Celebrate Easter With Us At MCC San Jose!

A blessed Holy Week to each of you!  

As you read this message, I invite you to take the time, if you haven’t yet, to witness Jesus’ Crucifixion, by reading Matthew 27:27-66, attending a Good Friday service, or sitting in prayerful meditation. For just a time before we come together in celebration on Easter Sunday, let us acknowledge the sorrow, the outrage, and the grief of Jesus’ beloved disciples, friends and followers…

And then, on Sunday, remembering the empty tomb and all it signifies, and from the deep wonder and joy that such a resurrection must bring, I invite you to bring to church something beautiful to turn the old covered fire-pit into a Sacred Circle of Celebration for Easter! Perhaps you have a beautiful cloth you can lend us for the time we gather in worship. Maybe you can bring an Easter Lily or two (or three!). Perhaps you can gather a handful of wildflowers from a vacant lot or with permission, bring flowers from a garden (or from the grocery store) to share their scent and beauty? Maybe you have a picture or another item that speaks to you of life and hope renewed after death?

Ask yourself what YOU can contribute to help us celebrate this beautiful Easter together in community. No contribution is too small for this, for they will be together. What gives you joy?  For about an hour on Easter Sunday, can you share with us something to remind us of that joy?

May these days of witnessing Jesus in Jerusalem and Jesus on the Cross … and waiting for what comes next, lead to the Easter we each seek.

***Join us for Easter Breakfast with our host church Grace Baptist beginning at 9:30 am, and then we’ll worship (this week only) at 11am in the Fireside Room for an MCC San Jose celebration service!  

I look forward to singing Alleluias with each of you again!!

 With many blessings and peace,

Rev. Rebecca Anderson

MCC San Jose Lenten, Easter and other Spring Events

Coming Up Soon – Save These Spring MCC Dates:

Sunday, Mar. 27 – Lent 3, 10:00 am Community Worship – Rev. Marjorie Pearson preaching

Sunday, April 3 – Lent 4, 10:00 am Community Worship – Rev. Rebecca Anderson preaching

{ Saturday, April 9 – UFMCC Network Gathering 1–5 pm at New Spirit Community Church, Berkeley     7pm Revival Worship, a rousing evening!

Sunday, April 10 – Lent 5, 10:00 am Community Worship – Rev. Rebecca Anderson preaching

Sunday, April 17– Palm Sunday, 10:00 am Community Worship – Rev. Rebecca Anderson preaching

Easter Sunday, April 24: 

Pancake Breakfast : We’re invited to join our hosts from Grace Baptist Church for breakfast in the Fireside Room.  More information will follow.                                                 

**11 am MCC SJ Community Worship – Rev. Rebecca Anderson preaching (**Note the change in time for THIS Sunday service only. The following Sunday we return to 10 am worship).

Sunday, May 15 after worship, ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING! Please plan to attend.

{ May 19-21 MCC People of African Decent Conference (PAD)  http://ufmcc.com/connectnow/events/pad-conference/

{ Saturday, June 6 – MCC Churches Share A Russian River Baptism Service

Lenten Events Shared with San Jose Downtown Churches

{ Wednesday, March 30 6:15 p.m. Soup Supper A three week series on Homelessness held at Grace Baptist Church. (Soup, bread, and dessert will be prepared each week by one of the churches.) The program for this night will be a panel discussion comprised of representatives from EHC Lifebuilders, InnVision, Bill Wilson Center and Downtown Streets Team. The take-away from this program will be: What can I do to help these agencies?

Wednesday, April 6 6:15 p.m. Soup Supper The program for this night’s program will be our Corrections Systems and how that affects homelessness in our downtown. Representatives for this panel discussion will be from CIC Ministries, the Chaplains to the Jails in our county, and the aftercare programs of Santa Clara County Mental Health Services and Destination Home.  Location: Grace Baptist Church.

Wednesday, April 13 6:15 p.m Soup Supper Tonight’s program will be an stirring bible study on the scripture. from Luke 14:7-14 on God’s kingdom and who is included therein, which will be led by Seminarian and Director of Apostle’s Feet Ministry and the Oakland Servant Partners Ministry, Andy Singleterry.  Location: Grace Baptist Church

Thursday, April 21 6:15 p.m. Maundy Thursday Tonight’s worshipful meal will be at First Christian Church, 80 S. Fifth St.  (parking at the 4th St. Garage and the City Garage opposite First Presbyterian (free at night). Our dinner and program will be with our homeless friends who frequent our churches. 

Friday, April 22 7:00 p.m. Good Friday A Tenebrae (Latin for darkness) Service at First Presbyterian Church, 49 N. Fourth St. (parking in the church lot and the City Garage across the Street on Fourth St., (free at night), an evening of quiet prayerful meditation beginning with light and entering into dark. The distinctive ceremony of Tenebrae includes the gradual extinguishing of candles while a series of Biblical readings are recited.

Sunday, April 24 Easter Sunday Celebrated at each church individually at regular Sunday worship times, or as announced: Watch MCC SJ Bulletin for more information about our Easter Sunday observances.