MCC European Network Newsletter August 2010

In this Issue

• Reflection
• Who cares for me?
• Church Events
• Special Guest
• Open Day
• Bon Voyage
• Continue the PRIDE Season

Reflection

John 3:16

God did not create you or me as an object of hate, ridicule, rejection and condemnation .... Jesus said, "Everyone is welcome, especially those on the margins". Human kind says - Everyone is welcome, except those on the margins. Jesus said Love your neighbour, as you love yourself, human kind says, "I'll love my neighbour as long as they are like me." Jesus said everyone is equal in my sight - human kind says "they are not my type, they are not from the right side of the track, they are beneath me"

God did not create you or me as an object of hate, rejection and condemnation ....people have added their own interpretation and in the process given God a bad name!  It is often the repercussion of this that we at MCC see and experience.

How often do we, who know what it is to be on the margins, marginalise others?  How inclusive are we really?  Are we open enough to see beyond the binaries?  Does EVERYONE feel welcome in our spaces?  Is our focus specifically on the L and G and we forget about the B and the T and the I?  What about the our straight allies, family and friends?
One of the great values of MCC is affirmation and inclusivity.

A while ago, we had a Swedish visitor, who was conducting research and came along for a service.  She admitted afterwards to not being "religious" and not ever having attended church (unless for an occasion).  When she left that evening, she said "From what I know and what I have experienced, if Jesus was on earth - this is where he would have worshiped".

May we all continue to be blessed and to be a blessing ....may we all strive daily, to put legs on prayers

Sharon Cox
African Development Worker & Network Leader

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Who Cares For Me?

Your Care & Connection Network Leaders are:

Europe:

Rev Kieren Bourne - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Rev Janice Bowker - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Jochen Gewecke - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Africa:

Sharon Cox-Ludwig - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Admin:

Marina Laws - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Church Events

Living Springs MCC will be holding a Cream Tea & Table Top Sale Fundraising Event on Saturday 7th August 10.30am onwards Argyle Room Central URC BATH. The Mayor of Bath will be opening the event.  Everyone welcome.

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Special Guest

A Celebration of All God's People

Benny Hazlehurst was the recent special guest speaker, at Living Springs MCC, which attacted visitors from three local churches. The service was a great success.

A little bird tells me that Benny has also recently been a guest at River of Life MCC.

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Open Day

River of Life MCC, in Dorchester, held a very successful Open Day on Saturday 24th July to celebrate their new building - The River of Life Centre.

They welcomed over 100 people through the doors, offered cream teas, tours of the new building and thanked everyone involved.

Bon Voyage

You may remember our recent article about Alan & Emily, the Street Pastors from MCC South London.

Well, they will soon be setting off on their travels; they will be walking across Northern Spain, then volunteering at Project WHY (www.projectwhy.org) in New Delhi, India; following that they will be spending some time in Hong Kong and New Year in New Zealand before returning to the UK, via Mexico, where they hope to volunteer at an orphange there.

They plan for their time at Project WHY aren't quite finalised yet but they plan to use all the wonderful skills they've gained whilst working at the Science Museum!  Hopefully they'll teach the older kids storytelling and science experiments along with the English vocabulary that goes with them.

They then plan to do a little 'train the trainer' and support the older kids so they perform and teach the younger students the storytellings and experiments.

They will be missed very much by all their friends and church family; we would like to take this opportunity to wish them every blessing and travellers mercies for their big adventure.

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Continuing the PRIDE Season

Hamburg Pride
31st July to 8th August
http://nighttours.com/gaypride

Brighton Pride Parade
7th August 2010
http://brightonpride.org

Copenhagen Pride
18th to 22nd August 2010
http://www.copenhagenpride.dk/

Bristol Pride
21st August 2010
http://www.pridebristol.com

Manchester Pride
27th to 30th August 2010
http://manchesterpride.com

Dorchester Pride
27th to 30th August 2010
Contact River of Life MCC for further info
www.river-of-life.org.uk