MBCC Blog

March in the Chinese New Year Parade 2/7/09

Here's your opportunity to march in the Chinese New Year Parade on the evening of Saturday, 2/7/09.  Once again this year, Pacific School of Religion (through the PANA Civil Liberty and Faith Project, and the CLGS Racial Ethnic Roundtable Project) has invited the religious community (yeah, that means all of us!) to march in the parade.  Last year, it rained, but lightened up by time we started marching that evening, so it was still lots of fun. This year, we will be towards the front of the parade.  The TV cameras will be at Union Square for the live telecast.  I have confirmed that our Presbytery's very own Nroman Fong will be one of the MC's cheering us on from one of the reviewing stands in Chinatown!

Join us!  We need to RSVP to Elizabeth Leung at PSR eleung@clgs.org to get a firm head count.  In order to comply with parade regulations, we need to wear a RED or YELLOW top and dark pants.  We will be given matching ponchos to wear.  We will meet around 4:45 PM on Saturday, and should be finished around 7 PM.  Parade regulations also stipulate that no materials may be distributed or handed out during the parade, and absolutely no flags or political signs allowed.  Contact me marc@missionbaycc.org for details, like where to meet, how to find us, who to call if lost, etc.  In addition to PSR, many other groups will be marching together with us, including API Equality, API Family Pride, API Legal Outreach, API Wellness Center, Asian Law Caucus, and a number of other organizations.

If you have never marched in the Chinese New Year Parade, you are in for a real treat, and a very memorable night of fun, empowerment, and friendship!  It's an evening that you will always remember fondly.

Save the Date! 2/7/09

Mark your calendars!  Here's your opportunity to march in the Chinese New Year's Parade on the evening of Saturday 2/7/09.  Once again this year, Pacific School of Religion (through the PANA Civil Liberty and Faith Project, and the CLGS Racial Ethnic Roundtable Project) has invited the religous community to march in the parade.  More details will follow soon.  The parade is on, rain or shine.  Last year, it rained, but ligtened up by time we started marching that evening, so it was still lots of fun.  Join us!  If you have questions in the meantime, email marc@missionbaycc.org and I will follow up.

MBCC Handchimes

So sometimes it is really fun to go all old school and do things like this . . .

 . . . and yep, battery ran out before the end.  Sorry.

Mamá Art Cafe presents ANDEAN SOUL - 12/19

I just received this eMail about what looks like a great event down at Cafe Mama.  I am going to try and make it if anyone wants to try and go. 

Let me know - Bruce

Mamá Art Cafe presents
ANDEAN SOUL

Paintings by Luis Valverde
Peruvian Music provided by Valverde Family
Friday, December 19, 7-10pm
$5 suggested donation

Dear friends of "Mamá,"

On behalf of all Mamá Art Cafe team members, I would like to extend an invitation to a special event this Friday evening, December 19, 7-10pm. During the last 5 years, we have invited our San Franciscan friends to share their artistic talents at our venue. On this occasion, The Valverde Family, originally from Peru, will delight us with their artwork, music, and folklore.

I would like to thank you all for your support in 2008. In the new year, our team members will continue to offer you organic and fair trade coffee, healthy treats, and quality spices. We hope you enjoy our ongoing calendar of monthly art exhibitions, live music Saturday afternoons, and special cultural events. Happy Holidays to you and your family.

Warm regards,

Paulo Acosta Cabezas
Founder & Director
Mamá Art Cafe
4754 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94112

Jesus says, "Come and follow Mii"

The Fall New Members Class is set to begin. We hope you will join in.

Once again, we will be holding a three-week course on exploring involvement in MBCC and possibly even becoming members of it. Each week the classes will be held before worship. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend one or all three. Here are the details:

Time: 4 - 5:20 pm
Location: Education Building (behind 32 Ocean Sancutary)
Dates: Sundays, November 2, 9, and 16

Themes:

Nov 2 - Wii Want You at MBCC: Explore what makes MBCC what it is and why people are drawn to it.
Nov. 9 - How Can MBCC Include Mii?: Find ways to be involved in the life and ministry of MBCC.
Nov. 11 - Mii + MBCC = Wii: Discover if membership at MBCC is right for you.

For more information or to sign up for the classes, please email Leslie - leslie at veen dot com

Wednesday Word: NKOTB

[image: timo7151]

This Sunday MBCC officially begins its life in the Excelsior District as we get settled into our new home at 32 Ocean Avenue.  As I think about this transition, I wonder how we will do as the new kids on the block - no, not those NKOTB - and start building relationship without new neighbors.  I remember those first days of school when the new kid walked in.  Sometimes the new kid was bold and just started talking to folks and sometimes that first appearance was filled awkward stares, nervous glances and inevitably the one kid who takes a chance stood up and showed the new kid around the school. 

As we begin our time in our new community, we will need to be both that bold kid that makes the first gesture of friendship as well as the one willing to be shown the ropes.  As we enter into a new community we must both be confident that this is where we have been called to live and humble enough to let those in the community take our hand and show us the ropes.

One way to begin this journey is to join us for the Excelsior Festival that will take place this Sunday from 11:00-5:00 right in front of 32 Ocean Avenue in the Persia Triangle.  This will be a great opportunity to see what is happening in the community, meet our neighbors and spend a great day outside in SF!  MBCC will also have a booth, be handing out information and generally meeting people in the community.  We will follow that celebration with a brief World Communion Service at 5:30 in the sanctuary.

Hopefully folks can spend the day with us either hanging out at the booth and/or continuing the unpacking process.  If you can take a booth shift, please contact Bruce and if you want to spend a few hours helping to unpack, contact Abby.

Potluck and Town Hall

MONTHLY POTLUCK
AND
TOWN HALL

This Sunday, September 21
right after service

Come and hang out to eat and hear about the transition plans for MBCC.  It is coming hard and fast, so be sure to grab some goodies to share and find out how you can be involved in the move!

Save the Date! CROP Walk 10/19/08

Once again this year, MBCC will join with other churches and schools to participate in the San Francisco CROP Walk at 1:30 PM on Sunday 10/19/08.  This fundraising walk takes place at in the Presidio, around Crissy Field  Proceeds benefit the SF Food Bank, SF Interfaith Council, and Church World Service.  More information about the walk can be found at www.cropwalksf.org which also includes a link for online donations.  (MBCC is set up as a team, so that walkers can get sponsors to donate online.)  Contact marc@missionbaycc.org with any questions!

Support for Eric and Sara's friend in Ethiopia

Some of you know Sara and Eric Epp.  I just received this note from them about a friend.  They were a little hesitant about seeking help from the community regarding a good friend in Ethiopia, but if we never ask . . . 

From Eric . . .

Nega was one of the first people to befriend us during the time we lived in Ethiopia, and remained our close friend during the entire time we lived there, helping us through many challenges adjusting to life in Ethiopia. Nega left his home in Lalibela, famous for ancient churches, and came to the Ethiopia’s capitol to attend nursing school, where he has nearly completed three out of four years. He and his younger sister, who is studying to be a teacher, live in a small room in a shantytown, with a mattress on a dirt floor.

Unlike many people there, Nega never asked us for money, despite the fact that he is very poor and does not have many material resources. In fact, he would frequently insist that we come over to his place for dinner, which would be cooked over an open fire on the same dirt floor he slept on.

Getting through nursing school would likely lead Nega to a 70 dollar a month job that would enable him to help others in his community, and provide a subsistence living for himself.

This year Nega developed painful kidney stones that have prevented him from finishing school or doing much of anything. We tried helping over the phone for several months with various remedies people use in that part of the world, and we've checked with other people we know in that community, and it does seem that his story is accurate, that the stone is so big and painful that he appears to be incapacitated. 800 dollars would provide enough money to pay for surgery to remove the stone. He has taken initiative and asked for help from Ethiopians, but has only been able to raise a little over a hundred dollars. (Many of our friends there made between 10 and 200 dollars a month.) Therefore, we would like to help Nega raise enough money to have the surgery and be able to finish nursing school and be a productive member of his community.

If you are able to help in any way, please contact Eric [Eric on FB].  If you would like to donate through the church please be sure to clearly mark your check , "Epp/Nega Support" and we can pass it along.

So where can we go from here?

Earlier today (Sunday 6/8), we heard Rev. Annie Steinberg-Behrman inviting us to reach beyond our "comfort zone", and discern how churches can become welcoming places to everyone in the community.  Then later in the day, a number of MBCC folks volunteered at the S.F. Food Bank.  How can we continue to put this into practice beyond today? 

Here's some ideas:

Sunday 6/29  March along Market Street with other Presbyterians in the SF Pride Parade . . . Show the hundreds of thousands of unchurched onlookers that organized religious groups do not have to be viewed negatively.  These viewers might otherwise overlook that some churches try to provide a safe environment for folks to discover their spirituality and decide for themselves how religion can become a part of their daily lives.  This is probably the biggest and most heavily attended parade in San Francisco, so contact marc@missionbaycc.org if you know anyone who wants to march with the Presbyterians in the SF Pride Parade on Sunday, June 29.

Sunday 10/19  Walk with other churches (all denominations) at the SF CROP Walk at Crissy Field, to benefit the S.F. Food Bank, S.F. Interfaith Council, and Church World Service.  That's right, this is another way to help the S.F. Food Bank, as part of the funds raised in this walk is earmarked for them.  I know from having personally met with representatives of the S.F. Food Bank this spring that the needs have increased substantially because of the weak economy.  At the same time, skyrocketing fuel costs affect their ability to transport the food, so the funds raised for them is put to good use.  You'll be hearing more about this event later this summer.

Sunday 7/20  Walk with other Presbyterians in AIDS Walk San Francisco at Golden Gate Park.  The funds raised by this event will benefit around 50 AIDS service organizations.  There still is no cure for AIDS, and it affects all segments of the population, not just the LGBT community, and it is a global pandemic.  Each year we join together with other Presbyterian churches to form a large team.  That way, we get a table to help find each other (amongst 25,000 walkers), have a place to leave behind our excess layers of clothing while we walk, and have space to celebrate with our post-walk BBQ!  Even folks who are out of town that weekend can still be on our team, and we will handle their check-in for them if they cannot be there to sign in on 7/20, so there's really no excuse for not joining our team!  We need to register 100 walkers this month in order to be assigned the really large table that will help us set up our post-walk BBQ, so go to www.missionbaycc.org , click on the link on the lower left corner, and click on the online registration link now!

Friday 6/20 to Saturday 6/28 General Assembly is in San Jose!  Well, you've heard about it already, since Bruce is running for Moderator.  Here's your chance to see it in person!  There are also volunteer opportunities for both Bruce's booth and the General Assesmbly meetings, so contact Marc marc@missionbaycc.org or Leslie [leslie@missionbaycc.org] for details.  We would like MBCC folks to let the attendees know more about us and how our ministry is unique compared to some other Presbyterian churches.