Worship & BBQ, Sept. 11, at 10am in Roosevelt Park

Join us for worship this week, September 11, at 10 am in Roosevelt Park – just a few short blocks from the church!
This is a great time and place to reconnect if you’ve been away awhile, or if you’ve waiting for the right time to worship with us.

Informal Worship will be followed by a Barbeque potluck. A few church members will provide the burgers (and meatless patties) for the grill- with all the fixin’s – and soft drinks. You are invited to bring a cold side dish, salad or desert to share. Or, simply come and enjoy!

Please bring a folding chair, camping chair, or blanket to sit on. We’ll also provide a few extras for those who cannot bring their own.

WORSHIP – (beginning at the usual 10 am time) – will include reflection on the Tenth Anniversary of the 911 attacks as well as Celebration of the healing power and beauty of The Divine in nature. Guitar music will accompany our singing (want to play your guitar for worship? – Contact Rev. Marjorie right away for more information: marjpearsonmusic@yahoo.com).

**Let’s make this a joyful and meaningful worship service together followed by fun and fellowship outdoors!! Hope to see you there! [If you can help share the work of making this service and celebration happen, please contact Deacon Woody right away: DeaconWoody@mccsj.org]

DIRECTIONS TO WORSHIP – &  BBQ – IN THE PARK:
To get to the park from the church, take 11th street to Santa Clara. Turn right on Santa Clara. Cross the bridge just past 17th Street and the park is immediately on the left. There is a paved path that will lead to the picnic area where we will set up. You can park on the street and walk on that first path to the left directly to our picnic area, or drive down to 21st street and turn left. Then turn left again into the parking lot that is behind the community center. Walk past the skate board area and continue on the paved walkway towards the creek. The picnic area is under the trees right beside the creek. You can’t actually see the creek until you are at the picnic area. We will set up signs to mark where to go.

Many blessings, and thanks to all who are making this happen!
Rev. Rebecca Anderson

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.

2010 Transgender Speaker Series at MCCSJ

Please join us for “Transcending Barriers,” our 2010 Transgender Speaker Series at MCC San Jose.  This is our fourth annual Transgender Speaker Series, with five extraordinary speakers!

Here’s the schedule for our 2010 series:

Introduction to the Series – January 10, 2010
Presentation at MCC San José’s Sunday Service at 6:00pm.  All are welcome.

Pastor Bran Scott & Pastor Elane O’Rourke – January 17, 2010
Bran is the first out transperson to be ordained in the United Church of Christ. Elane is his wife. They serve together at the Campbell United Church of Christ.
Speak at MCC San José’s Sunday Service at 6:00pm.  All are welcome.

Reverend Sky Anderson – January 24, 2010
First out transperson to serve as a pastor in the United States.  First out transperson to serve on the board of directors of a council of churches.  Senior Pastor of MCC San Jose from 1978-1982.
Speaks at MCC San José’s Sunday Service at 6:00pm.  All are welcome.

Drew House – January 31, 2010
Graduate Intern at San José State University’s LGBT Resourch Center.  Drew is a practicing Mormon, an out transperson, and an advocate for LGBT rights.
Speaks at MCC San José’s Sunday Service at 6:00pm.  All are welcome.

The Honorable Rev. Victoria Kolakowski – February 7, 2010
First person to have a trans-friendly article published in an academic theological journal.  First out transperson to be appointed as a judge.  Speaks at MCC San José’s Sunday Service at 6:00pm.  All are welcome.

Help us spread the word about this outstanding series!  Click the buttons below to share information about this series on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.  You can also click the following link for a downloadable poster that you can print out and share with your friends.

For directions to MCC San Jose, please click the following link for information about how to get here.

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service – 10pm, Dec. 24

Please join us for MCC San Jose’s annual Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 10pm on December 24. Our Christmas Eve service will feature lots of Christmas carols, including a chance to sing “Silent Night” by candlelight. We will also have some special solo performances, Marge Burns will play Grace Baptist’s organ before the service, and Rev. Mike will share a short Christmas reflection.

Our friends from Grace Baptist Church will be joining us for this service – everyone is welcome!

Need directions? Please click the following link for information about how to get to our new location.

Our 2009-2010 Taize Season begins September 16

Please join us at 7:30pm on Wednesday, September 16, for the return of our monthly Taizé services. Our September service will feature the deep and beautiful music of the Taizé Community and our choir singing Anton Bruckner’s “Locus Iste.”

This will be our first Taizé service at our new home. We are now sharing a building with Grace Baptist Church, located at 484 East San Fernando Street in downtown San Jose. Please click here for directions.

For a complete set of dates for our 2009-2010 Taizé season, please click the following link to visit our Taizé page.

Troy Perry speaks at MCCSJ’s New Location – Sept. 13

Please join us at 6:00pm on September 13 for a rare opportunity to hear and meet Troy Perry, a pre-Stonewall LGBT rights activist. Troy has been a leading voice for LGBT rights for more than forty years.  As part of his recent work, he was one of the original plaintiffs in the lawsuit which resulted in the 2008 California Supreme Court ruling which made marriage legal in California before the passage of Proposition 8.

Troy will be speaking as part of MCC’s first evening worship service at our new location, 484 East San Fernando Avenue in downtown San Jose (Grace Baptist Church). Please click the following link for directions to our new home.  Note:  unlike our previous location, our new space is wheelchair accessible and has a parking lot!

Please join us after the service for refreshments and a chance to meet Troy.