MBCC Blog

A Lenten Bible Study

[image: motrenko]

A LENTEN BIBLE STUDY

DATES: March 8, 15, 22, 29

TIME: 3:45-5:00

LOCATION: Church School Room

 In the this brief four-week Bible Study participants will get a glimpse of the messages of Scripture and ways to approach its interpretation.  We will explore historical and cultural context of its writing and interpretations as well look at study methods and life application.   If you are new or old to the Scriptures, come for a time of fellowship, study and spiritual growth.  While it would be great if you could make every week, each week, for the most part, can stand alone.  For each session participants will need to read a chuck of Scripture and then the group will discuss and "exegete" each text as a community.  This study will be lead by Pastor Bruce.  Also, if you have your own bible bring it along otherwise we have plenty ;-)  For more info and/or questions eMail Bruce.

READING SCHEDULE

March 8, 2009 - Hebrew Bible Things
please read: Genesis 1-3 [TNIV Link]

March 15, 2009 - Ways of the Prophet
please read: Hosea 1-4 [TNIV Link]

March 22, 2009 - Who is Jesus?
please read: Matthew 16 [TNIV Link]

March 29, 2009 - The Letters
please read: Philemon [TNIV Link]

This would also be a great time to invite folks to experience all that is MBCC, so feel free to bring a friend or two or three.  There will be snacks ;-)

Ash Wednesday: A prayer and an invitation

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Today is Ash Wednesday.  For some of us this a tradition that we have participated in for many years while for others this may be brand new.  In short, Ash Wednesday is the day when we begin Lent, these days that we prepare for Easter.  Ash Wednesday symbolizes our acknowledgment that without God we are nothing and that our very life comes from God.  From dust we came and to dust we shall return is the common refrain of the day from Genesis 3:19.  This is a time of contemplation and prayer so I hope that you will be able to join us for a joint service this evening as we remember to whom we belong.

JOINT ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
Noe Valley Ministry | Ocean Avenue Presbyterian Church | MBCC
A meditative service of song and scripture with imposition of ashes.

Noe Valley Ministry
1021 Sanchez Street (close to 24th Street, J Church)
Wednesday, February 25
from 7:00 to 8:15 pm
Child care will be provided.

Hope to see you tonight.

Here is an Ash Wednesday prayer for your reflection
"Marked by Ashes" by  Walter Bruggeman

h/t: to Ryan Bell via Bob Carlton]

Ruler of the Night, Guarantor of the day . . .
This day — a gift from you.
This day — like none other you have ever given, or we have ever received.
This Wednesday dazzles us with gift and newness and possibility.
This Wednesday burdens us with the tasks of the day, for we are already halfway home
     halfway back to committees and memos,
     halfway back to calls and appointments,
     halfway on to next Sunday,
     halfway back, half frazzled, half expectant,
     half turned toward you, half rather not.

This Wednesday is a long way from Ash Wednesday,
    but all our Wednesdays are marked by ashes —
    we begin this day with that taste of ash in our mouth:
    of failed hope and broken promises,
    of forgotten children and frightened women,
    we ourselves are ashes to ashes, dust to dust;
     we can taste our mortality as we roll the ash around on our tongues.

We are able to ponder our ashness with
   some confidence, only because our every Wednesday of ashes
   anticipates your Easter victory over that dry, flaky taste of death.

On this Wednesday, we submit our ashen way to you —
   you Easter parade of newness.
     Before the sun sets, take our Wednesday and Easter us,
    Easter us to joy and energy and courage and freedom;
     Easter us that we may be fearless for your truth.
   Come here and Easter our Wednesday with
     mercy and justice and peace and generosity.

We pray as we wait for the Risen One who comes soon.

Online Registration is Up! AIDS Walk San Francisco 7/19/09

I'm happy to announce that online registration is now up for our Presbyterian team at AIDS Walk San Francisco.  This year's event will be held on 7/19/09.  Those of you who participated last year had the opportunity to walk with the then-newly-elected Moderator of General Assembly for PCUSA, and enjoy the BBQ at our team table afterwards, so we're doing it again!    www.aidswalk.net/sanfran --> register --> join a team --> join an existing team --> Presbyterians

Stewardship Letter 2009

Dear fans, friends, and members of MBCC,

With tax season (soon to be) upon us, it is time for the elders at MBCC to present the congregation with a budget for 2009.  The elders reviewed this budget carefully and prayerfully and believe it to be financially sound and fiscally attainable.

To provide some context and background as to how the budget came to look the way it does, 2008 was a year of much excitement for MBCC and also some mixed blessings.  On the upside, Bruce became the moderator for PCUSA and we got the chance to move to our current location and enter into a closer relationship with Ocean Avenue Presbyterian Church.  Both of these developments had a positive impact on our church finances.  To assist Bruce in being moderator, the denomination provides MBCC with money to help cover responsibilities that Bruce cannot take on himself while traveling and fulfilling his duties as moderator.  As for the move to the Excelsior District, our rent at OAPC dropped significantly from what we were paying at 1040 Mariposa and the cost of maintaining a space for our congregation is now much more sustainable.  In addition to the rent decrease, we also received a sizable grant from the Walton Foundation for expenses we incur (and have already incurred) in incorporating as a PCUSA church.  (Previously, for those unfamiliar with PCUSA lingo, we were a "New Church Development," kind of like a start-up congregation).

Unfortunately, despite these financial boons, the move to OAPC also cost a lot.  As it turns out, to complete the move we dipped into Walton grant funds for 2009 that we will have to reimburse this year.  This deficit caused us to have to make cuts to the programming budget and certain personnel salary reductions.  To balance the budget we also are taking it on faith that we will grow as a church in 2009.  Accordingly, the budget contemplates a slight increase in offering income this year.  While making all of these changes, the Session stayed faithful to our commitment as a congregation to tithe 10% of our income.  This missional giving goes to local organizations, global organizations, and the missions of PCUSA.

With all that in mind, this is where you come in.  MBCC depends on folks like you to stay alive and kicking and needs people to give in order to continue to grow and serve the community.  Please consider giving to MBCC this year.  Whether you can give money on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis* or if you can give of your time and talents, we would appreciate it if you could pledge what you can give to the church.  Please think about what you can do to engage in this community and let us know.  Not only will your pledge help us plan for the year, it can be a good exercise in commitment and faithfulness. 

We are not going to dwell for a long time on our Stewardship, but THIS SUNDAY you are invited to bring your pledges as Bruce leads us in a conversation about how we respond to God with our physical, spiritual and fiscal resources.  I hope you can make it.

You can see our 2009 Budget HERE.

Please let me know if you have any questions,
Katina Miner, Elder for Administration and Support

PS: TO MAKE OUR LIVES EASIER - For folks (like me) who are often without cash and never carry a checkbook, eGive provides an easy, online way to automatically donate to the church through your checking account.  Please consider using this service.