Rev. Mike in HIV Testing Video (and Other Community News)

Rev. Mike is one of the local personalities featured in the AIDS Coalition of Silicon Valley’s short new video “Easy Fast and Free.”  This video is part of the AIDS Coalition’s efforts to promote HIV Testing.  Click below to see this one-minute video featuring Rev. Mike, Ken Yeager, Ronnie Grigsby, Nori Herras and others.

Rev. Vicky’s wedding made the Bay Area Reporter’s Wedding Announcements page, complete with a photo of Vicky and Cynthia at their ceremony.   Here’s a link to the B.A.R.’s coverage.

Do you know someone who deserves kudos, congratulations or praise?  Please send us suggestions at news@mccsj.org. 

March with MCCSF in the SF Pride Parade – June 29

MCC San Jose will be having Sunday services in our usual location at our usual 10:30am time this Sunday.  However, if you are going to be in San Francisco for Pride, MCC San Francisco invites you to march in their parade contingent.  They will be meeting at 10:30am, and and having a short service with communion at 11:00am. 

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Rev. Vicky gets Married (and Other Community News)

Kudos to Rev. Mike, who co-led a workshop on June 13 about “How to Talk about the Freedom to Marry.”  About 30 people from a variety of faith communities attended, including Erico, Rev. Sky, and Michael I. from MCC San Jose.

Praise to the MCC San Jose choir, who sang at the annual Celebration in Spirit worship service in San Jose on Saturday, June 14.  Kudos also to Ruth Huber who was the music director for the service and also to Rev. Mike, who led a “blessing of relationships” as part of the service.

Many thanks to everyone who worked our Pride Booth this year, including Karl, Nancy, Judd, Paul, James, Erico, Rev. Mike, Rev. Sky, and probably some other great volunteers too!

Praise also to all of the MCC Folk who marched in this year’s pride parade.  This year’s contingent included Rev. Mike, Rev. Sky, Paul, Lannie, Misha, Rosalea, Kevin, Erico, Michael I., Judd, Nancy, Dal, Joe, John H., and James B.  

Kudos also to everyone who participated in the Sunday worship service that we did in cooperation with the First Congregational Church of Campbell at the Pride Festival.  To the left you’ll see photos of Rev. Mike serving communion and Rev. Sky praying with people at the service.

Congratulations to Rev. Vicky Kolakowski and her partner, Cynthia Laird, who were married on Monday evening, June 16, in Oakland.  Oakland Mayer Ron Dellums presided over the ceremony, and U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee served as the witness. 

Kudos to Rev. Mike, who was quoted in Wednesday’s San Jose Mercury News.  Click here to see the article. 

Finally, congratulations to Rev. Mike who has been named to the Honorary Board for the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band’s 30th Anniversary Concert, which will be held in San Francisco at 8:00pm on June 26 and 27 at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Francisco.  For more details, please visit the band’s website. 

Do you know someone who deserves kudos, congratulations or praise?  Please send us suggestions at news@mccsj.org.

Presbyterian Revival for LGBT Rights – June 24, 2008

At 8:00pm on Tuesday, June 24, there will be an outdoor revival service at the Presbyterian General Assembly in San Jose.  The revival is being coordinated by “That All May Freely Serve,” a Presbyterian group which works for LGBT rights.  The service will be held on the Parkside Walkway in San Jose, across San Carlos from the McEnery Convention Center. 

MCCSJ Supports MCC Youth Outreach to the Domincan Republic

On Sunday, June 8, Brionna Acker from MCC of Redwood Empire in Guerneville came and spoke to us about a mission project that youth from throughout MCC are doing to provide help to people in the Dominican Republic. To the left you’ll see a photo of Brionna with members of our congregation. You can click the photo for a larger view.

Our congregation took up a special collection to support this project. Even if you missed our June 8 service, you can still donate. Please click the following link to make a donation via our website. You can also bring a contribution to church anytime before the end of June.

If you’d like to follow the progress of the youth as they do their important work, here’s a link to the project’s blog.

MCC San Jose and the Fight for Equal Marriage Rights

MCC was very active in the legal proceedings that led to the May 15, 2008 California State Supreme Court decision on equal marriage rights for all couples! Here are some of the ways that we’ve been involved:

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Rev. Mike on Comcast Cable (and other Community News)

Rev. Mike was interviewed this Thursday for a show that will be broadcast at 5:30pm on Monday, June 16 on Comcast Cable’s channel 15 (San Jose and Campbell).  Tune in to see how Rev. Mike handles being in conversation with a couple of ministers who come from a very different theological viewpoint. 

Kudos to Berry West who finished Spring semester with an A in his “Introduction to Investment” class from San Jose City College.

Many thanks to everyone who participated in our June 8 congregational meeting.  Details about the results of the meeting will be in next week’s e-Newsletter.

Do you know someone who deserves kudos, congratulations or praise?  Please send us suggestions at news@mccsj.org.