St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church 622 Maywood Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 Phone: (919) 834-2611 Fax: (919) 834-2036 Web Site: http://www.StJohnsMCC.org Church Office’s E-Mail: [email protected] Senior Pastor’s E-Mail: [email protected] Pastor Carlton’s E-Mail: [email protected] Pastor Amy’s E-Mail: [email protected] ST. JOHN’S METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH CELEBRATION SERVICE Church Office Hours: Monday: 3:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday: 10:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. Thursday: 10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m. Meetings with the Pastor(s) can be scheduled by contacting the Church Office. St. John’s MCC is an Affiliate Church of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC), an international Christian denomination called and committed to living out the message of God’s inclusive love for all of humanity through Christian Salvation, Christian Community and Christian Social Action. Locally, we, at St. John’s MCC, affirm our commitment to embrace and embody the UFMCC’s call through: Proclaiming Christ by Celebrating . . . . . . the joys of a Christian life and the experiences of diversity in worship; Building Community by Serving . . . . . . God’s church and community, where everyone is equally valued and loved by God and has the ability and responsibility to serve, and; Transforming Lives by Growing . . . . . . in God’s grace, equipping people for spiritual living, enhancing interpersonal relationships and developing a thriving diverse community of faith. 12 “PROCLAIMING CHRIST. . . BUILDING COMMUNITY. . . TRANSFORMING LIVES. . .” MARCH 15, 2015 WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATION 11:00 AM The Rev. Brendan Y. Boone Senior Pastor The Rev. Carlton D.M. Rutherford Pastor for Congregational Care The Rev. Amy Lambert-Burns Pastor for Congregational Empowerment St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church A Spotlight on Upcoming Events, Activities, and Special Announcements This Week at St. John’s MCC Sunday, March 15th Tuesday, March 17th Wednesday, March 18th Thursday, March 19th Friday, March 20th Saturday, March 21st Sunday, March 22nd Women’s Day Celebration Jubilation Service 9:00 am Tool Time At Ten 10:00 am Celebration Service 11:00 am Gay Men’s AA 5:30 pm Tuesday Night Bible Study 6:30 pm The Light Group – AA Meeting 8:00 pm Seeking Similarities—NA Meeting 8:00 pm Cinema Corner 6:30 pm The Light Group — AA Meeting 8:00 pm The Light Group – AA Meeting 8:00 pm Couple’s Ministry Kickoff 6:30 pm The Light Group — AA Meeting 8:00 pm Jubilation Service 9:00 am Tool Time At Ten 10:00 am Celebration Service 11:00 am Leadership Team Meeting After 11 am Lunch Boxes of Love 3:30 pm Gay Men’s AA 5:30 pm Mark Your Calendars Today for These Upcoming Events March 29, 2015 April 4, 2015 April 5, 2015 Sunday, April 12, 2015 July 4-8, 2016 Friends and Family Sunday 10 am Service Easter Egg Hunt for the Kids 3:00 pm Easter Sunday Rock and Roll Marathon — Downtown Raleigh (Check for Road Closures) UFMCC General Conference XXVI Victoria, B.C., Canada Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter @stjohnsmcc 2 St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church Church Leadership and Ministry Team Senior Pastor: The Rev. Brendan Y. Boone [email protected] Pastor for Congregational Care: The Rev. Carlton Rutherford [email protected] Pastor for Congregational Empowerment: The Rev. Amy Lambert-Burns [email protected] Church Administrator: David Ray [email protected] Praise and Worship Music Coordinator: Robby Blanks [email protected] Outreach Director: If you are interested in helping to invite seekers and encourage new disciples, please see: David Ray [email protected] Worship Director: If you are interested in any aspect of our worship services, including music, sound and AV, please see: Cande Candelario [email protected] Fellowship Director: If you are interested in starting or joining one of our bible studies, topical studies or social groups, please see: Dela Adams [email protected] Discipleship Director: If you are interested in going deeper in your relationship with God, embody the teachings of Christ and modeling the Christ way of life, please see: Cindy Norton [email protected] Service Director: If you are interested in Social Justice ministries and helping those less fortunate, please see: Fred Cannady [email protected] Stewardship Ministry: If you are interested in the blessings of biblical stewardship, please see: Al Williams [email protected] 11 Deacons: If you have a prayer request or special concern and need someone to listen, please see one of the Deacons: Laura Gilleran [email protected] Vance Haywood [email protected] Joshua Richardson (Deacon Candidate) [email protected] Ministry of Public Relations: Mike Gauss [email protected] The Board of Directors: Rev. Brendan Y. Boone, Moderator [email protected] LeJune Perrin, Vice-Moderator [email protected] Marty Smith, Clerk [email protected] Fred Cannady, Assistant Clerk [email protected] Mark Godette, Treasurer [email protected] Renee McCowan, Assistant Treasurer [email protected] Bob Young, Liaison to All Ministry Areas [email protected] Ministers: Members of the Congregation Convenient Information to Keep In Mind THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU HERE Rest Rooms: For those who have been alienated, shunned and rejected because they dare to live openly, honestly and authentically, there is a place at God’s table for you here; Two rest rooms are located across from Sacristy Room, just before the right rear entrance into the Sanctuary. An additional Unisex rest room is located in the Kids Space/Music Room just before the left rear entrance into the Sanctuary on the Main Level of the Ministry Center During times of worship, In consideration of others, as well as to minimize distractions during worship, we request that you return to the sanctuary using the same direction. Thank you for your cooperation. Parking for First Time Guests: Our First Time Guests are cordially invited to park in the spaces specifically provided for them at the Maywood Avenue entrance to, as well as any other available spaces on our Ministry Center property. Additional parking is also available on both sides of Maywood Avenue. We also request that you do not block the entrances to the adjacent business located on either side of the Ministry Center or our neighbor’s access to it. Parking for Members, Regular Attenders, Choir Members, Leaders and Staff: St. John’s MCC is committed to ensuring that our First Time Guests are treated with the utmost care and attention from the moment they arrive at our Ministry Center. We respectfully request that our members, regular attenders, choir members, leaders and staff, assist us in this vital ministry of welcome by leaving the parking spaces in our on-site parking lot for them during our worship services. Always Play It Safe: While at our Ministry Facility, we strongly encourage you to make sure that you put away and secure any valuables that you may have in your vehicle and lock your vehicle before leaving it. Sacred Space Considerations: The sanctuary of the Ministry Center is deemed sacred space at all times. We therefore ask that you do not bring food and/or drinks into the sanctuary. Smoking Area: The smoking area is located at the end of the sidewalk on the left side of the Ministry Center. Please use the ashtray provided. Smoking in the building or near the door entrances is strictly prohibited. Thank you! 10 For those who are struggling with the burdens of life that have left them feeling battered, bruised and bitter, there is a place of hope, healing and encouragement at God’s table for you here; For those who are in desperate need of spiritual healing, strength and empowerment, there is a place at God’s table for you here; For those who desire to be part of a ministry where somebody is telling anybody about The One who loves everybody, there is a place at God’s table for you here; For those who desire to be part of a ministry where somebody is telling anybody about The One who loves everybody, there is a place at God’s table for you here; For those who desire to be part of a community of doers and not just a church of believers, there is a place at God’s table for you here; For those who have been denied full access to the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ and God’s love, there is a place at God’s table for you here; Welcome Home, Beloved. . . God Has Been Waiting For You! 3 ST. JOHN’S METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH PRAISE & WORSHIP CELEBRATION SERVICE “Proclaiming Christ . . . Building Community . . . Transforming Lives . . .” ORDER OF SERVICE 11:00 AM Message Notes: Date: ___________________ Text: ____________________ Message: ________________ Preacher: _________________ Preparation In Praise: Opening Prayer: Madlyn Smith-Driver The Welcome and Announcements: Caroline Bryant **Our Celebration Through Praise** Call To Prayer: Shirley Evans “God Chose Me” Prayers of the People: Deacon Laura Gilleran Ministry Through Movement: Nation Tyre Listening To the Word: Erin Dale Deuteronomy 30 The Word Proclaimed: Leah Sampson “Reclaim, Revive, Restore: What Has To Die So He Can Live in You?” The Act of Anointing — A Time of Reflection and Meditation: You are invited, as the Spirit leads, to come forward to be anointed by one of the Pastors and then return to your seat for a time of reflection and meditation. For those wishing to commit or re-commit their lives to Jesus Christ or would like prayer for healing, you are invited to see any Deacon or one of the Pastors after service. Bringing Our Tithes and Offerings: Sandra Whittington-Boone You are invited to let us know that you were here by registering your attendance on the blue Welcome Card that you received with this bulletin. 4 9 Did You Know? “Check” It Out . . . Giving Made Easy! Use your bank’s “bill pay” option to automatically send your tithes and/or offerings to St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church. The process is simple: a check will be mailed directly from your bank to St. John’s on the schedule you choose. This can be a one-time or reoccurring (weekly, bi-weekly or monthly) financial transaction. “Passing of the Hat” Love Offering For (Rev.) Delores P. Berry Food For The Soul: Cindy Norton The Holy Eucharist is open to all. Out of respect for those who are in recovery, grape juice is served at all stations. If you need Gluten-Free wafers, please let the Server know. The Invitation to the Table: The Consecration: The Prayer of Consecration: You can set up your automatic “bill pay” schedule using one of the following options: 1.) Visit your bank’s website, or. 2.) Stop by your bank’s office and ask to set up an automatic bill pay schedule and they will be more than happy to set it up. Please ensure that your checks are mailed to: St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church P.O. Box 12871 Raleigh, NC 27605-2871 The Mystery of Our Faith: (In Unison) Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ is here! Christ will come again! The Sharing of Sacrament: You are invited, as the ushers direct, to receive the gifts of bread and fruit of the vine. We request that you observe the sacredness of this time, as others receive the Eucharist, through silent prayer and meditation. If you would like to receive the Eucharist without prayer, please proceed to the station at your far left. The Sending Forth: Leah Sampson **Our Song of Celebration: “Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus” (p. 7) Please join us in the Friendship Hall after service for a time of Fellowship and Hospitality (**) Please Rise As You Are Able Your gift helps make it possible for your church to provide worship services, benevolence assistance and ministry. Thank You. 8 Deacon on Duty: Vance Haywood 5 Words Of Promise To Remember and Live By . . . 30 “1-5Here’s what will happen. While you’re out among the nations where GOD has dispersed you and the blessings and curses come in just the way I have set them before you, and you and your children take them seriously and come back to GOD, your God, and obey [God] with your whole heart and soul according to everything that I command you today, GOD, your God, will restore everything you lost; [God will] have compassion on you; [God will] come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered. No matter how far away you end up, GOD, your God, will get you out of there and bring you back to the land your ancestors once possessed. It will be yours again. [God] will give you a good life and make you more numerous than your ancestors. 6-7 GOD, your God, will cut away the thick calluses on your heart and your children’s hearts, freeing you to love GOD, your God, with your whole heart and soul and live, really live. GOD, your God, will put all these curses on your enemies who hated you and were out to get you. 8-9 And you will make a new start, listening obediently to GOD, keeping all [God’s] commandments that I’m commanding you today. GOD, your God, will outdo [God’s Self] in making things go well for you: you’ll have babies, get calves, grow crops, and enjoy an all-around good life. Yes, GOD will start enjoying you again, making things go well for you just as he enjoyed doing it for your ancestors. 10 But only if you listen obediently to GOD, your God, and keep the commandments and regulations written in this Book of Revelation. Nothing halfhearted here; you must return to GOD, your God, totally, heart and soul, holding nothing back. 11-14 This commandment that I’m commanding you today isn’t too much for you, it’s not out of your reach. It’s not on a high mountain—you don’t have to get mountaineers to climb the peak and bring it down to your level and explain it before you can live it. And it’s not across the ocean—you don’t have to send sailors out to get it, bring it back, and then explain it before you can live it. No. The word is right here and now—as near as the tongue in your mouth, as near as the heart in your chest. Just do it! 15-18 Look at what I’ve done for you today: I’ve placed in front of you Life and Good, Death and Evil. 16 And I command you today: Love GOD, your God. Walk in [God’s] ways. Keep [God’s] commandments, regulations, and rules so that you will live, really live, live exuberantly, blessed by GOD, your God, in the land you are about to enter and possess.17But I warn you: If you have a change of heart, refuse to listen obediently, and willfully go off to serve and worship other gods, you will most certainly die. 18You won’t last long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19-20 I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live. And love GOD, your God, listening obediently to [God], firmly embracing [God]. Oh yes, [God] is life itself, a long life settled on the soil that GOD, your God, promised to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” – Deuteronomy 30 (The Message) Our Song Of Celebration “Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus” Can’t nobody, do me like Jesus. Can’t nobody, do me like the Lord. Can’t nobody, do me like Jesus. He’s my Friend! Healed my body . . . and told me to run on . . . He’s my Friend! Picked me up and . . . Turned me around . . . He’s my Friend! © 6 7
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