MBCC Blog

Thank be to God!

It is hard to believe that 2009 will soon come to an end.  Where has the time gone?  Crazy.

In any case, as we begin our Advent Season - the Christian new year and time of waiting for the birth of Christ - it does seem appropriate to begin to give thanks for where God has taken us over the past year.  I would love to hear what you are thankful for, but here are just a few floating around my head these days . . . and then an invitation.

Giving thanks to GOD for the opportunity to be part of such a community I lift up In no particular order prayers to say . . .

THANK YOU to  . . . so many who continue to just show up and help with set-up and tear down each Sunday: Chris, Marc, Arnold, John, Katherine and others.

THANK YOU to . . . staff over the past year/s who have helped to shape who we are and will become: Nick, Abby, Tiffany, Leslie, Virgie, Evelyn and newest folks, Eric and Miriam. BTW, Virgie's final Sunday will be on November 29th, so please be sure to give her a hug as she moves on!

THANK YOU for . . . those who help provide and lead music: too many to name, but in particular those who have lead: Tammie, Megan, Shawn, Beadle, Leslie and Tiffany.

THANK YOU for . . . those who have been present for others in times of struggle, pain and need.

THANK YOU for . . . those who have done so much work to get the Excelsior Community Food Pantry going.  What a gift you have provided the community and this church.

THANK YOU for . . . those who have helped to provide food for Sunday dinners. Mmm mmm good.

THANK YOU for . . . those who have helped shepherd and guide so many who have become new parents this year and for all of us as we commit to raising these children in the faith.

THANK YOU for . . . our 32 Ocean Avenue roommates, Ocean Avenue Presbyterian Church, as we have continued to learn to live together: in particular Pastor Susan, Kathryn, Nancy, Mela and the OAPC Session.

THANK YOU for . . . the various committees and teams that have been helping MBCC move into a structure that is both fluid, but will help create sustainability over the long term: Session, Pastoral Care Team, and Personnel Committee.

THANK YOU for . . . all those who have and still support our work and ministry through prayers, fiscal resources and their presence.

THANK YOU for . . . folks who have rolled with the ebbs and flows of our community in all things.

THANK YOU for . . . everyone who continues to take part in helping us grown into whom hopes us to become.

. . . and always risking leaving someone out, please feel free to add to the list. 

Despite great tragedies that have hit individuals as well as the world, we rest in the knowledge of God's presence in the midst of it all.  So on this day, thank you.

Bruce

Calling all kids and youth...!

I am very excited to announce that both kid and youth programs will start up on Sunday, December 6!

For Elementary Kids: We are going to bring back the handchimes for Advent!  We'll practice during the Sunday School time (during worship) on December 6th and 13th, and then play in worship on the 20th.  Adults and youth are certainly welcome to play as well!

Starting January 10th, we will begin "regular" Sunday School during worship.

For Youth: We are going to have our first youth group December 6th starting at 3:30 at church.  This is for anyone in sixth grade or up, and friends are certainly welcome!  We'll do introductions, something fun, talk about what we want to do in the new year....  If you have regular Sunday activities in January and beyond, bring a calendar with you so we can figure out a regular time to meet!

*Help needed* If you want to help lead the handchimes, please let me know.  Also, if you are interested in teaching or helping with Sunday school starting in January, we could really use more help!

Isn’t it always the little things?

I joke around quite a bit. Its one reason I feel as though I fit here at MBCC. In my first few weeks, I have joked that I will be ‘browbeating’ folks into signing up to do things, which is part of my job. (The signing folks up part, at least, not the browbeating.) But I have also made some observations about why we do things the way we do at MBCC. Many things seem mundane or small, but they are important parts of our ministry together.  After all, the front of our bulletins say the entire congregation are ministers of this community. What does that mean to you?

 Hospitality

 Worship set-up~ We make tea and coffee to create a warm, welcome space. We place candles in the windows so the room glows. We put information cards in pews with journals; so people can engage worship, engage God, in many different ways. We say hello to new faces while we greet our dear friends. We pull out the café tables and chairs, because not everyone likes a pew. We take special time to create a communion table, a place where we gather to partake and remember.

 Welcome/ Announcements~ This is the official welcome to MBCC worship. We share a little bit of who we are as a community, and we “orient” folks to our way of being.

 Running the digital projector/ soundboard~ A digital projector is not only environmentally friendly (no copies for music!), but also helps people who may not know the words to a song. Some people are visual learners, and we want to be vehicles for God to meet us where we are.

 DINNER~ I’m not sure this needs much explanation! We fellowship together over food each week. It is a special time for us to connect with each other, and food only makes it better.

 

Sharing God…

 Reading scripture~  Reading the Bible gives shape to our church life together. Yeah, the words are sometimes difficult or antiquated, but the message is important.

 Serving communion~ We share one loaf of bread, one cup together. We unite in communion with each other, while we remember the One who made sacrifices for us.

 Sharing music~ Make a joyful noise for the Lord! I am grateful our musicians share their talents with us. Whether we have an acoustic evening or a full band, music punctuates our life as church.

 

Stewardship: it’s not just about money…

 Cleaning up from worship/ dinner~ Its an easy task that not many people like to do… but blowing out candles, putting compost in the compost bins, washing out the coffee urn, or putting things away are the little things that make a huge difference!

 Counting Offering~ You don’t have to be an account to count the monetary gifts of the community. There’s even a cheat sheet and people who are willing to teach you how to make the correct notations.

 

These are little things that make a huge difference in our ministry at MBCC. I also know there are so many more gifts and talents just waiting to be shared or plugged into our community.  How can we help you discover them? Are you ready to try something new?

 

What are the small things in your life that can change your attitude in an instant?

 

Blessings, Erin

 

P.S. Yes, I can sign you up to do any of the above tasks. Please email me or let me know when I see you next!