Over the weekend of February 25-28, the Raleigh Convention Center will host some of the world’s greatest champions of equal rights and social justice. The Human Rights Campaign will hold its 2010 HRC Carolinas Gala on Saturday, February 27th.

St. John’s MCC has a table at the Gala event and is one of the sponsors of the Gala program. There is still time to buy tickets at or near the St. John’s MCC table. Several of the events that surround the Saturday Gala are at places we might already frequent: CCs, Tantra, Flex, the Mahler Gallery, and Drag Bingo (HRC Style). See the full list on the Gala website. If you are there at the right moment, you might just get to meet some of the HRC’s featured guests for the weekend including Clay Aiken, Meredith Baxter, Joe Solmonese, and Crystal Waters.

After the Gala, We Invite You to Worship with Us!

We want to extend our St. John’s MCC hospitality to all the people who come from out of town for this world-class event. Our worship services start at 8:45 am and at 11:00. We are just a short distance from uptown Raleigh near the corner of Glenwood Avenue and Peace Street. Click here for a map. We will try to keep our parking lot available for you to find a spot easily.

Welcome to Raleigh!

St. John’s MCC is highly honored to have someone who is such a gifted minister be our special guest for the 34th Anniversary Weekend. The Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman will help us kick off the celebration with a special Anniversary Worship Service on Friday evening, March 5th at 7:00. Rev. Ackerman will preach for the service.

Then, on Saturday beginning at 9:00 am, Rev. Ackerman will lead us in two growth workshops entitled “Church on the Move.” Past participants in these workshops have left feeling inspired and invigorated. It’s no wonder! Rev. Ackerman is one of the most gifted workshop facilitators in our denomination. 

Breaking the Barriers (Morning Workshop)

What implications would there be if another 10, 35 or 50 people started coming to church? What could the church do to assist them in staying? What will prevent them from coming back? This workshop will start with where St. John’s currently is and look at the issues we are now facing in this time of growth.

Community, Cause, Corporation (Afternoon Workshop)

This workshop will take a look at the church through 3 lenses. Could it be that people in the church view the church from different perspectives? Might they have different expectations and even a different vocabulary? We will explore this in a fun and creative way that will help St. John’s come to a deeper understanding of one another and to find ways to better work in a united way.

Both workshops are open to everyone! The workshops will end by 4:30 pm and have a lunch break around midday.

Rev. Ackerman will come back to our pulpit twice again on Sunday to preach for both the Anniversary Jubilation Worship service at 8:45 am and for the Anniversary Celebration Worship service at 11:00 am. The Canaan band that performed a concert for us on Saturday evening at 6:30 will return to sing for the 11:00 service. You won’t want to miss any of these praise and worship experiences.

There’s also an Anniversary Pot Luck Lunch that immediately follows the 11:00 service on Sunday. Be sure to read all the details about that lunch by clicking here.

We look forward to seeing you for Anniversary Weekend!

You loved them when they sang a Concert for us last August. You wanted more. Mel, Dave, and James will return to help St. John’s MCC celebrate our 34th Anniversary of the founding of our church. Featuring songs from their recently released album, “Shine,” Canaan will sing a Concert for us on Saturday evening, March 6th, beginning at 6:30 in our Sanctuary. Then they will stay overnight to sing a few songs for us during the 11:00 am Celebration Worship service on Sunday.

To help you remember them, be sure to re-view some of the videos from their last concert that are available on our website by clicking here. You can get the very latest info about Canaan at their newly-redesigned website, CanaanBand.com.

What would an Anniversary Celebration be without food?

Of course, we’re also having an Anniversary Pot Luck Lunch immediately following the 11:00 Celebration Worship service on Sunday, March 7th. That means we will bring our favorite dishes to share will everybody who comes. Everybody – even YOU – are invited!

If you would like to make donations for this event, please mark your offering accordingly or contact David Ray.

If you would like to help with any of the festivities, please get up with Scott Driver or Tara Marten (Potluck and fellowship opportunities) or Val Webster or Will Robinson (Concert and worship services). We would like to hear from you by February 28th.

Be sure to read about the Potato Salad by clicking here!

... Featuring Canaan Band AND Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman

You loved them when they sang a Concert for us last August. You wanted more. Mel, Dave, and James will return to help St. John’s MCC celebrate our 34th Anniversary of the founding of our church. Featuring songs from their recently released album, “Shine,” Canaan will sing a Concert for us on Saturday evening, March 6th, beginning at 6:30 in our Sanctuary. Then they will stay overnight to sing a few songs for us during the 11:00 am Celebration Worship service on Sunday.

To help you remember them, be sure to re-view some of the videos from their last concert that are available on our website by clicking here. You can get the very latest info about Canaan at their newly-redesigned website, CanaanBand.com.

Not only will we be thrilled through music, but our friend, the Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman, will celebrate the weekend with us as well. She will preach at the opening Anniversary Kick-Off Worship Service on Friday, March 5th, at both morning worship services on Sunday, March 7th, and will conduct workshops on Saturday. You will not want to miss her vibrant message.

What would an Anniversary Celebration be without food?

Of course, we’re also having a Potluck Lunch immediately following the 11:00 Celebration Worship service. That means we will bring our favorite dishes to share will everybody who comes. Everybody – even YOU – are invited!

If you would like to make donations for this event, please mark your offering accordingly or contact David Ray.

If you would like to help with any of the festivities, please get up with Scott Driver or Tara Marten (Potluck and fellowship opportunities) or Val Webster or Will Robinson (Concert and worship services). We would like to hear from you by February 28th.

More Details Coming Soon!

There is a lot happening on our Anniversary weekend, and you’ll hear much more about it in the coming weeks. Don’t plan anything else for that weekend! You’ll be happy you did.

Well, when it comes to a church-wide Potluck Lunch like we’re going to have to help celebrate our church’s 34th Anniversary on Sunday, March 7th after the 11:00 Worship Service, yes, we might end up with WAY too much potato salad.

The rule of thumb is this: We ask every member and regular attender who attends that day to bring enough food for you and your family, plus enough for one or two more people. That way, our guests can join us without feeling like they are mooching.

In order to make it work, we ask you to let Scott or Tara know what you are bringing. Please let them know by THIS Sunday, February 28th. That way, they can know that we’ll have enough of all kinds of dishes for everybody. Please click here (Scott or Tara) to let them know.

If you can help with some of the expenses for providing the plates, utensils, cups, drinks, and the like, we would appreciate that VERY much. Click here to let Scott or Tara know how you want to help.

Thanks!

The beginning of the liturgical season of Lent marks a time of reflection. As we prepare to remember the events of Holy Week, Ash Wednesday marks a time when we can pause in our busy schedules to begin that period of reflection.

This year, we will gather at St. John’s MCC on Wednesday, February 17th at 7:00 pm for our Ash Wednesday Service. Like many congregations, the service will be simple – featuring the imposition of ashes that were made by burning the palm leaves used during last year’s Palm Sunday worship. Palm Sunday, of course, marks the beginning of Holy Week – culminated by Easter.

You are invited to join us in this meaningful worship experience in our Sanctuary.

Our friends, Jason & deMarco, the singing duo who headlined our Pastor’s Anniversary Weekend in 2008, will be singing nearby very soon. You may want to catch one or both of their concerts.

Jason & deMarco invite you to their appearance at MCC of the Blue Ridge in Roanoke, VA on Thursday, February 11th, 2010. Then, they will also appear on Sunday, February 14th, 2010 at MCC Richmond for the morning service and an afternoon concert. Both locations are a short drive from Raleigh.

You can keep up with the latest news about Jason & deMarco on their J&D Street Team website at janddstreetteam.ning.com.

You can also relive highlights of their concert for St. John’s MCC in 2008 here on our website in the Devotions section and the Life Stories/Testimonies section.