Volume 4, Issue 8 February 22, 2009 - ResurrectionMCC

! ! " # ! ! WINTERTWO-DAY 2009 SESSION * ! ) ! , # %&' " ( ) Saturdays, February28 & March 7 - . 9:00amto4:30pm(2929UnityDr, Houston)- / " ! * " ! " ! ! # * * ! ! , # ) " ! % 0" * ! , 1 ! " * , # * ! " " “[People] hate each other because they fear each other, and they fear each other because they don’tknow each other, and they don’t know each other becausethey are often separated from eachother.” ! " # ! %"-Dr.MartinLuther King ' 2 - 3 4 - 5 /Dialogue:Racismprovides a safe,respectfuland loving atmosphere/ * # ! ! * - 3 " ! " , " , ) ) 2 ! forindividualstolearnnewinformation,sharetheir experiences, # ' " !/ 4 ) # ! ! 0" * !and ask questions to dispel the fears, to get to know oneanother, and to stop the separation.From a distance, it may sound like music from a car stereo.But as you draw near, you realize that there is no melody,just a pulsating rhythm. Close inspection reveals a groupof a dozen or so people playing drums of all kinds: big andlittle ones, both primitive and high-tech.This is a drumming circle! Gaining popularity across thecountry, some circles celebrate Native American customsand heritage or other ethnic traditions, but all are outletsfor people expressing a primal urge that drives their spirit,as they drum amidst camaraderie and fun. " " 2 # ! 4 ' / 4 # # " " ! # Saturday, March 7, 3:00 - 4:30 pmActivities Building ! ! # ) # " 2 ! " ! # / 4 ! " ! " * # ! "6 ! " ! ! 7 ! 68 , " 9 ! TOPICSFEATUREDOVER THE TWO DAYS: / 4 ! ! " * ! " Defining Various Types of RacismHow Racism is Perpetuated 7 ! / 4 0 # " # / ! * 9 * ! * * ! Unaware Racismand WhitePrivilege / , 1 / % ) Stereotypes and how theyaffect us * # ! ! ! : # ! ! " # :% 0 " * ! ! ! # , * # ! ! # !Cultural Racism # sm ! " " ) - "" ! 1 ! ) ?6@AB6CAAD ! E F ! " ) " E F ! InstitutionalizedRacism "/GG### GRace is a Human InventionMy Next Steps, Finding Allies ! ! " " ! 7 ! / 4 , # "" # * ! # ! " " ) * , # ! ! 6 ! Drumming is not only fun, it induces deep relaxation,lowers blood pressure, and reduces the stress whichcontributes to nearly all disease and life-threateningillnesses. Drumming puts the mind, body and spirit in aplace of rest and strengthens wellness! , " ! 1 ! "" # ! * * * * 0* Resurrection hosted a drumming circle workshop a fewweeks ago and it was a huge success! The drumming circleis open to ALL, and requires no prior experience withdrumming. Join us! If you want more information, contactDenise Junious, DrummingCircle@ResurrectionMCC.org.The sessions are free and open to thepublic; registration is required by calling theCenter’s office at 713-520-8226 and leaving the name(s) andphone numbers of person(s) attending.Drumming Circle is hosted monthly on the first Saturday.www.centerhealingracism.orgWhat are Your Gifts?Board of Directors Positions AvailableApplication Deadline: TODAY!Calling all members who have the gifts of Administration,Creative Communication, Leadership, Discernmentand/or Vision to prayerfully consider applying to serveon Resurrection's Board of Directors.The Board of Directors is responsible for the financialhealth of the church and for administrating ourresources in support of Resurrection's Vision to Attractpeople into a relationship with God through radicalInclusion into God's family, transform them to Christlike Maturity, and Mobilize them for their life purpose.If you have a passion for financial administration,fundraising, community building outside our walls, andstrategic planning for our future, you may be a blessingto our community of faith. Please consider applying forone of several open positions. Position descriptionsavailable through the Nominating Committee;application packets available at all Sanctuary entrances.Join Team Resurrection MCC!Sunday, March 15, 9 amTeam Leader KitGo online today. Sign up to walk and raise funds forour HIV / AIDS Benevolence Fund. Get your t-shirt inReferenceGuideTeamLeadersInspirations CoffeeCafefor& GiftShop today!For more information, contact the NominatingCommittee at Nominating@ResurrectionMCC.org orAspeak to one of the committee members: Chair - RoseFor questions, or toMAILINGvolunteer,emailPHYSICAL ADDRESSADDRESSWall, Win Boyd, Dr. Jacqueline Chambers, Dr. GaryAIDS Walk Houston AIDSWalk@ResurrectionMCC.orgAIDS Walk HoustonChamness, and Ron Drumm.AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc.P.O. Box 563473202 WeslayanHouston,6 TX 77027Houston, TX 77256

The ChaliceHer son had always been a lovely child: inquisitive,sensitive, compassionate. In the past year, however,a change had risen in him: agitated, selfish and evenangry – she was beside herself with concern. It isthe sugar, it doesn’t agree with him! her motherwould tell her. It’s the sugar, it is like poison in theboy! her grandmother agreed. So she tried to keepthe sugar from him, but he would be a young mansoon and he challenged her: That is stupid! he wouldproclaim, What do you know about such things? Shedetermined to make the days journey with him, havehim see the Wise One; her son would listen to him And so, rising early in the morning they set out fromthe village: she, resolute; the soon-to-be-young-manwho was her son, surly and shuffling at her side. Theday of walking was dusty and tedious, the line to seethe Wise One long. At last, in the late afternoon, thewoman brought her son before the Wise One. Sheexplained that he was a lovely child – inquisitive,sensitive, compassionate – but that the sugar waspoisoning him, changing him into someone untrueto his own spirit. Tell him to stop eating sugar!she begged. The Wise One looked upon them bothquietly. Please – I ask of you: tell him to stop eatingsugar! she repeated. Again, the Wise One consideredthem both silently. Eventually he spoke, saying onlyReturn in 3 weeks. The woman was beside herself,but the Wise One turned to the next person in line. Shetook her son and began the long walk home. Threeweeks later the woman and her son again made thejourney. Arriving at their second meeting with theWise One, he welcomed the woman and her son andhe spoke to the soon-to-be-young-man solemnly, withboth compassion and conviction: My son, the sugaris poison to your spirit; you cannot be truly free ordeeply happy until you let it go. This is an importanttime in your life – and it is time for you to stop eatingsugar. The woman wept as she saw understandingand acceptance dawn within her son’s eyes. Thankyou, beloved teacher, thank you! she whispered. Asthey turned to go, the woman paused. Can you tellme, Wise One: why could you not have spoken thesevaluable words to my son when we made the journeythree weeks ago? The Wise One bowed once beforeher, and answered: Three weeks ago I was stilleating sugar opening.receiving.offeringLife in FullnessFEBRUARY 22 - No ChaliceA Sip from The ChaliceSpiritual Deepening Practice:Reflecting on Sacred StoriesThen those who reverenced God talked with eachother, telling stories of their spiritual journeys andGod listened and heard. A scroll of remembrancewas written in God’s presence concerning thesewho spoke of their walk with God and how theyhonor God’s life with their own. "They will be mine,"says the Holy One, "in the day when I make up mytreasured possession. I will uplift them, just as incompassion a parent holds fast to beloved children.And you will again see the distinction between thelives of those who turn to God and the lives of thosewho turn away, between those who serve God andthose who do not.-- Malachi 3:16-18, adaptedReflecting upon the witness of Malachi in the HebrewScriptures, devout practitioners of the Jewish faith saythat when pious people sit and tell holy stories, Godcomes and listens. Generations of people of Africandescent have marked the “way out of no way,” fromdespair into faith and from bondage into freedom,with words lifted in song and story. LGBTQIA peopleshave for years braved violences of all kinds to bringstory from silence, to speak our truth into life. Faith freedom life God-with-us is proclaimed in theSacred Stories we share and in the death-defying, lifeaffirming, community/ies we form, rooted in storiesof faith. Bill Moyers writes: “Once in East Africa, onthe shores of an ancient lake, I sat alone and suddenlyit struck me what community is. It is gathering arounda fire and listening to someone tell us a story.” Themeditative practice of Sacred Storytelling involvesreceiving a faith-story in such a way that whenlistening, even if others are present, a person shouldassume that on a spiritual level the story is being told"just for me," and should ask, “Why would God intendfor me to hear this particular story at this particulartime?” Listen - what is God intending for you to hearthrough it’s telling at this time? Read the story aloud.Listen to the words.Relax. Listen inside yourself for God’s word withinyou. After 3-5 minutes of spiritually receptivelistening note anything you may have received foryour journey 7

Get Connected to a FirstImpressions MinistryMUSIC MINISTRYStop by the Gathering Place after services and findout more about exciting volunteer opportunities!Resurrection MCC is so blessed to have a number ofmusic groups to minister at our worship services. Soloor professional quality voices are not necessary to be apart of these groups. Below is a list of the groups andwhen they meet. Please take some time to considerbeing a part of Resurrection MCC's music ministry.Concierge DeskEliot PerezConcierge@ResurrectionMCC.orgDo you like to help people feel welcome and included?We need loving, warm and friendly people to serve atthe Concierge Desk, located in the Gathering place,before and after both Sunday Worship Services! Thisdesk helps welcome new friends, provide them witha free gift, and help them get connected.Gospel EnsembleTuesdays 7 pmDirected by Cassandra White, this group sings musicin the African-American Gospel tradition, traditionalSpirituals and contemporary music of all types. Readingmusic is not required for this group, but the ability tomatch pitch and sing a part separate from the melodyis.Inspirations Coffee Cafe & Gift ShopDawn AshbrookInspirations@ResurrectionMCC.orgLooking for new friendly faces and volunteers forthis ministry! Provide outstanding customer servicein an atmosphere of fellowship for people to makeconnections.Sanctuary ChoirTuesdays 7 pmThis group sings mostly traditional church choral musicwith some contemporary music added from time totime. Reading music is not required for this group, butthe ability to match pitch and sing a part separate fromthe melody is.Second Family Care PartnersResurrection SingersKristia AmmermanSecondFamily@ResurrectionMCC.orgThis care team acts as extended family and friends,offering emotional, practical, and spiritual support.Meets for lunch 1st Sun. at 12:30 pm.Mondays 7 pmThis is our newest group. Reading music would bevery helpful and being comfortable on a separatemicrophone.Angels in MotionUshersSecond & Fourth Saturdays 1 pmThis group is a dance troupe that ministers through danceand movement.This group has its own choreographers.Experience in dance is not necessary, if one has thewillingness to learn.Dave MathisUshers@ResurrectionMCC.orgWe need ushers for 9 & 11 am Sunday WorshipServices. Teams serve one service (either 9 or 11 am)each month. Remember, "No one is JUST an usher."HeavenSound HandbellsSundays 1:30 pmCurrently there are several open spots in the handbellchoir. Interested people need to have some musicreading skills. Experience in ringing is not required.Thedirector, Jim Winslett, will teach anyone the techniquesof ringing.Welcome TeamJason SowdersWelcome@ResurrectionMCC.orgDo you like helping people feel special and welcome themoment they arrive to the church?We want to welcome people to the church andhelp them get to where they need to go. Teammembers are positioned at every door and sidewalk,greeting people with a smile and kind word, offeringdirections or answering questions.Resurrection OrchestraWeekly rehearsal day has not been determined. Wecurrently have about 6 people interested in beginningthis new group, however, we need a few more to have abalanced instrumentation.Reading music is essential,as ishaving your own instrument (other than percussion).If you have questions or would like tojoin any of these teams, email the teamlead (listed above) or contact JasonWood at Jason@ResurrectionMCC.orgor 832-971-0354.If you have interest in any of these groups,please email Worship@ResurrectionMCC.org8

Parents Lunch SocialTODAY!12:30 pm, Activities BuildingKroger Neighbor to Neighborreplaces Share CardCustomerLetter LetterParents, Parents-To-Be, orCustomerThenewNeighbortoNeighborprogram (which isStep One:those interested in becoming parents,replacingtheShareCard)launched1, 2008Neighbor toStepOne:this letter to understand the advantage of being a partonofMaythe Krogerare invited to join us for lunch! Read throughandallowsResurrectionMCCtheopportunitytothe Kroger ingapart ofNeighbor Donation Program.earna portion of 1 million that will be donatedNeighborDonationProgram.Step Two:annually. The program earning period is May 1, 2008StepTwo:If you aren't able to join us today, Takebut wouldlikewithtothe letteryou to yourneighborhoodKrogerthe next time you go shopping.throughApril30,2009. tore the next time you go sStepevents,Three:emailreceive announcements about futureStepparticipate inthe program,simply upontake thisletterThree:with your Toorganization’sbarcodeto your cashiercheckout. After theParents@ResurrectionMCC.org Present the tripand havehave scanned your KrogerPlus Card you will be enrolled for the current yearof olledforthecurrentyearof r to Neighbor Donation Program. Every time you shop at Kroger and use your youshopatKrogeranduseCare for our environment by recyclingKrogerPlusnewspapers,Card, Kroger willcontributepercentageof youreligiblepurchasesto the KrogerBeloware a afewfrequentlyaskedquestionsof themagazines, catalogs and junk mail inNeighborthe apercentageofyoureligiblepurchasestoprogram:to Neighbor Donationfund. Once a card is scanned with the barcode, it will be activparkinglot.Neighborto NeighborDonation fund. Once a card is scanned with the barcode, it wfor the remainderof theprogramyear.Cana � their Kroger PlusIn 2008, we recycledCard to more than one organization at aQ &tonsA30of paper,Q & ANeighbor to time?HowmanyincreaseKrogerNeighbor accounts can an organization have?a 12%the systemallowsfor oneorganizationperHow many KrogerNo,Neighborto Neighboraccountscan anorganization have?over 2007.household.Tochangeorganizations,youmustOne per organization. (Example: ABC HIGH SCHOOL account could represent: PTA, cheerleaders, football,Oneetc.)per(Example:ABCKrogerPlusHIGH SCHOOLaccountPTA, cheerleaderpresentyourCardandcouldthe represent:newWe nowband,havetwoorganization.basketball,band, etc.)organization’s barcode to the cashier.collection basketball,binsCanhousehold“link” their Kroger Plus Card to more than one organization at a time?as athisprogramDo Itheirhaveto enrolleachprogramyear?Can a household “link”KrogerPlus Cardto morethan one organizationat a time?grows.We receiveYes, all organization’sparticipantsre- present yourNo, the system allows for one organizationper household. Toandchangeorganizations,mustyou mustcash basedNo,onthethesystemfor oneorganizationpercashier.household. Toperiod.chan

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God's holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God's holy name! God has done great things, God has done great things, God has done great things, bless God's holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me