Southern California and Nevada US Network Newsletter

Rev. Onetta Brooks

Rev. Dan Koeshall

Rev. Kathy Patrick

Elder Larry Rodriguez

Marie Tasker

Congratulations to Pamela Fairbanks, Tamey Irons, and Carol Scherfenberg upon their election as Lay Delegates by MCC Los Angeles.

As churches elect new members to their Board of Directors and new Lay Delegate, please remember to send contact information to Vickey Gibbs at VickeyGibbs@MCCchurch.net so they can be included in denomination communications.  Be sure to include their name, email address, elected position, and phone number.

Church Size Summits are gatherings of local MCC church leaders to connect and learn together about tips, tools, and resources for success in ministry.  Church Size Summits provide leaders with helpful information, professional consultation and focused coaching through these Summits. So, no matter what size church you are, the Church Size Summit is for you (your pastor, staff, board).

The assessments from the past Church Size Summits has also made it clear that there is much work to be done in the area of Stewardship.  The Stewardship Summits will explore all the facets of Stewardship, how to do successful Stewardship Campaigns, how to put together good stewardship teams and lots more!

For more information on Church Size Summits and the new Stewardship Summit (including one scheduled at MCC Los Angeles June 24-25, 2011), click here.

Reverend Dr. Mona West, Director of Formation and Leadership Development, offers “Advent and Christmas:  Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton” as a local church resource for Advent and Christmas.  This accessible small-group resource leads participants on a journey of spiritual transformation and a more contemplative way of life. Participants are invited to reflect upon selections from Thomas Merton and other spiritual writers as they prepare for Christmas.  Each of the book’s five sessions focuses on a distinct theme: hope, salvation, compassion, tenderness, or incarnation.  The book can be order online from The Merton Institute for Contemplative Living.

Mark your calendars for the MCC People of African Descent Conference in Washington D.C., May 19-21, 2011. Register Now!

Congratulations to Sunrise MCC as it celebrate its anniversary on Sunday, December 12, 2010.  The event also mark Reverend Gale Smith‘s anniversary with the church.

Sunday morning, December 5, 2010 marks the 38^th Anniversary of MCC in the Valley, with Reverend Elder Troy Perry preaching.  That afternoon, MCCV will be dedicating their new rooftop solar panels, part of the church’s “Alive and Green” project.  The panels will provide slightly more energy than the church needs, and the excess will be sold to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.  Reverend Dr. Robert Shore-Goss, Senior Pastor/Theologian observes, “Several years ago, we made the Earth a member of our church, and we now extending pastoral care to the Earth from human indifference and reckless exploitation.  MCCV Going Green sends a message back to our neighbors and to the LGBT community that we care about the Earth and global warming and that we can include eco-justice as one of our main justice concerns.“  Thanks to MCCV for doing their part to “go green.”

Belated congratulations to these congregations on the occasion of their anniversaries:  Good Samaritan MCC (September 9, 1986), MCC Las Vegas (October 2, 1979), MCC Los Angeles (October 6, 1968), and Harvest Spiritual Community in Bakersfield (October 30, 1985).

On November 3, 2010, MCC San Diego had a great surprise.  The beautiful stained glass window from their old 30th Street church home was installed and backlit in their sanctuary.  The stained glass window has a long and noble history.  It was created by a congregant to fill a space in the front of the building vacant when the previous owners moved out and MCCSD moved in back in 1982.  The window has survived having a brick thrown through it, and it has endured bullet holes – memories of less tolerant days.  Once upon being repaired, it came back with the addition of a small butterfly.  The window had been carefully and lovingly packed in storage since MCCSD’s move from 30th Street in 2003.

We are pleased to welcome A Church For All MCC (Sacramento, CA) to the SoCa/NV Network. The Pastor is Rev. Doretha Flournoy-Williams.

MCC Las Vegas will host a performance by Christopher-Joel Carter IV, the 2008 winner of the Liberace Piano Competition, on Sunday, November 21, 2010.

MCC San Diego’s Celebration Choir will hold their annual Christmas Concert, Saturday December 4, 2010, at 7 pm and Sunday, December 5, 2010, at 5 pm.

ICM / MCC Los Angeles celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Sunday, December 12, 2010, at 1:30 pm.  Mariachis Los Dorados de Villa will provide the music for the service.  Traditional foods and fellowship will follow.

MCC Los Angeles will celebrate Kwanzaa on Sunday, December 19, 2010, with guest preacher, Reverend Dr. William Knight, at 6 pm.  Food and fellowship will follow.

MCC Las Vegas is working to change the world with their “Homes for the Himalayas” project.  Their goal is to make a difference in the lives of four families in the mountain country of Nepal by building one home per quarter in 2010.  They have raised funds for three homes already and are on their way to the fourth.

MCC of the Coachella Valley celebrated its annual Festival of St. Francis of Assisi with a Blessing of the Animals and a fundraiser for “Paws & Hearts,” a local pet therapy visitation organization.

MCC Los Angeles is partnering with other faith communities to host a Thanksgiving Dinner for residents of Triangle Square (GLBT Senior Housing).

MCC is pleased to release this collection of resources and planning materials to help support the lives of our people and congregations around the world as you celebrate a Season of Gratitude, All Saints Day, World AIDS Day, and Advent.  For more information, click here

MCC Los Angeles had a regular attendee of their WednesdayBible Study move out of state.  He really wanted to continue being part of the group.  So, they now interactively Skype their Bible Study with people who cannot attend in person.  To their surprise, people from Oregon, Tennessee, and even Sao Paulo, Brazil, have been joining them weekly online.

Marie Tasker

Marie Tasker current employment is that of a training manager for the State of Nevada.  She has earned both her Associates and Bacholor Degree in Business Management.  She received her Masters Degree in Organizational Management and has always touted that she was an adult learner and understands the unique differences and similarities that are shared between Children and Adult learners.  She has worked in the field of training for over 13 years and prior to her most recent role she was the Training Manager for a 10 state region for the American Red Cross based in Las Vegas.

Marie is currently on the Board of Directors for her home church MCC Las Vegas and serves in the role as Treasurer.  She is also active in the media ministry, has offered different workshops for the church and she is a facilitator of CLM (Creating a Life that Matters). Prior to moving to Las Vegas she lived in Phoenix Arizona and was active there serving on the board for a number of years in various capacities such as Director of Community Life and Vice Moderator.

Sunshine Cathedral to offer weekly webinar Lectionary Discussion

The Sunshine Cathedral is pleased to invite you to participate in a weekly webinar Lectionary Discussion that will take place on Tuesdays from Noon to 12:30 PM (EST).

This project is an opportunity for those who preach/teach to engage in a 30 minute focused weekly conversation about upcoming scripture texts in the Common Lectionary (and additional supportive texts).  This is also an opportunity for collegiality/peer interaction.

Presenters will include, Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Rev. Dr. Mona West, Rev. Michael Diaz, Rev. BK Hipsher, and Rev. Dr. Robert Griffin. Presenters will offer some insights or questions and then facilitate a group discussion for the remainder of the allotted time.

You will receive one hour of continuing education credit for every hour you participate in this free weekly lectionary webinar.

We invite you to join this webinar using one of these two methods:

1.  To view slide portion of the presentation click: Lectionary Discussion

2. To participate in this free resource, please call 1.218.486.1600 and enter IDC #778024 and join the call.

3.  For individuals wishing to connect outside the US, please contact Rev. Dr. Robert Griffin at RevRobertGriffin via Skype to be connected to the conference call.

4.  To receive CEU credit please contact Ritchie Crownfield at ritchiecrownfield@mccchurch.net

For more information about this opportunity please contact Rev. Dr. Robert Griffin at Rogertg@aol.com.