ACTIVE CHURCHES

FirstCoast MCC's Got Talent! Last Saturday night the folks in St. Augustine, Florida, proved it during an Italian Feast, which included a silent auction and the talent show.

Last month Trinity MCC in Gainesville (Florida) was recognized as Gainesville's Organization of the Year for its twenty-seven year history of contributions to the greater Gainesville community. In response to the recent increase in gay youth suicides following anti-gay bullying, the church just completed production of its "It Gets Better" video. Trinity was also recognized during August and September for its role with a coalition of faith leaders who stood in solidarity with members of the local Muslim community.

MCC Detroit is sponsoring a Gay Christian Bowling League.

MCC in the Valley (North Hollywood, California) has launched a new program Spiritual Journeys. Each Wednesday they open to different spiritual practices, such as labyrinth, Taiz�, and drumming circle, to bring centeredness and spiritual renewal into the heart of their community.

MCC North London (England) has initiated several small groups which are now meeting in Camden, Enfield, and South London.

MCC Charleston (South Carolina) is compiling a pet calendar for 2011.

MCC of the Rockies (Denver, Colorado) hosted their 7^th annual Art for Love fundraiser over the weekend. There were various pieces of art for sale, as well as hors d'oeuvres, beverages, and desserts.

MCC Fredricksburg (Virginia) has formed a team to lead music during worship.

To keep it green and greener ($$$$$$) at MCC Tampa (Florida), their Living Green Ministry collects newspapers and ads, cardboard, phone books, magazines, actually anything paper; aluminum cans; printer cartridges; cell phones; and even junk vehicles to recycle.

Celebration MCC (Naples, Florida) is now worshipping in their very own building!

Friends on the Road at MCC Winston-Salem (North Carolina) is studying If Grace is True: Why God Will Save Every Person. In this book, two pastors present their controversial belief in eternal salvation for all through God's perfect grace.

The leadership of First MCC of Atlanta (Georgia) became the pace setters for the church's stewardship campaign, Say YES to God's Mission. Their ministry goal for 2011 is $218,000.00 in tithes and offerings. As congregants download and complete their estimate forms, they are given an "I said Yes!" badge to wear.

PEOPLE FEATURED

Trans/formations: Controversies in Contextual Theology is edited by Dr. Marcella Althaus-Reid and Lisa Isherwood. Two MCCers were contributors. Rev. Malcolm Himschoot wrote a liturgy for the Trans Day of Remembrance and Lewis Reay has a chapter on the Eunuchs in the Bible. The book was published by SCM Press, London, England.

Rev. Tim Agar resigned as the Associate Pastor of MCC NOVA Fairfax, Virginia). The church celebrated his last day with them on 31 October. He will be focusing on finding a fulltime position for his ministry.

Greg Kuridan of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, passed away last week. He was a member of the original Board of Administration, serving as treasurer that first year. He was very active at Sunshine Cathedral MCC, where he had been a deacon and president of the board for the Sunshine Foundation. Two services will be held; one for the family on 15 November and one for his many friends on 20 November.

Rev. Dwayne Morgan recently provided the "Just a Thought" column for the Faith Matters section of the Daily Echo, the newspaper in Bournemouth, England.

St. John's MCC (Raleigh, North Carolina) just completed a wonderful weekend of praise and worship honoring Rev. B. Y. Boone's 9^th anniversary as their pastor. Rev. Marilyn Bowens of MCC New Haven (Connecticut), who trained at St. John's MCC, was the guest preacher. She also led a workshop on prayer. There was a special luncheon to conclude the weekend.

Walter Mason, a Ph.D. candidate from MCC Good Shepherd (Granville, Sydney, Australia) has published his first novel, Destination Saigon - Adventures in Vietnam. (Allen & Unwin, publishers) He is fluent in Vietnamese and a brilliant raconteur, who gives regular talks and lectures on a wide range of subjects. He has several entertaining blogs including www.waltermason.com.

Dr. Robert Graham, a longtime member of Sunshine Cathedral MCC (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) and one of the founding trustees for the Sunshine Community Foundation, passed last month. His memorial service will be 28 November at 5 pm.

Rev. June Norris, who is now 88 years old and still going strong, was honored by MCC San Diego (California) recently with "Rev. June Sunday". She was the first heterosexual person ordained as MCC clergy. Read her powerful bio.

Rev. Boon Lin Ngeo was invited to write a weekly column on homosexuality last month by Malaysiakini.com, the most read news website in Malaysia delivering over 37 million page views and 750,000 video downloads per month to over 1.6 million absolute unique visitors in English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. Although Rev. Boon is a prolific writer in the Chinese language, this was his first weekly column in English.

Aboard the HSMCC, the crew roasted Captain Nancy during their one last Mexican cruise together. They enjoyed a catered Fajita Bar and beverages. The party was to honor Rev. Dr. Nancy Horvath-Zurn as she leaves the pastorate of Healing Spirit MCC (Rochester, Minnesota).

Rev. Charles Tigard, the new senior pastor of Church of the Trinity MCC (Sarasota, Florida) and the future plans of the church were featured in a recent newspaper article. http://www.bradenton.com/2010/10/16/2659063/branching-out.html

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS

Throughout Advent Healing Spirit MCC (Rochester, Minnesota) is collecting sleeping bags, socks, hats, gloves, and mittens for the homeless.

Instead of going to a restaurant for Christmas Dinner this year, MCC Manchester (England) is going use a caterer for their meal on 11 December. They'll enjoy a three course meal with tea/coffee, some games, and a raffle. They have invited the congregation of their host church, Wilbraham St Ninian's, to join them.

MCC San Jose (California) is busy with their 4^th Annual Christmas Drive for Youth affected by HIV/AIDS. This year they plan on helping 40 youth, ages 13-17, as well as their families. These teens have one or both parents living with disabling HIV/AIDS and relying on the Ryan White Care Act from the federal government to pay for the health care they receive.

The Drama Ministry at All God's Children MCC (Minneapolis, Minnesota) will be presenting the liturgy elements during their Advent worship services.

Last month MCC Newcastle upon Tyne (England) collected toothbrushes, toothpaste, flannels, and soap. This month it's hats, scarves, colouring pens/pencils and colouring books/notebooks. Then in December, congregants bring in shoeboxes in which they have placed small Christmas gifts. All of the items are then donated to Operation Christmas Child, an activity of Samaritan's Purse, a Christian charity working to alleviate poverty worldwide. The boxes and individual items are given to children who would otherwise receive no gifts.

Shoeboxes are also being collected at Pikes Peak MCC (Colorado Springs, Colorado). They will be filling theirs as part of One Nation Walking Together with the Christmas gifts going to Native American (First Nations) reservations in the West and Midwest of the US.