Rachelle

Senior’s Group

June 15, 2013 by Rachelle Leave a Comment

The mission of the Seniors Group is to provide mutual support for persons who are at least 55 years of age, especially persons retired from their primary job.

The group meets for lunch the 2nd Tuesday of each month for conversation, presentations, and information sharing regarding issues including navigating the healthcare system, coping with aging, and other issues in a caring fashion offering mutual spiritual support.

Co-convenors, Dr. Eugene Thomas and Rev. Gordon McCoy, coordinate meetings and visiting members with health concerns. See the Events section for the next meeting location!

Filed Under: Senior Tagged With: glbt seniors, retired, senior citizens, support

We want YOUR Opinion

April 12, 2013 by Rachelle Leave a Comment

As a community of faith, aChurch4Me MCC is almost 5 years old, and we are planning

for the next 5 years. The link

below directs you to a very important survey.

The information you provide is completely anonymous! Your answers are submitted without a name, IP address, or email identifiers. In this way, your anonymity is assured.

This survey covers three sections: Basic demographics, an evaluation of your worship experience, and expectations of pastoral leadership. Our hope is to receive the most accurate and honest responses possible in order to plan and honor each of you. Your opinion will significantly guide our Board of Servants, Pastor, and Team Leaders. Thank you for participating.

Please reply before May 12, 2013!

Here is the survey link: aChurch4Me Survey

If you know of others who have attended aChurch4Me MCC in the past, but are no longer attending, please forward this to them – yes we want everyone’s opinions!

Thank you,
aChurch4Me MCC Board of Servants

Filed Under: Connect, Grow, News, Respond, Survey Tagged With: achurch4me?, aChurch4Me? Metropolitan Community Church, survey

40 Days of Giving – Intersection between joy and service

February 25, 2013 by Rachelle Leave a Comment

“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy.” ― Kahlil Gibran

Joy is a hope usually equated with happiness, yet as Kahlil Gibran points out, joy is a state of being as well as a state of mind. When we move outside of our own needs and wants, to serve others, then the possibilities for joy are beyond our dreams!

Filed Under: Donate, Grow, Newsletters, Spirituality, Spirituality

Worship Participation

February 15, 2013 by Rachelle Leave a Comment

Ask yourself, “what might fill you spiritually and/or challenge you to grow?” There are activities which can take a few minutes, an hour a week or an hour a month, and a few that are a little more involved. Here are some examples:

Help us worship as a community by reading of scripture, special readings or announcements, the welcome at the beginning of worship, ushering and greeting, leading the prayers, serving communion, or praying with others.

Filed Under: Volunteer

Music Ministry

February 15, 2013 by Rachelle Leave a Comment

Do you sing, dance, or play a musical instrument? The praise band is looking to expand! Rehearsals are Sunday morning at 9:45 am. All types of talent is welcomed! We also need fill-in musicians for days when regular musicians are away including pianists, guitarists, and drummers of all types. Michael Scott McBride is the Music Director. Ask him on any Sunday how you can assist.

Filed Under: Volunteer

Sunday Set Up Crew

February 15, 2013 by Rachelle Leave a Comment

Do you have 20 minutes a week to spare? We have an urgent need for volunteers who can help one or two Sundays a month before or after worship:

to arrive early to help set up chairs, sound, or music equipment for worship; or
to remain for a few minutes after worship to help pack and put items away; or
to decorate the worship space to enhance the themes and overall worship experience.

If you are interested in volunteering for a Sunday or if you have other gifts of time to offer please contact Pastor Rachelle pastor.rachelle@achurch4me.org

Filed Under: Volunteer

The Tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary

December 19, 2012 by Rachelle Leave a Comment

Hearing the news from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, the fact the young man killed his, mother, and so many children and teachers is heart breaking. My prayers are many even when the words are simple.

I pray for each family who lost their child…each family who is afraid…each one who witnessed such horrible events…those uncertain and grieving.

Watching President Obama express his grief and resolve reminds us of our vulnerability and the call to respond with passion and wisdom.

I know every day, children are in danger, and today we are stunned into reality. Yes, we need to seriously discuss what it means to harbor the emotion that leads to murder. We all need to seriously discuss how to create a community that includes each member, even those who are different among us. All of us need to discuss why we have the types of guns and permissions which currently guide a deadly norm within society.

It is my prayer that we all are stirred to our core so these children do not pass away from this life without us all being truly affected to create real change…as our President said, from Newtonwn, CT to the street corners of Chicago.

If you are looking for a New Year’s Resolution that truly builds the world we long for, then begin at home and address the emotional needs of those we know and love. Then let all of the public representatives know how you feel about creating a safe place to life, learn, work, and worship. This is about the very basic message Jesus spoke, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It is our turn to not let these children, teachers, or the gunman to die in vain. Let it be the beginning of a better life for us all.

Filed Under: Connect, Healthy Communication, Pastor's Corner, Respond Tagged With: new year resolution, sandy hook

One Prayer at a Time

November 30, 2012 by Rachelle Leave a Comment

Ending HIV/AIDS

One Prayer at a Time!!

Imagine millions praying

One Prayer at a time!!

For almost three decades, people of faith have stood among the masses waiting for social, legislative, and scientific reforms to handle the business of recovering from HIV/AIDS. All the while our heads hung in despair and acceptance of HIV/AIDS as a disease that is larger than available and traditional defenses. The reality, however, is that, as people of ALL faiths, we have not boldly, collectively, and

efficiently tried our most powerful and demonstrated weapon against crises and turmoil in our lives: Prayer!

We invite any faith communities across the globe, regardless of denominational affiliation, to join us in this effort.

Fighting HIV/AIDS

One Prayer at a Time

As we move into the fourth decade of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, over 34 million men, women, and children live with this disease. In spite of tremendous social and medical advances over the past years, HIV/AIDS continues to ravage communities and families throughout the world. Our ability to contain the spread of this disease falls just beyond our grasp. At the same time, however, prayer has always served to strengthen people in a crisis situation. Prayer has been proven to bring comfort and guidance, and power. Imagine millions praying for the end of HIV/AIDS!! Prayer brings clarity and focus and courage. Prayer works!! Prayer changes lives!!

Designed to lift up the heads and hearts of people of faith who strive to reclaim the power of prayer One Prayer is

A prevention activity that encourages prayer, education, and advocacy

One Prayer invokes the participation of a Higher Power in the global fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS and aims to organize and mobilize a community of individuals from diverse spiritual and religious traditions to celebrate life, love, and health in spite of disease, bigotry, and despair.

Be a Prayer Partner

Joining this effort is simple.

Like One Prayer on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnePrayerAtATime

Share this link with a friend.
Post your picture in our Prayin’ People Gallery
Post your personal prayers on the One Prayer page
Pray regularly for persons living with HIV/AIDS and for an end to this disease.

Act to Prevent and Heal

Lower your risk by using condoms every time you have sex.

Get help for treatment and recovery from substance abuse.

Get tested once a year or more often if you have multiple partners or engage in risky behaviors

Advocate for people with HIV/AIDS to have access to medical care

If you have HIV, get medical care and stay in care

Pray Regularly for an End to HIV/AIDS throughout the World

An HIV/AIDS education and prevention project of the MCC Global Justice Team and aChurch4Me MCC HIV/AIDS Prevention Ministry.

Filed Under: HIV/Aids, Respond

World AIDS Day 2012

November 30, 2012 by Rachelle Leave a Comment

“Working Together for an AIDS-Free Generation!”

On Saturday December 1, join aChurch4Me MCC at the

Center on Halsted World AIDS Day expo to end the epidemic at World AIDS Day 2012. Workshops, speakers, food, art and a resource fair.

Keynote speaker: Patrik-Ian Polk, filmmaker & creator of the tv series,”Noah’s Arc.”

This event if free & open to the public. RSVP required: wadrsvp@centeronhalsted.org.

Filed Under: HIV/Aids, Respond

Spirituality Unplugged

July 13, 2012 by Rachelle Leave a Comment

It is time to pull the plug on the myths strangling Spirituality! Everytime an article, blog, news report, or new book says they are “Spiritual but not Religious” the cord of religion is wrapping even more tightly. Is there a difference between Spirituality and Religion? Absolutely! Thousands of years of tradtion trail behind the word religion.
If you are ready to unplug, this is the right time. The cord still strangling the entire conversation is a logic which relies upon either/or thinking. Afterall the main problem with religious tradition is the right/wrong, inside/outside, formulas which when applied to real people and real lives fails every time. Just like “religion” the word “spirituality” is gasping for fresh air. Often when people begin to speak about Spirituality the next portion begins a series of practices or formulas which qualify as Spiritual.
The new definition is a lack of definition. Deep thinkers are beginning to realize the question, “How?” is replaced with “Why?” This actually makes real sense. By asking “How?” the temptation is to establish a new set of boundaries within which regulations dominate in the place of liberation so many long to experience and express. Beginning with “Why?” addresses the more significant issues of being human.
One of the values which guide aChurch4Me MCC is Spiritual Growth, described as setting aside assumptions and dogma we seek to use our gifts and experiences. Yes, we can be spiritual while we think, love, search, reform, transition, identify, and challenge titles or labels. Begin with questions, explore, and grow in Spirituality unpluged and breathing in the both/and of human experience which flows and flourishes in the midst of change.