Letter from Reverend Rebecca Anderson

Dear Ones of MCCSJ,

I want to thank each person for your part in our discussion and vote at Sunday’s Congregational meeting.

During the meeting we briefly reviewed minutes of 2011 Congregational Meetings, reviewed MCCSJ’s finances and circumstances, laid out the options for where to go from here, and then discussed each possibility thoroughly.

After praying together, you voted, with the resulting decision to close MCCSJ (Although other options were discussed, no other option received the overwhelming support needed to move forward).

As we talked about the decision to close, some of us spoke of the remarkable love and acceptance we’ve found and shared within this community and the powerful ways MCCSJ has affirmed us on our spiritual journeys. Some expressed the deep sadness and grief this decision brings. We listened to one another with love and compassion, acknowledging the loss as we held hands in a circle.

I don’t know if I made it clear at Sunday’s meeting, but let me do so now – I am very proud of and grateful for each of you. Truly. I love each one of you, and thank you. Showing up for the work of making hard decisions takes a great deal of strength, courage, and integrity, and it’s an important part of a life of faith. I sincerely thank you for your prayers, your presence, your comments and your tears – on Sunday, in the days leading up to the meeting, and since.

Last evening, I discussed the congregational meeting and vote with Rev. Stedney Phillips who is with Rev. Elders Ken Martin and Lillie Brock at a meeting of the UFMCC Office of Church Life and Health. Their prayers and love have been with us all along this journey, and they’ve been aware of the work we’ve been doing here to seek out options and to come to a decision about MCCSJ’s future.

Rev. Stedney asked me to let you know that they concur with our decision to close the church at the end of February. I am thankful for the support Rev. Stedney has offered me and the Board in suggesting possibilities for the congregation to consider at this meeting, and in offering continuing guidance and assistance for us in the days to come as we move into the tasks of church closure.

After years of being church together, letting go of MCCSJ will be hard.

My prayer is that we will continue to support one another in the midst of this change, knowing that the Holy One’s walk with each of us continues, and that God’s love and hope is too great and too powerful to end when we close the doors of this local church at the end of February. The work of The Church and of Metropolitan Community Churches will continue in other places, times and forms. May we each find hope in knowing that many faith communities have already extended their welcome to us, here in San Jose and in nearby cities.

My prayer for each of you, for each of us, is that throughout this month we will worship honestly, support Karl and the Board in church closure tasks as we’re able, and…  …that we will lovingly, patiently, kindly, and repeatedly, affirm for ourselves and for each other the knowledge and faith this community has taught us: that we are and will always be valued children of God, loved beyond measure, in every circumstance. The Holy One is – and will continue to be – with us, making a way and holding us near even as we seek what’s next to be revealed on our journeys.

If and when we find the way hard, let us do what we do so well at MCCSJ – love one another. Let us allow God’s love to move in and through us, and trust that the God who brought us together in the first place and who created this wonder-filled world, is not finished with any one of us, and is preparing us for new things.

I will be available after worship every Sunday in February, to listen, to pray with you, to provide resources and help as needed, and to offer support.

Please plan to join together on Sunday February 26th in Celebrating MCC San Jose and our hope in the possibilities awaiting each of us.

Today and always, may God, The Great Beloved, The Holy One, Spirit of Truth and Light, hold you and sustain you.

With love and many blessings,
Rev. Rebecca

Sermon–Fourth Sunday of Epiphany

Rev. Rebecca Anderson, MCCSJ – Jan 29, 2012

Mark 1:21-28 They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded by his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a person with an unclean spirit, who cried out, “What have you to do with us Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? Read more »

MCC San Jose meets Sunday Mornings at 10:00am

MCC San Jose meets at:
Grace Baptist Church
484 East San Fernando Street

Our last day as MCCSJ–Sunday, Feb 26
Celebrate with us our years of service!
Potluck and Remembrances
10:00am through the afternoon.

Sunday Morning Services at 10:00am, February 12, 19 and 26,  in the Fireside Room. Enter on E. San Fernando at 11th Street or from the parking lot. (408) 279-2711

Need directions?
Please click the following link for information about how to get there.

Sermon – THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

Jonah 3: 1-5, 10 The word of YHWH came a second time to Jonah: “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach to them as I told you to do.” Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of YHWH. Nineveh was a city large beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah moved on into the city, making a day’s journey. He proclaimed, “Only forty days more, and Nineveh is going to be destroyed!” Read more »

Next Steps for MCC San Jose – Please Attend Jan. 29th Congregational Meeting

Join us on Sunday, January 29th after worship for our first Potluck  Lunch and Congregational Meeting of the new year. MCC San Jose has been facing significant financial challenges for some time now. The Board of Directors is discussing various options for MCC San Jose.   We will be discussing these options and gathering input from you who are a part of our community of faith.  To move forward, we must make decisions very soon.
Your voice and views are important and  caluable, so we hope you will make attending this meeting a priority.

Be sure to be with us on the 29th to participate in planning and deciding what our next steps will be.  Bring a dish to share, if you can, and join in the fellowship and discussion.

Advent & Christmas at MCC San Jose

Join us for the Advent and Christmas Season.  Our events are as follows:

Sunday, November 27, 2011, 10 am Worship. First Sunday of Advent! HOPE Rev. Rebecca Anderson preaching.

End of the month potluck gathering after worship. Plan to stay a bit if you can, to share a meal of leftovers and participate in a thanksgiving activity.

Sunday, December 4, 2011, 10 am Worship. Second Sunday of Advent! LOVE Rev. Rebecca Anderson preaching. Church Board meets after worship.

 Sunday, December 11, 2011, 10 am Worship. Third Sunday of Advent!  JOY Rev. Rebecca Anderson preaching. Gift wrapping party to prepare gifts for teens with families affected by HIV/AIDS. Let’s make this wrapping party a true celebration! Bring holiday baked goods to share if you can, and come to have fun in community!

 Sunday December 18, 2011, 10 am Worship. Fourth Sunday of Advent!  PEACE Rev. Marjorie Pearson preaching. Special musical guests from the Rainbow Women’s Chorus!

 Saturday December 24, 2011, 6:30 pm Christmas Eve Worship with Grace Baptist Church.

 Sunday, December 25, 2011, 10 am Worship. Christmas Day! Rev. Rebecca Anderson preaching. An informal service of celebratory lessons and carols. Feel free to bring friends and family to this special gathering.

Participate in MCCSJ’s Christmas Gift Drive for Youth Affected by HIV/AIDS

The deadline for donatiopnms is Dec. 9th.  Join us for the wrapping party on Dec. 11th after worship.  This year we are again collecting gifts for youth in Santa Clara County who are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Some have HIV themselves and some have one or both parents living with HIV.  These families cannot afford to provide Christmas gifts for their children, so we are helping them out through the Health Trust’s AIDS Services.  Joe Shackelford will be leading this campaign again assisted by his work group at Stanford.  Donations may be given to MCCSJ to help purchase gifts and gift cards.  The wish lists will be available soon if you wish to shop yourself.  Meanwhile donations may be sent to MCCSJ at P O Box 388, San Jose, CA   95103.  You can also make a donation via the web at our donations page.  Please be sure to indicate that the donation is for the Christmas Gift Drive.  Please be sure donmations are received by December 9th.  Thank you.  Watch our newsletter for more information about this campaign.  We appreciate your generosity.