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| | MCC Manchester (England) went on a weekend Advent retreat to help everyone prepare spiritually for Christmas by focusing on the promises of Advent.
Church of Our Savior MCC (Boynton Beach, Florida) held special Advent services on Tuesday mornings featuring the Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist.
Ken Theriault directed a special choir at MCC of the Coachella Valley (Cathedral City, California) which was assembled to sing during the Advent and Christmas seasons.
Folks at Church of the Trinity (Sarasota, Florida) used A Journey to Christmas, a book of daily Advent readings, and then gathered on Wednesday evenings to discuss the meditations. MCC Albuquerque (New Mexico) sponsored Advent family groups to help participants prepare for the birth of Christ.
For the third year Rev. Lorraine Brock wrote a book of daily Advent meditations and gave it to members of the congregation at King of Peace MCC (St. Petersburg, Florida).
MCC Detroit (Michigan) sponsored Advent groups in various members' homes. Some of them have decided to continue their groups into the new year. While We Wait, Living the Questions of Advent was the theme of the study at MCC Baltimore (Maryland). It was based on a book by Mary Lou Redding, which contains daily devotionals for the season.
Advent in Action was the study at MCC of the Rockies (Denver, Colorado) and will continue into the new year as they transform the trivial pursuits of the season into memorable celebrations.
MCC Ocala (Florida) did a special Advent study each Wednesday evening. | | 
| | Operation Christmas Child sponsors a collection of toys, crayons, gloves, hats, sweets, and other items, packaged in shoe boxes, for children in war torn parts of the world. Many MCCs participate in this program, including Holy Cross MCC (Pensacola, Florida). MCC Newcastle upon Tyne (England) not only collected items, they went to the nearby warehouse and helped pack the boxes for shipping.
Twenty-eight children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS received Christmas presents from MCC Illiana (Lake Station, IN) through the Aliveness program.
Barbara Buckley led groups at MCC San Francisco (California) for people who were having trouble coping with the holidays because of grief and loss. Participants even constructed individual coping plans.
MCC Lubbock (Texas) collected for Project CHAMPS, which is responsible for overseeing the Ryan White funding in their area, so that food boxes could be given to clients for Christmas.
The Big Easy MCC (New Orleans, Louisiana) made Christmas for the residents of the Women's Shelter by purchasing toys for the children and gift cards to department stores for the women to be able to obtain clothes to go on job interviews.
Jazmine, the Heartland Gay Rodeo Association's new Miss HGRA 2009, presented a Christmas show to benefit the MCC Omaha (Nebraska) food pantry. Imago Dei MCC (Glen Mills, Pennsylvania) collected money to send to Rev. Maxwell Master for the MCC plant in Zimbabwe.
The Chancel Choir and others from All God's Children MCC (Minneapolis, Minnesota) went caroling to the homes of shut-ins and to several nursing homes.
The folks at Living Springs MCC (Bath, England) provided Christmas gifts for each of the residents at Julian House who were unable to go home for the holidays. New Spirit MCC (Cincinnati, Ohio) collected non-perishables and hygiene items for CAIN to help the residents in the neighborhood.
New Life MCC of Hampton Roads (Virginia) collected canned goods. Then Matt Britton, Lawrence Eliot, and Steve Rivera went shopping with the money which had been donated. In total they gave over 400 pounds of food to be distributed.
Celebration MCC (Naples, Florida) assisted the Island Coast AIDS Network with their Client Christmas Gift program by adopting clients and purchasing gifts for them from their wish lists.
The Joyful Voices Ensemble of Water of Life MCC (Tucson, Arizona) filled holiday baskets of food and children's gifts for families in need.
Jane Syftestad organized a drive to collect toys, coats, and blankets for City of Refuge - Tijuana (Mexico), a Fellowship ministry. MCC Quad Cities (Davenport, Iowa) fed the homeless twice during the holidays, supplying, preparing, and serving meals at the Sisters of Humility Shelter and at the Salvation Army.
Pikes Peak MCC folks selected paper ornaments from a special tree in the social hall and then went shopping. Recipients were families being given Christmas by Westside Cares, a coalition of churches helping people in need. | | Folks from Divine Peace MCC (Pontiac, Michigan) enjoyed their Festival of Carols evening. No, it wasn't all singing! Individuals and groups performed various skits, musical acts, PowerPoint presentations, readings, and other assorted fun activities.
The teenagers of MCC San Diego (California) gathered for a Christmas dinner party and potluck dessert. They exchanged white elephant gifts and walked down Christmas Card Lane to view the decorations.
Joy MCC (Orlando, Florida) held their first Christmas Home Tour. They visited the homes of several church members, enjoyed a piano concert by David Sayko, and shared in wonderful holiday goodies.
Deck the Halls was the theme when Wichita Falls MCC (Texas) gathered to decorate the sanctuary and enjoy fellowship, hot chocolate, and goodies.
CRAVE MCC (Sydney, Australia) hosted Carols in the Domain, an evening of fun, singing and community! Following their Christmas Concert and Reception for the congregation and visitors, members of MCC Austin at Freedom Oaks (Texas) music ministry enjoyed a private holiday party at Doug Odle's home.
The Nursery Team at Jesus MCC (Indianapolis, Indiana) did a six hour Parents' Day Out. The kids (through age 12) had fun playing games, doing various activities, and eating pizza while the parents had time to shop and wrap presents!
Folks from Exodus MCC (Abilene, Texas) enjoyed an open house, complete with a cheese train, at the home of two new members.
Lu Mitchell and Catch-23 performed two hilarious Christmas concerts to benefit MCC of Greater Dallas (Texas).
MCC of the Chesapeake (Annapolis, Maryland) sponsored a LBGT friendly Pictures with Santa event complete with cookies, punch, and coffee.
At their Christmas dinner and party, the folks at MCC Elizabethtown (Kentucky) participated in their traditional gift exchange ... and exchange ... and exchange ... and exchange!
Central Texas MCC from the Heart (Waco, Texas) marched in their city's annual Christmas parade.
For the Holiday Dinner at Healing Spirit MCC (Rochester, Minnesota) the Century High School Choir performed their regular pop concert as well as a holiday one. | | 
| | Celebrate Diversity! At Angels of Hope MCC (Appleton and Green Bay, Wisconsin) folks drew names to see which piece of the crèche they would bring to place in their Green Bay building. Reflecting the congregation's diversity, the figures were large, small, wood, plastic, metal, paper, people, angels, animals, and symbols, whatever they had. Now, if you wanted to bring a sheep, you had to donate $10 (USD) per sheep to go to Heifer International to buy sheep to help families in poorer countries in starting herds, supplying milk, wool or other products, making them self-sufficient. Additionally, instead of a Christmas tree, they had a bare branch displayed. For every $10 that was donated toward tree planting, the donor could hang a leaf on the branch. As they re-leafed the tree one leaf at a time, they were reforesting the earth one tree at a time.
Like many churches, Holy Covenant MCC (Brookfield, Illinois) was filled with poinsettias for the holidays. They were given in honor or memory of friends and family with those names printed in the Christmas Eve bulletin.
At MCC NOVA (Fairfax, Virginia) Coming Home was the Advent theme. Each week members shared reflections on coming home ... to self, to community, to the world, and to new birth. The entire sanctuary became their Advent wreath which was decorated with ornaments brought in by each congregant to represent their place in the community.
At MCC of Greater St. Louis (Missouri) each Sunday they remembered those they had lost, beginning the first Sunday of Advent with those lost to AIDS. Each Sunday they had a special prayer and tied ribbons with the individual's name on their Christmas tree.
Folks at MCC San Jose (California) brought special ornaments from home to decorate the Christmas trees in the sanctuary.
At Open Arms MCC (Rochester, New York) they gathered to decorate the bare tree in the sanctuary and transformed it into an object of brilliance and beauty. Rev. Jim Mulchay likened it to "When one of us stands on his/her own, we are like the unadorned tree. When we choose that, not-always-easy, walk with God, we, like that tree, become magnificent."
The A. Austin Amerine Retreat Center (Lake County, California) sold mistletoe from their property for holiday use, including being used in the boutonnieres and as a hanging at a wedding in Vermont.
The Men's Group and the Welcoming Team hosted the traditional event to decorate the church for MCC New York (New York). | | 
| | Church of Our Savior MCC (Boynton Beach, Florida), MCC of the Palm Beaches (Palm Beach Gardens, Florida) and New Hope First Community Church gathered together for a Christmas Celebration of song and worship.
The Children's Ministry of MCC Corpus Christi (Texas) put on a Christmas pageant.
MCC Sydney (Australia) enjoyed a fabulous catered dinner to celebrate the holidays.
Vision of Hope MCC (Mountville, Pennsylvania) offered a service for The Longest Night of the Year on December 21, focusing on those for whom the holidays are difficult. The date coincides with the winter solstice and the Feast of St. Thomas, who struggled with accepting the reality of Jesus' resurrection.
A live nativity adorned the front lawn of Sunshine Cathedral MCC (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) as people gathered for the music ministry's presentation of When Heaven Touches Earth.
Peterson Toscano performed his Ho Mo No Mo Christmas as a fundraiser for Good Hope MCC (Cape Town, South Africa). It was his only appearance in that city.
The folks at MCC/ICM Los Angeles (California) celebrated the Feast of the Virgin de Guadalupe on December 13. MCC Key West (Florida) built a float and entered it in the city's holiday parade. They also went riding and carol singing on a trolley as they viewed the Christmas lights.
Rev. Lea Brown spoke at the tree lighting ceremony at the San Francisco City Hall.
The children and youth of FirstCoast MCC (St. Augustine, Florida) presented the Christmas story to a delighted crowd of proud parents and other adults.
River of Life MCC (Dorchester, England) had a stall at the Christmas Cracker Extravaganza.
On two nights the music department of MCC in the Valley (North Hollywood, California) presented their concert featuring the choir, ensembles, soloists, and instrumentalists performing fun holiday songs, as well as sacred Christmas music.
Erin McNally was the guest soloist at MCC Seattle (Washington) for their special Christmas music and carol singing. MCC Bournemouth (England) hosted a Community Carol Christmas Concert which featured the new Bournemouth Community Choir.
The children's ministry of MCC Topeka (Kansas) presented a live nativity!
The B.A.S.I.C. Choir (Brothers And Sisters In Christ) of MCC of the Lehigh Valley (Allentown, Pennsylvania) participated in the 30th Annual Live Bethlehem Christmas Pageant for two days at the Bethlehem Rose Garden Band Shell.
On 14 December MCC Melbourne (Australia) had a special service to honor their families of faith, families of choice, and families of birth.
Children of all ages enjoyed the Children's Christmas Movie Night at MCC of the Blue Ridge (Roanoke, Virginia) during which they viewed How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Polar Express, while enjoying popcorn and sodas. Christ Covenant MCC (Decatur, Georgia) used the reflective Taizé tradition for an evening of the quiet beauty of prayer, scripture, song, and memorial ritual for their Blue Christmas service for those who were experiencing an ache during the holidays.
MCC Anchorage (Alaska) wrapped gifts at Borders Bookstore as a holiday fundraiser.
The folks at Gentle Shepherd MCC (Tallahassee, Florida) sat on blankets around their barn, complete with live animals, for the praise team's presentation of Welcome to Our World.
The Holiday Concert at Resurrection MCC (Houston, Texas) featured the Houston Pride Band, as well as the church's music ministry.
Rev. Paul Graetz and Robert gave each congregant at First MCC in Atlanta (Georgia) a CD Worship Live at First MCC, which featured songs from their worship services.
Their Appalachian Christmas service, which included Angel Tree gifts for their children, was followed by an Appalachian potluck luncheon at MCC Knoxville (Tennessee).
The choir at Eternal Joy MCC (Dayton, Ohio) presented a pageant this year. | | 
| | Spirit of Life MCC (New Port Ritchie, Florida) had their service in conjunction with one of the local Catholic churches!
MCC Portland (Oregon) was supposed to host three services on Christmas Eve. One was family oriented, one a carol sing and concert, and the third was their traditional candlelight service. However, the unprecedented snowfall there changed all of their plans. They held one service for those who could safely make it to church.
MCC Toronto (Canada) held their annual service at Roy Thomson Hall. This year's featured traditional Christmas carols and special guest performances by Alana Bridgewater, Marcus Nance, Julie Michels, and Noella Huet(Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music). The children participated in the opening processional along with the choir, lectors, deacons and clergy.
As part of the service at Agape MCC (Ft. Worth, Texas) they blessed all the teddy bears which had been brought in by congregants and placed in the sanctuary during the holidays. The stuffed animals were then given to local police agencies to distribute to children in traumatic situations.
MCC San Antonio (Texas) hosted a Christmas Eve service for their community.
At Valley Ministries MCC (Stockton, California) they enjoyed a potluck before their evening service.
As part of their service, SunCoast Cathedral MCC (Venice, Florida) created a rose wreath, each rose representing an answered prayer. Participants were then given new roses for their prayers for the next year. | | 
| Holy Trinity MCC (Edinburgh, Scotland) hosted a morning joint service with Augustine United Church. Then at 5:00 they had a special Blue Christmas event for those for whom Christmas is a difficult time, so that they could come together and share fellowship.
MCC Milwaukee (Wisconsin) hosted a Celebration in Song on Christmas Day. | MCC Richmond (Virginia) planned their Kwanzaa celebration for December 28.
Rev. Jide Macaulay from House of Rainbow MCC (Lagos, Nigeria) joined the congregation of aChurch4Me? MCC (Chicago, Illinois) to reflect on the 7 principles of Kwanzaa (Unity, Self-determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith) and the blessing of their multi-cultural community.
A Church for All MCC (Sacramento, California) celebrated Kwanzaa with Imani Community Church UCC. | | 
| Holy Cross MCC (Pensacola, Florida) will have a special service at 7:00 and then enjoy games and snacks for the rest of the evening.
MCC Louisville (Kentucky) will do just the opposite ... a game night first and then bring in the new year with a Watch Night Service, including Communion at midnight.
For the first time this year, MCC Richmond (Virginia) will have a service on New Year's Eve. They will enjoy a coffee hour before worship and refreshments and a toast to 2009 after the service.
Gentle Shepherd MCC (Tallahassee, Florida) is hosting a party at the church to welcome the new year. | | | | | International Newsletter of MCC | Kathy Beasley, Publication Design | | | This is a special holiday edition to let you know all the exciting things our churches have done and are doing during Advent, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year's. I hope you enjoy it ... and make some notes of ideas for your church to use next year!
May your new year be filled with delightful surprises from God!
~ Judy Dale | | | Reminders! Remember The MCC IMPACT is only as good as you help me make it! I read hundreds of e-newsletters and announcements from our churches, visit websites for information ... that is assuming that the church has one and that it is not terribly out of date, which often is true ... and count on you to send me information about your church and the people in it!
Don't assume that someone else will do it! I'd rather hear something wonderful six times than not at all! Check out your church's website and see when it was last updated. This is the way that many folks find our churches. While you're at it, check out your church's information in the MCC online directory. It's up to you to let Melanie Martinez know about corrections and or additions.
Churches are only mentioned once in each issue, with the exception of the sections on Transitions, Supporting One Another, and Anniversaries. And, yes, I keep a tally sheet! So even when you are doing several terrific projects, I have to select only one to share.
Be sure when you email me that there is something in the subject line that indicates it is news from an MCC. If it lands in my junk mail folder, which can happen to individual emails as well as to spam, then when I check through those emails, if there's nothing to indicate it's from an MCCer, it gets deleted.
Let me hear from you! | |
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