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Weekly E-News
Each week, MCC sends an email newsletter with details about worship;
congregational events, activities and opportunities; information about
happenings in the community and wider church; and more. Email us at
info@themcc.net to subscribe to
this free e-letter!
Stay Connected
MCC Latest Updates, Activities
Check this document to find all the latest updates of MCC
activities and online gatherings, for current video links and Zoom links for
your groups or meetings, and also virtual office hours.
Please contact the office or a pastor if you have other needs, ideas, or
just need a chat.
MCC Regathering Plan Stage 2
The Regathering Task Force has developed a plan for gradual outdoor and
indoor regathering in 2021. Here
is the link to the plan.
“Regathering” and Pastoral Care
As clergy have been eligible to receive the vaccine, your pastoral staff
(Pastors Sonja and Nick and Intern Lisa) have all received both doses. CDC
guidance permits brief, in-person pastoral care visits if you’re also two
weeks beyond your final vaccination. If the personal presence of a pastor
would be helpful to you, please contact Nick or Sonja.
Kids in the Garden 2021
Kids in the Garden is back (we hope)! The plans now
are to proceed with our Kids in the Garden program with children from the
Lussier Community Education Center summer program. We will be making some
changes including no indoor groups preparing food, no food sharing, safety
protocols, etc. We plan to have 3 rotations for the participants: outdoor
gardening at MCC, outdoor nature/art at MCC, and outdoor nature/art at Owen
Park. It will be a 6 week program on Tue/Th mornings beginning June 29. The
approximate time will be 9:30/9:45 - 11:15/11:30; exact details for
transportation and schedules is still being worked out.
So what you can do now is go to the MSP
volunteer site and choose the Kids in the Garden ministry you would like to
be part of. Then in May, when the summer schedule is announced, you will be
able to go in and actually schedule yourself for specific days.
It is important for us to know now how many
volunteers we have, and we thank you in advance for your participation! If
you have any questions, please contact Joyce Anderson 608 848-3867 or blajoy@tds.net
Awaken Dane
The Wis. Council of Churches and others have a new grant-funded project
about connecting congregations with each other and with their neighborhoods.
The first cohort of 20 congregations will begin soon. A main part of the
program is relationships between clergy, but there is also a congregational
small group component, helping see the place of ministry for Advent-Hope/MCC
in the city. Let Nick or Sonja know
if you're interested. You can read more https://awakendane.org/ or click
here for a one page summary.
Give Away Advent Money!
The Advent Benevolence Allocation Subcommittee makes recommendations to
assign how 7.5% of Advent offerings will support work in our community and
around the world. If you’d like to be part of the conversation (it’s just
one Zoom meeting in the next month or so) contact Nick, Ann
Ward, or John Rowe.
Racial Justice Study & Action
"Who Will Be a
Witness"
Resumes April13. Sign Up Now!
We’ll start up again Tuesday evenings beginning again on April 13, at
Chapter 3 You
may still sign up here. Who Will Be a Witness: Igniting Activism for
God’s Justice, Love, and Deliverance, delves deeply into the
relationship between racism and the church, with specific suggestions for
action. There are still copies available at MCC for $14. Contact the church
office.
"My Grandmother’s Hands” Book Discussion and Practice
Group
The “My Grandmother’s Hands” group is meeting Tuesday evenings, 6:30-7:30
pm. The pace of progression through the book has been slowed down, so this
group will continue meeting beyond the originally slated 6 weeks. New
participants are always welcome! Please contact Lisa Lee at lisal@themcc.net if
you would like to join in.
Quilts & School Kits
This weekend is the boxcar loading for a year’s hard work! Items for Lutheran
World Reliefbegin their journey to new homes around the world. This
year, MCC produced 134 quilts – with a successful gathering on MLK Day, but
also continued individual work at home during quarantine. It’s not too much
lower than a regular annual total (though the quilters miss the fun of being
together)! And the 55-60 school kit bags that were sewn and filled is a new
MCC record!
Intern, Lisa
Lee!
Luther Seminary
intern
 Thank you to all who so far who have written to help us
welcome her and get to know the MCC.Click
here for the reflections sent in so far, and keep ‘em coming! It’s an
ongoing project!
Please provide your name/family members, which congregation you are a member
of, and for how long. Then tell us in about 25 words for each bullet point:
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Why were you drawn to
Advent/Hope/MCC—what was it about the church that moved you?
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How does Advent/Hope
feed your faith and how has it deepened your faith formation?
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What part of the MCC
ecumenical partnership resonates the most with you?
You can submit these responses to welcome
Lisa and share with others in our congregation by emailing to Kaisa at kaisa@theMCC.net.
You might also send a photo with your response to share your smiling
face and for Lisa to help to get to know you! )kaisa@theMCC.net. You
might also send a photo with your response to share your smiling face
and for Lisa to help to get to know you!
Calling All Librarians (and Wannabe's)
As part of Jen Streit's work as MCC's Director of Children's and Family
Ministry, she started the Family Faith Formation Library. Lisa Johnsen,
who has helped Jen with the library in the past, would like to know if
there are folks who want to help with both the vision of the library and
the work needed to organize and maintain it. So, if you have interest in
either of those, please contact Lisa:
delius71@gmail.com or
(608) 230-5622. Thank you!
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Boundary Waters Group 2019
10:15 am Worship:
Livestreaming
Worship with us by livestream on Sundays at 10:15 am or find previous videos of worship on YouTube at Advent
Lutheran MCC and Community
of Hope UCC.
Advent Endowment Application Period
Beginning this Sunday, March 28, the Advent Mission Endowment Committee is
accepting applications from MCC members for grants for one of its biannual
disbursements. The application with eligibility criteria is available online
and must be submitted to the church office or to current committee chair,
Linda Pils,at lindapils@sbcglobal.net no
later than Saturday, May 10. Click
here to access the application.
Confirmation Market
Mark your calendars for Saturday April 10th 2:30-3:45PM and come to the MCC
Upper Parking Lot for a "Farmers' Market" hosted by the MCC's confirmation
students. Stop by to say hello to the students and purchase some delicious
and fun creations in support of their Lenten Service projects. You will have
your pick of Homemade Dog Treats, Jars of Cookie Mix, Jars of Soup Mix,
Freezer Jam, Salty Hot Fudge, and more!
MCC Prairie Burn Saturday
April 10 at 4:00pm; rain date Saturday April 17.
Chris Knief, from Integrated Restorations, will guide us on the burn. We'll
burn the front bird berm and the north prairie overlooking the community
gardens. Wear cotton or wool clothes; do not wear synthetic fabric which
holds the heat and can burn your skin. Wear shoes or boots that may get soot
covered; Wear cap and a mask to protect your face from smoke. Bring metal a
rake to help move small fires along.
MCC Directory Updates
A week left to get your directory updates. Please take a look at this link
to the draft directory and check your listing. If you want to make updates
or additions, please email Kaisa at kaisa@theMCC.net or call 608-836-1455.
We'll be accepting changes through April 7.
Lenten Lussier Service Project: Thanks!
Thank you to all who
supported the Lussier Lenten Service Project. With the addition of a very
generous (and expertly packaged) diaper donation from Thomas and Martha our
grand total is . . . . . over 1,200 items and $100 donated to support
families served by the Lussier Food Panty! WOW, we are stronger together!
Thank you for being a vital part of our larger community in the spirit of
service to others.
Annual Reports
Click here for Annual Reports.
Lenten Check-Ins
Instead of full House Churches this year for Lent, the MCC Worship Team
suggested it might be nice just to have brief weekly Zoom opportunities for
brief drop-in conversations as a chance to be with others from the MCC. Plan
for 20-30 minutes of check-in and maybe a small spiritual focus. There are
four weekly scheduled opportunities starting next week, and you can click on
the name to join by Zoom.
* Hosted
by John & Mary Rowe, Tuesdays at 7pm (Meeting ID: 818 3664 2931
Passcode: 022688)
* Hosted
by Pastor Nick, Wednesdays at 12pm (Meeting ID: 881 0197 0249 Passcode:
791406)
* Hosted
by Pastor Sonja, Wednesdays at 12pm
(Meeting ID: 894 1407 3447 Passcode: 427148)
* Hosted
by Hennings & Dean Ryerson, Thursdays at 7pm (Meeting ID: 871 2262 4081
Passcode: 237723)
Shared Midweek Evening Prayer
Wednesdays at 8:45pm
Join pastoral staff and congregational leaders for a simple and refreshing
15-minute Wednesday evening devotional time at 8:45 with quiet time of
reflection, Bible reading, song, and prayer. The services stream on
FaceBook.
Click here. Find previous editions on FaceBook.
Click here. If you’d like to join in leading an evening, let a
pastor know.
Need Help Getting the COVID Vaccine?
We are aware that some people in Dane County over age 65 (who should be
eligible to receive the COVID vaccine) are having trouble getting an
appointment for the vaccination, aren’t sure how to proceed to get an
appointment, or need transportation assistance to get to an appointment. It
may be that some MCC members are eligible to receive the vaccine but are
experiencing one of these difficulties. If that is the case, feel free to
email or call one of us and let us know what obstacle you are facing. We
can’t guarantee that we can fix it, but it may be that a member of the MCC
Regathering Task Force or a member of the MCC Care Team can assist you. We
will certainly make a good faith effort to be helpful. Contact: Lynn
Breedlove at lynnbreedlove.wi@gmail.com or
Kaisa Miller at kaisa@themcc.net or
836-1455 Ext.2
GEMs
The GEMs (Grumpy Elderly Men) of the MCC meet Tuesdays at 10:00 via Zoom. As
of next week, we GEMs will be reading and discussing Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste:
The Origins of Our Discontents. Join them here.
Meeting ID: 101 704 646 Passcode: 591045
PURLS Update
Here are some totals of donations by our tireless knitters and crocheters:
Porchlight: Adult-25 hats, 2 mitts; Northside Madison Schools/Jenn: Kid-11
Hats, 6 mitts; Lussier Center: Adult-19 hats, 2 scarves; Kid: 11 hats, 5
mitts; Freedom Inc: Adult-18 hats, 1 scarf, 1 mitts; Kids: 4 mitts, 12 hats,
1 shawl.
Total: 118 warm winter items made and donated! Wow!
Culture of Hygiene
The MCC Regathering Task Force has finalized a “Culture of Hygiene”, a set
of guidelines for anyone entering the MCC Building during the pandemic. In
keeping with our devotion to the faith, health and well-being of our members
and visitors, we ask that people will adhere to these guidelines. .Click
here to read the entire guidelines document.
Lynn Breedlove, Chair, and Ann Ward, Co-Chair
Online Weekly BYOB Beer & Bible
Now Mondays
Monday evenings at 6:30 pm, you’re welcome to join a group in looking at the
upcoming Sunday’s Bible readings, and chatting about plenty else! Join this great group any time. Contact Nick if you have questions
or to be sure you get a copy of the readings.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86301329891
Would You Like a Prayer Shawl?
Would you like to be wrapped in prayers? The MCC PURLS normally knit and
crochet especially to surround those who have been hospitalized or through
trauma. They realize that's ALL of us right now, and so want to be sure you
know you can receive a prayer shawl. If you'd like one of these prayerful
creations to get you through these days, contact Nick, Sonja, or Kaisa and
we’ll get it delivered to you.
Attention
MCC Musicians!
Are you interested in collaborating to create virtual music? Please contact
Jen@themcc.net or call 608.556.2109
SNaGs
It’s not united at the Union, but Monday Morning guys will continue on with
Zoom. 7:00 am on Monday mornings:
https://zoom.us/s/248810244? class="body_14px" />status=success or by
phone at (312)626- 6799 with meeting ID 248 810 244
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Epiphany Choir Concert 2018 Directed by Jen
Striet
Pastoral Care
As these days drag on,
and some are hitting new low spots of worry or concern (or times of joy!),
if you need some pastoral contact, please reach out to your pastors. Contact
us by phone or email and we’ll figure out a way to connect with you.
Hope Special Fund: See Our Generosity
Our Hope Special Fund has been depleted;
we've recently had to turn down requests for assistance. If you have yet to
fulfill your Special Fund pledge and can send that soon, or are otherwise
able to contribute, please mail a check to church or use PayPal, noting that
the contribution is for "Special Fund." Thank you!
LCEC Food Pantry Volunteers Needed
Lussier Community Education Center is in need of volunteers for the Food
Pantry distribution on Wednesday evenings 5:45 to 8, and 10:45 to 1 on
Saturdays. Also, for food sorting on Tuesday and
Friday afternoons. Contact Shawna at shawna@lcecmadison.org
Judith Bible Study
Judith Bible study will meet
Tue., April 13 at 9 a.m.
in the Blessing Room at the MCC. We will be socially distanced and wearing
masks. Our study is from the April issue of Gather magazine and is the last
in our series about angels. Hope to see you there; all are welcome! We are
excited to be together in person.
Hope Women's Coffee: New Time & Date
During the Covid Pandemic, we temporarily will Zoom weekly on Mondays at
10:15 am. Contact Sandie
Esrael for more information.
Devotional Resources
Online Hymn Sing
It’s not the same as singing together at the MCC, but one resource if you’re
missing singing hymns is a nightly gathering at 7pm where you can join a
video hymn sing here:
https://www.facebook.com/CommunityVideoHymnSing/
UCC Daily Devotions
The UCC daily devotional is available on a daily basis, which comes as an
email. You can sign up for it anytime (pandemic or no!) or look at past
editions by clicking
here.
Quarterly Devotion Booklets
Copies of Christ In Our Home and The Word
in Season are available. If you’d like to have a copy of one or
both of these simple daily devotion booklets, contact Nick or Kaisa.
Daily Morning Prayer & Sunday Evening
Communion Service
The UCC Open and Affirming Coalition offers daily morning prayer at 8-8:15
am and 11-11:15 am (Central Time), as well as a weekly Sunday evening
communion service at 6 pm.. Click
here to find the zoom link.
ELCA Weekly Devotional Message; Mondays
Augsburg Fortress sends a free devotional message and selection of
artwork based on a Bible reading. Interested?
Click here to sign up.
Creative Watercolor Painting for Fun and Fellowship!
The key word here is fun! We will just let our creativity flow and
have fun experimenting with watercolors. The class is held on the MCC’s
Zoom account and meet weekly, from 3:00
to 4:30 pm for everyone at the MCC that is pumped to paint! A suggestion
will be given of what to paint each week, but participants can feel free to
paint whatever they want. Nancy Greenwald will lead the class. Group members
will need a basic set of watercolor paints, a pad of watercolor paper, some
basic brushes, paper towel, and a cup or two of clean water. Click
here for the zoom link. If you have questions please call Nancy at
608-235-1461 or email her at youarelaughter@yahoo.com.
Worship Notes
Hey Confirmation students! And hey everybody! Need a way to help focus your
attention on worship when you’re distracted by other things on your
computer? Or your dog? Or going to get a snack?
Click here to download Worship Notesto fill in and focus some
reflection. If you’d like to share them with pastors, please do!
CoH Women’s Breakfast Group
The Community of Hope Women’s Breakfast Group invites you to join us
every
Wednesday by ZOOM at 8:30 am for chatting about events, books, hobbies,
families and your favorite topics. It is easy to join, just send me your
email to add our group. I will send an email link to you each Wednesday just
before 8:30 am. Sandra Esrael email:
sandraesrael@tds.net. See you in the morning!
Beyond Self Care
Linda Pettersen recently shared some information from a National
Association of Social Workers webinar, "Beyond Self Care,” by Melinda
Marasch, LCSW. There are 7 preconditions for experiencing Trauma and their
remedy. Linda notes that all pertain to our mutual community experience of
Covid-19 Pandemic. You
can click here to read her notes.
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