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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.
Thanksgiving Eve
Wed, Nov 25, 6:30 pm, via
Madison Christian Community Facebook page.
Bring your own slice of pie and join Pastor
Nick, Pastor Sonja, and Father Bart from St. Thomas Aquinas for brief
Thanksgiving greetings and a bit of music from both congregations. If this
time doesn’t work for you or you’d prefer to watch it Thanksgiving Day, the
video will be available for viewing at your convenience. You don’t have to
have a Facebook account to participate.
Thanksgiving Offering
Support the LCEC Pantry
In our combined Thanksgiving worship services with St. Thomas Aquinas
Catholic parish, one standard feature has been our mutual support of the
Lussier Center food pantry in our offerings. Particularly given the need for
the pantry this year, we still invite you to contribute. You can send a
check to MCC marked “Lussier Pantry” or give directly online
here.
Calling All MCC Musicians
Are you looking for a way to participate in making music for the MCC for
Christmas? In addition to “Households Sing Silent Night” organized by Jen
Streit, this year we are using technology to recast our traditional
Christmas Eve services’ preludes into a shared musical gift.
1. By or before December 6, email Emily Wixson (enwixson@gmail.com)
your intention to participate. Include the names of all performers and the
title of the sacred Christmas work you intend to record.
2. By or before December 11, record a short video of your sacred Christmas
music selection (2-3 minute length). Give the file your name and the first
few words of the title. Example: Wixson-Gilbertson-In the Bleak-Midwinter
3. By or before December 11, upload your file to the following Dropbox
location: Christmas
2020 Dropbox
That’s it! Please note these deadline dates are firm to give me time to
assemble the files in time for Christmas. We are not looking for
professional recording quality. We are thrilled to have your participation.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Tree Lane November Wish List
This month we're focusing on cleaning supplies,
personal hygiene items, AND gathering for a housewarming basket for a new
family. Here is the link to sign up
Click here.
"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/Christmas Preview
Advent sneaks up on us this year! The first Sunday of Advent lands on
Thanksgiving weekend, November 29. In addition to individual worship
opportunities with Advent and Hope on Sunday mornings, we’re developing
several options to help you anticipate and welcome the Christ Child.
Highlights include opportunities to participate in making music;
opportunities to hear our MCC musicians; Wednesday evening worship services
at 6:30, including a Blue Christmas service, especially poignant this year
when so many of us are experiencing grief; resources for households;
self-guided walking meditations on the MCC grounds; a simple Christmas Eve
worship that you can watch together with us at 6:30 pm on Christmas Eve or
whenever it fits into your Christmas schedule; and an outdoor worship on
Christmas morning (Covid and weather co-operating).
At our Dec 16 service, we will focus on the theme of Blue Christmas,
especially poignant this year since we all are experiencing the grief of
pandemic.
Stewardship: MCC Strong!
Last Sunday in worship we officially kicked off our annual stewardship
campaign with Leadership Team co-chair Betty Custer telling us that
congregational leaders are all committed. You can also click
here to see the full video of Bill Long’s looking back and looking
forward to legacy.
We are hoping to have your commitments returned through the online
forms by Sunday, November 15. The commitment forms for this year include
membership renewals, financial pledges, pandemic-specific time and talent
opportunities, and a survey. The Advent
forms are here, and the Hope
forms are here. (Or you can click for the survey
only.)
Remember to read the the
introduction letter, including sharing the vision for an expanded
Children and Family Ministries staff position.
And please share the compilation video of many friendly faces and warm
thoughts, here is “MCC
in One Word.”
Please contact the
office if
you have questions or would like to receive hard copies in the mail.
Advent Endowment Accepting Applications
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 on the website (click
here) or through the church office and must be submitted to the office
or to the current committee chair, Linda Pils, at lindapils@sbcglobal.net.
The application period is from October 11-November 22.
SERRV Fair Trade Sales
Ways to still support our annual SERRV Sale:
1. Order online at orders@serrv.org
2. Phone orders at 800-423-0071
3; Make a donation to them directly
Our sale also supported Harvest of Hope--consider making a donation to
Harvest of Hope by mailing them a check at the MCC.
Knit Hats
Virginia Stumbo and the MCC PURLS have a whole bunch of knit and crocheted
winter hats ready to go! Do you know of any organizations collecting them?
We’d be happy to share!
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
Shared MCC Advent Evening Prayer
At 6:30 on Wednesdays in December, join a half hour of some seasonal music
(both carols and from Holden Evening Prayer), devotional reflections,
interactive prayer practices, and more. You can find it at
facebook.com/madisonchristiancommunity/live or watch for a Zoom link.
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
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
GEMS
Join the Grumpy Elderly Men by Zoom on Tuesday at 10:30.
https://zoom.us/j/101704646 for online video, or Dial in 312 626 6799
with meeting ID: 101 704 646
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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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!
Connecting
Latest Updates
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.
Need or Offering Help?
If you are unable to get out, folks from church can help you get what you
need. Contact the church office if you could use assistance.
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
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
July-August-September copies of Christ In Our Home and The Word
in Season are now 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.
Attention
MCC Musicians!
Are you interested in collaborating to create virtual music? Please contact
Jen@themcc.net or call 608.556.2109
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.
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!
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