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Worship This Sunday

 

Daylight Savings Time

Remember to set your clocks ahead an hour on Saturday night so you can arrive at the right time on Sunday!

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Community of Hope

After Jesus proclaims he will suffer and die, Peter refuses to believe. But Jesus responds, "Get behind me Satan!" This week we'll explore this Matthean passage as we continue walking Jesus' path that leads us beyond self.  
Livestream
Bulletin

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Advent

Does suffering build character? More importantly, what does that say about your relationship with Jesus? Worship is shaped by the Sighs Too Deep liturgy, as we join the Samaritan woman at the well.
Livestream
Bulletin
Reading sheet

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Noisy Offering and Prayers

We are excited to share that based on student ideas and faith formation voting results, the Noisy Offering funds will help immigrant children and families in the Twin Cities and GSAFE, an organization that supports LGBTQ+ youth in schools. We'll continue to collect each Sunday through 3/22. Also, a reminder that all are invited to complete a prayer slip and put it in the kids' purple prayer box in the Blessing Room each Sunday to share it with the MCC community during Lent.

 

MCC Announcements

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Adult Ed

This Sunday in 9:00 Adult Ed will include circle conversations facilitated by Diane Eddings. The topic will be Cultivating Hope in Trying Times. We will learn from each other by sharing how we cultivate hope.

Upcoming sessions:

Mar. 15 will have Bryan Sirchio sharing about Convergence Music Project and the evolving church music scene
Mar. 22 welcomes reporter (and MCC neighbor) Barry Adams from the Wis. State Journal on the state of the newspaper industry
Mar. 29 will be a Tools for Resistance / Getting to Know You series session on the MCC “fixers”

 

Children & Family Ministry News

Faith Formation

• Birth-4K will meet in the preschool with Emily, Lucie, and Marcia at 9am for free play, story, and a painting art project for our spring art wall display. We'll learn about how Jesus is the light!

• K-6th grade will review the story of Ezekiel and the dry bones to prepare a special puppet show during worship on 3/22 and work on art projects for the spring art wall display.

Thanks to all who participated and helped with our All Ages worship last Sunday! It was so much fun to worship God with singing, moving, and even water sprinkling. Let me know if you have any reflections about the experience.  Here are a few photos. 

 

Lent at the MCC

• Book Discussions: Wednesdays through March 25, the MCC First Nations group are leading discussions on a book of meditations from an Indigenous elder called Spirit Wheel. Several more copies are available for $15 (or what you’d like to pay).  Email the office to reserve a copy.  Both 11:30 and evening discussions will be about the same book, so you can come either time. The meditations will also be included in worship throughout the season (Sundays and Wednesdays). Note: the midday gathering is 11:30-1:00 (not noon, as was also misstated).

• Midweek Worship: We will again use the new Bless This Night evening prayer service from Holden Village at 6:00pm on Wednesdays. Click here for the liturgy booklet, and here for next Wednesday’s video link.

• Midweek Meals: Both midday and evening gatherings will include meals. Sign up here to bring soup, bread or dessert. For meal planning, lunch is averaging 18 and supper 40 people.

• Children's Offering: On Sundays during worship, children will be collecting a noisy offering (so save your pennies and other coins), which they'll donate to immigrant children and families in the Twin Cities and GSAFE, an organization that supports LGBTQ+ youth in schools. We’ll also have the children’s prayer box available for requests!

• Devotionals: "Tell Me Something Good" is an art and reflection-based devotional discovered by Andrea. It addresses questions of how to be inviting to all and how to serve our neighbor and protect the vulnerable in a world where bad news often overshadows the good. A few copies available on bulletin tables.  
  Or click here for a weekly devotional from Reconciling in Christ.

 

Asylum & Immigration Rhetoric

With ICE moving out of Minnesota, the work doesn't stop—it changes. After worship on Palm Sunday (3/29, 11:30-1:00), join for a special lunch and learning session with Sara McKinnon (UW-Madison) to break down how asylum and legal protections actually work. She’ll also show us how the government’s words shape the lives of immigrants. Dr. McKinnon (click for bio) is a professor of rhetoric, culture, and politics (and a friend of Jing Ries). Please RSVP for lunch.

 

Holy Week Choir Rehearsals

Palm Sunday, March 29
Rehearse after worship on:  Weds., March 11, 18 (no 25 - Spring Break); Sat., March 28 10-11am; before worship March 29 TBD
Good Friday, April 3
Rehearse:  Wed, March 11, 18 (no 25 - Spring Break); Sat, March 28. 10-11am; before worship April 3 TBD
Contact Jen Streit for more information!

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Judith Bible Study

Judith morning Bible study will meet next Tuesday, March 10 at 9:30 am in the Covenant Room.  Our lesson is from the Dec/Jan/Feb issue of Gather magazine starting on p. 38 and continues our discussion of prayer.  All are welcome, invite a friend :). Contact Joyce Anderson if you have questions.

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Band Concert with MCC Members

Mark your calendars for the Second Wind Band Concert at MCC on March 19th, 7pm. Come and hear theme songs from some of your favorite heroes and anti-heroes: Wonder Woman, Bilbo Baggins, Iron Man, Darth Vader, the Godfather, and more! This concert is free and family friendly. All are welcome!!

 

Donate Native Plants

Last year, MCC sponsored and received 60 native plants from the Plant Dane program.  We cleared and replanted 2 rain gardens and the prairie team, under Lois' supervision planted natives in the prairie.  Take a look; the team is pictured in this year's Plant Dane donation release.  The LUUG team has requested another grouping of natives for the prairies and woods.  The plants come in 4-packs, each costing $12.00. Please consider sponsoring some plants.  This will enable us to continue planting natives on the property. Click here for information on how to order. 

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Faith in Action for Racial Equity (FARE) News

The FARE group was asked to provide our additional resources in a more accessible format. In addition to sharing things on FARE’s private facebook group, here is a link to access a document that contains active links to both The Barber of Little Rock documentary and other resources (including ones local to the Madison area).
Also – don’t forget to SAVE THE DATE – Tuesday, April 14 – for an MCC tour of the Milton House in Janesville. The Milton House Museum is proud to be the last authenticated stop on the Underground Railroad that can still be toured in Wisconsin. More info soon!

 

Emails from Jay & Larry

After many years of faithful service overseeing our ministry scheduling program (MSP), Emily Wixon is taking a much-deserved break. With some trepidation, Jay Thomas and Larry Henning have agreed to step into the void. Jay brings knowledge of computer programs and Larry brings ... well, maybe some knowledge of congregational life. Jay and Larry are deeply grateful that Emily will mentor them in the transition. You will see Jay's name and email on MSP emails from now on. Hopefully you won't get assigned to play cello when you thought you were signing up for baking bread. But if you do, let Jay and Larry know, and please be gentle.

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Salad Supper Save the Date

"Mark your calendars for the annual MCC Salad Supper! Wednesday, April 29th. We are tentatively starting with social time around 5:30, followed by scrumptious salads and desserts. The speaker this year is Sheila Martin, Executive Director for the Specialty Care Free Clinic. Please direct questions to Sarah Kruger; sarahtkruger@gmail.com 

 

Knitting for You

PURLS has a big supply of prayer shawls and also of knitted hats. If you’d like one or have an idea of anybody else who could use one, let Candi Bloedow or a pastor know!

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Pizza Oven Planning

Do you want 90-second pizzas cooked at church? Do you want plans for how the oven could be used? For years, there have been conversations about building a wood-fired pizza oven. The Building and Grounds team looked at some plans and believe construction is possible. But questions of implementation and HOW the oven would be used are also important before building the oven. Would you like to be part of that initial planning? Let a pastor know!

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