers for worship and they receive our prayers. It’s not a complicated thing, but it is filled with the potential to connect us not only with the human longing of one of our brothers/sisters, but also with the spirit of Advent as we wait for God to be made manifest in new ways among us.
The feedback we’ve already received has been great. One member of our community wrote:
“How meaningful it was this am to select a prayer from a brother in our sister church, carry it in my pocket throughout the service, then bring it home and tape it to my bathroom wall -- where I will see it (at least) each morning and evening! I feel honored to share something so intimate as another's prayer. It tells me something about the heart of the one who offered the prayer, and I feel connected to him in a way more powerful than I had anticipated! I don't know how this ritual came about, but I'd like to say thank you to all involved. Someone(s) really listened to Spirit for this Advent experience is truly inspired!”
After the first worship service at which ICM Uruguay distributed our prayers (and collected more to share with us), Fernando wrote me the following email:
Dear Kharma. The following petitions were collected 11/27 during our Advent Celebration. During the intercession we gave ourselves a moment of silence to pray and then write a personal petition. The theme we have been working on was spiritual life. What does truly feed us? Do we keep in mind the free nature of God and his blessings? Where do we go in search of spiritual bread? Are we witnesses in our environment of the light to the world? The motivating texts were: Is.55:1-11 and Jn.1:6-13.
Andrés reread your letter introducing the MCC NOVA petitions and addressed it in plural, like if you were talking to the Deaconate. He did it at the beginning of the celebration, welcoming the members of the community, and integrating MCC NOVA sisters and brothers. You are really with us! It makes me so happy! I’d give so much for you to be able to visit us or us visit you, see each other’s face, embrace, and give each other a kiss of peace.
We are a small community (approximately 20 people attend regular services) but each person took several petitions to ensure that nobody at MCC NOVA is left to pray alone. I wish God continues blessing this mutuality.
Much Peace Fernando.
I hope that you will find this ritual of exchange and prayer as meaningful an addition to our advent celebrations as I am. I also hope you will take this simple idea of building relationships to heart, and find ways in the midst of the busy-ness of this season to work on building/strengthening relationships of mutuality and depth in your own life. Perhaps you need to set a little more intentional time aside to give attention to your relationship with your partner, your natural or chosen family, a friend you’ve been missing, etc. Maybe this stirs up something else in you. Whatever the case may be, in this season of waiting for and finding holiness in the midst of our humanity (and sharing that with others), I pray that you will be blessed and strengthened by all that connects us to God and one another.
Blessings, Rev. Kharma
P.S. Many of you have asked me about the process of translation and have indicated a desire to show your gratitude. The primary person who has been translating all of the correspondence between MCC NOVA and ICM Uruguay (thousands of words in thirty-some letters over the last 8+ months) is Miguel. Miguel is not a member of MCC NOVA, or any MCC. He is the father of a friend of mine who has graciously agreed to help us out. Miguel is a native of Argentina currently living in New Jersey. He is a very funny man with a love of politics and languages. I performed his daughter’s holy union a few years ago and have found him a source of great help since then. Based on the feedback of several of you, we will be collecting contributions to purchase a gift of gratitude for Miguel. If you would like to contribute, please contact me. Also, there will be a thank you card available for signing during fellowship hour on the 4th and 11th. Please take the time to help us say a word of thanks.
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2. From the Hearts of the CommunityAt MCC NOVA, we believe that being in spiritual community is a source of blessing ... and that one of biggest blessings is the opportunity to share our spiritual journeys with others ... and to become a part of the spiritual journeys of others. In the sharing of our experiences and insights with one another, we often find opportunities for spiritual discovery and growth. In this new section of our newsletter, we are inviting members and friends of MCC NOVA to submit their original articles, thoughts, poems, reflections, etc. to share with the community. If you have something that you would like to contribute to our newsletter, please contact Rev. Kharma. ▼ ~Your Thoughts Here~
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3. MCC NOVA News and Upcoming Events
THIS SUNDAY! December 4, 12:30 pm
MCC NOVA Congregational MEETING (and Potluck). Normal business to be conducted includes the annual budget and Board of Directors elections. Meeting packets are available on the information table.
DON’T FORGET!
WE NOW OFFER WORSHIP SERVICES AT 9 AM AND 11 AM (fellowship time between services)!
SACRED PLACES
Sunday, December 4, 6 pm. Sacred Places is an evening meditative service designed to facilitate meditation on a selected topic and encourage individuals to explore sacredness and spirituality in ways that may be new to them. The topic for December is Kabbalah, the mystical tradition of Judaism. We will take a look at a simplified application of these esoteric teachings to modern situations. For more information, contact Ginny Reed @ 703 648-9327.
NOVAM CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS ON SALE!
Once again this year, MCC NOVA will help support Northern Virginia AIDS Ministries (NOVAM) through the sale of their beautiful Christmas ornaments. Ornaments will be available for purchase after worship, while supplies last, for $15 each. To see this year’s ornament, go to www.novam.org.
CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS ON SALE!
Dedicate a flower to a loved one and help decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas! Poinsettias are on sale beginning this Sunday for $15 each. Order deadline is December 15. Flowers will be on display from Sunday December 18 through Christmas day. Order forms are available on the literature table.
New Men's Bible Discussion Group Forming
"DiMENSions'" inaugural meeting will be held at 7:30 PM on Monday, December 5th at Doug Hansen's home, 11102 Byrd Dr., Fairfax 22030. We will pitch in for something for dinner, such as pizza. This Bible Discussion Group's mission is to provide an environment in which Christian men can "stretch, connect, and reach new diMENSions in spiritual growth and development." Attendance is open to all who identify as men, regardless of church membership. We will discuss the date and time of subsequent monthly meetings as the Spirit leads us. For more information, please contact Kyle.
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Seasons Greetings from the nOVA Music Ministry!
Friday, December 9th at 8 pm
MCC NOVA Music Ministry presents
"First Christmas"
A Holiday Musical
Get into the spirit of the season, as you listen to the Christmas story told through music. Be sure to bring your friends. You wont want to miss it!
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MEN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY!
"Men of MCC NOVA come and celebrate the season! Join Chris Fink and Scott Brna at their home on Sunday, December 18 at 5:00 PM to ring in the holiday. Chris and Scott will prepare turkey and stuffing and you bring your favorite holiday side dish. To add a little drama to the event, we will have the traditional gift exchange (maximum value $20). Please join the men of MCC NOVA in celebrating Christmas."
JOURNEY RHYTHMS: A Sacred/Community Drumming Circle
December 17, 7-9 pm. MCC NOVA presents a sacred/community drumming circle. All are welcome. No experience is required. Circles are scheduled quarterly around the time of the solstice (Dec. 17). Drumming has been used by indigenous people all over the world for thousands of years as a powerful spiritual tool. In recent years, thousands of Community Drumming Circles have come into an existence as a way for people in our time to capture some of the concepts and practices of the ancient tradition and experience the benefits of it. These circles typically borrow some of the concepts and traditions of the ancient traditions, but are more flexible and require no special training or talents to participate. Our circle is based on this concept. Fliers are available on the literature table; please feel free to take these to post and hand out to others who might be interested.
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IMPORTANT! Holiday WORSHIP SCHEDULE Christmas Eve Service Please join us on Saturday, December 24th at 7:00 pm for our Christmas Eve celebration. This evening will include a dramatic exploration of the Christmas Story (The Innkeeper’s Daughter, by Sarah Fershee) as well as a number of our favorite Christmas carols and special pieces of music. Sunday, December 25th Christmas Day Service 11:00 am only Sunday, January1, New Years Day 11 am only Our two service times (9 am and 11 am) will resume on January 8 |
WEBSITE CHANGES Our website at www.mccnova.com is undergoing an EXTREME MAKEOVER! While we’re working on it, check out the updated calendar and other features. |
Sound Team Needs You!The Sound Team is looking for a few volunteers to monitor and adjust the sound system during worship services. One vital service we provide is to record the service so copies can be provided for those who can not be physically there with us on Sunday. Currently, volunteering would entail one Sunday per month ... and with more volunteers it would be one Sunday every 2-3 months. Please do not be intimidated ... we will provide training and a checklist of process steps. It truly isn't as complicated as it might look with all the knobs, buttons and lights on sound equipment. Initial training should only take 20-30 minutes, but will be on-going as you feel necessary. If you ever thought about volunteering on this team, now is the perfect time! You can contact Micki Jones at 703-244-0833 or by email at majones77@earthlink.net for more information.
¿Habla Español?
If you answered this question, "Si," then we need you. As you may have heard, MCC NOVA has entered into a partnership with the MCC in Montevideo, Uruguay (ICM Uruguay). Already, we are being blessed as we get to know this congregation. You have read some letters that have been exchanged by Rev. Kharma and Fernando Frontan, the church's clergy candidate. Those of us who were at conference met their lay delegate and Fernando's partner, Andres, and were blessed to be able to spend some time with him. And we are now exploring how to allow our relationship to develop in ways that are mutually beneficial. As part of this, we're looking for people who speak/write Spanish to help on a couple of projects. If you are able and interested, please contact the church office as soon as possible.
1. Translators. We're looking for a couple more people who can translate from Spanish to English and vice versa to help with our ongoing correspondence with Fernando and the church in Uruguay.
2. Dialogue Partners. There are some folks from ICM Uruguay who are eager to get to know people from MCC NOVA and begin personally corresponding. If you would like to start a dialogue and begin a relationship with one of our sisters or brothers in Uruguay, there is an opportunity here for you. This would work easiest if you speak Spanish, but could also work for English-speakers if we have enough translators to help.
3. Presentation Preparation. ICM Uruguay prepared a beautiful PowerPoint presentation that we will soon be sharing with the community, which introduces us to Uruguay, the LGBT community there, and the church itself. We want to reciprocate by preparing a PowerPoint presentation that introduces them to our community. This opportunity is available to those who speak Spanish, or those who don't if they are willing to work with a translator. If this excites your creative juices, call now!
25th ANNIVERSARY PLANNING
Did you know that MCC NOVA will celebrate its 25th Anniversary in March of next year? We're planning now for a fabulous celebration!! If you are interested in being on the Anniversary Committee and helping to shape the events during our anniversary weekend, please contact Jane at girlybob@aol.com or by phone at 703.352.5426.
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4. SPOTLIGHT ON MINISTRY Each week in Catch the Rainbow, we take time to say ‘Thank You’ to ministers in our congregation by focusing our “Spotlight on Ministry” that is being done by so many people in so many ways. The following were recognized this month: Ø Special thanks to Jane for her extraordinary leadership and organization of this year’s Basket Auction; to Kathleen for being our auctioneer; to Cassie and Colleen for displaying auction items; and to all of you who: helped donate, assemble, and decorate baskets, brought desserts, helped set up and clean up, participated in the auction. Thank you for your generosity!Ø Special thanks to Justin Tanis for making our Advent Altar Cloths and the Worship Planning Team (Daniel, Doug, Jean, Jeanne, and Kathleen) for planning our worship this season. |
5. IMPORTANT ON-GOING ACTIVITIES
Ø Choir Practice: Tuesdays at 7:15 pm Join in the Song! You need not be a member of our church to sing in our choir. All are welcome to join in this ministry of musical praise and celebration. For more information contact Daniel at 703 491-5798. Ø INCLUESION PRACTICE: Wednesdays at 7:00 pm. For more information, see Gail Minnick. Ø COMMUNION: SPECIAL NEEDS? If you have any special needs to fully participate in our celebration of Holy Communion, please contact Rev. Kharma to discuss. |
6. COMMUNITY NOTES
Ø Shopping for Life
Saturday, December 3, 2005. Shop at your favorite local stores and support Whitman-Walker Clinic. When you make a purchase at any of these retailers on Saturday, December 3rd, they will donate a portion of the day's proceeds to Whitman-Walker Clinic, the largest provider of HIV/AIDS services in the Washington, D.C., region: Crate & Barrel, all area locations; Capital Carpet and Furniture, 1825 and 1917 14th Street, NW; Garden District, 1801 14th Street, NW; go mama go!, 1809 14th Street, NW; Muleh, 1831 14th Street, NW; Sparky's Espresso Cafe', 1720 14th Street, NW; Urban Essentials, 1330 U Street, NW
Every year, thousands of your neighbors turn to Whitman-Walker Clinic for medical treatment, food, social support services and much more. You can make a difference! For more information visit www.wwc.org
Ø Want to Learn More About the Ministry and Churches of MCC Region 3?
This includes churches in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, District of Columbia, Virginia and Puerto Rico currently. Want to share what is happening in your church? Hear about resources for ministry? Send an email to Ajoy1@aol.com and ask to be added to the MCC Region 3 E-Newsletter List. Everyone is welcome to join.
Ø CAPITAL HOSPICE IS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
Are you interested in making a difference? Adult daytime, evening, and weekend volunteers are needed to…visit hospice patients at home, work in our Van Ness office, join our Speakers Bureau. We also need volunteers with…Cars, Language skills, A strong desire to work with people. Patient Care Volunteer Trainings are held three times a year. Volunteers will learn about Capital Hospice services and programs and techniques in caring for and communicating with hospice patients. To apply, please contact Volunteer Services at 202-244-8300 or visit www.capitalhospice.org
Ø Where will you be next July?
Join 12,000 international participants, 70 countries, 30 sports, band, choral & more at the Chicago Gay Games July 15-22, 2006. No tryouts! For more information, contact Holly McMeekin (571-283-8013 OR holly_mcmeekin@earthlink.net). Flyers will also be available on the information table.
Ø Whitman-Walker Clinic Seeks Volunteers
Whitman-Walker Clinic has volunteer opportunities in a variety of capacities at all of its metro locations --NW, SE, Arlington and Takoma Park. If you can help, please contact WWC Volunteer Coordinator, Sarah Jackson" at sjackson@wwc.org or 202-797-3576
Ø Area PFLAG Gatherings (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) 1. Manassas --Bull Run Unitarian Universalist Church, 9350 Main St. Every 4th Monday at 7 pm. 2. Reston --Washington-Plaza church, 1615 Washington Plaza (Lake Ann). Every 1st Tuesday, 7:30-9:30
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... AND FINALLY, A REMINDER: The very latest news and information about MCC NOVA, as well as our ongoing calendar of activities and opportunities, can be found on our website at www.mccnova.com. Please feel free to forward this to others who might be interested. If you received this from someone else, and want to be on our email list, please send an email to MCCNOVACOM@earthlink.net with SUBSCRIBE in the subject or body of the email. We welcome your feedback so that we can make sure we are meeting the needs of our community. If you received this email in error or no longer wish to be on this list, please reply to this address with PLEASE REMOVE ME FROM THIS LIST in the subject or body of the email.
~ MCC NOVA ~Metropolitan Community Church of Northern VirginiaStretching, Connecting, Celebrating ... People on a Spiritual Journey!10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax, VA 22030-2505(703) 691-0930 http:\\www.mccnova.com |