St. John’s will once again sponsor Rest Stop #3 for this year’s AIDS Walk+Ride that will be held this Saturday, May 5th. Rest Stop #3 will be at Union Baptist Church, located at 4024 Old Weaver Trail in Creedmoor, North Carolina. We will provide beverages and snacks for approximately 45 riders this year. Everyone is welcome to come out and cheer on the riders and assist with providing refreshments. 

We hope that you will join us. If you are interested in participating in other AIDS Walk+Ride activities on Saturday, please visit www.AidsWalkAndRide.org.

Re: Amendment 1

I am the publisher of The Blotter, a magazine distributed throughout North Carolina. The proposed Amendment 1 could, among many other hateful things, forbid companies from providing equal benefits to their gay employees. I and my colleagues hereby state that if it passes, we will categorically refuse to obey it.

At the moment this is a moot point, since we're so small and nonprofit we can't afford to pay anyone benefits, including ourselves. It's a matter of principles instead. The principle that all our employees are American citizens, human beings and children of God, created in His image and loved by Him unconditionally, and therefore deserve unconditionally equal recognition, respect, rights and benefits. The principle that minorities should be protected from the tyranny of the majority, since if majorities got to vote on minority rights there wouldn't be any. (If civil rights had been put to referendums 60 years ago, Rosa Parks would still be at the back of the bus.) And the principle that if any institution—such as marriage—is so fragile that it needs discrimination, injustice, cruelty and constitutionally mandated apartheid in order to survive, then it by God should be redefined.

We invite every organization, business and municipality in this state that supports equality to stand with us and avow that no government or referendum on Earth will ever force us to commit bigotry against our own people.

Martin Smith
Durham

Reprinted from The Independent, "Letters to the Editor," April 18, 2012

Holy Week is the last week of Lent before Easter, beginning on Palm Sunday and ending on Holy Saturday. Holy Week is the part of the Church Year where Jesus’ final moments are commemorated. This year, it begins on Sunday, April 1st.

Palm Sunday: On the sixth Sunday of Lent we commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Worship services include blessing of the palms and a procession. Some traditions call this Sunday before Easter “Passion Sunday.” Others call it “Fig Sunday.” St. John’s MCC celebrates it with Jubilation Worship at 8:45 am and Celebration Worship at 11:00 am.

Great and Holy Tuesday: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash A Revolution In Your Life In Christ is an intense study we encourage you to take part in. Beginning at 6:30 pm, the Tuesday Night Bible Study Class will focus on this groundbreaking book authored by Peter Scazzero, who firmly believes “it’s impossible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature,” stresses the importance of a biblical integration of emotional health, a relationship with Christ and the practice of contemplative spirituality.

Spy Wednesday: On Spy Wednesday evening at 6:30, our congregation will gather together in our Sanctuary to watch The Passion of the Christ, a film directed and produced by Mel Gibson about the last hours of Jesus’ life. All of the dialogue is in the ancient languages Aramaic and Latin; the initial theatrical release didn’t even have subtitles. Much of it is based on the Bible, detailing what happened during Jesus’ last hours. A brief discussion will follow the showing of this film.

Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday): The name “Maundy Thursday” comes from Jesus “mandate” to love one another as he loves us. This day celebrates Jesus’ institution of the sacraments of Holy Eucharist and is also known as “Shear Thursday” by some. At St. John’s MCC’s 7:00 pm observance of Maundy Thursday, we commemorate the last supper that Jesus ate with the disciples.

Good Friday: St. John’s MCC remembers Jesus’ crucifixion and death on the cross at a service on Good Friday. Worship at 7:00 pm includes a dramatic retelling of the Passion story - reading excerpts of the story of the crucifixion and death of Jesus from John’s gospel, the Veneration of the Cross, and the singing of hymns of the Cross.

Holy Saturday: This is the final day of Holy Week. There are few specific customs associated with Holy Saturday, except that it is the final night before the Feast of the Resurrection, which begins at the Great Easter Vigil.

Easter with St. John’s MCC

We invite you to participate in the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ with St. John’s MCC on Sunday, April 8th.

• Easter Sunrise Service at 6:00 am starting in the Sanctuary. Gather at 5:45 am.
• Then join us for the Easter Sunrise Breakfast immediately following the Sunrise Service in the Friendship Hall.
• Easter Jubilation Worship at 8:45 am. (Topics at Ten will not meet on Easter Sunday.)
• Easter Celebration Worship starting at 11:00 am.

Eating Well - For Ourselves, For Our Neighbors,
For Our Planet

Thursday, April 19, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Winston-Salem

Register now for the 2012 Critical Issues Seminar taking place April 19 in Winston-Salem. This exciting day-long event focuses on the social justice implications of what we eat and how it is grown, and features experts on issues from farmworkers to food security to personal health. The event also offers a chance to meet with and learn from people who have successfully put their beliefs around food and faith into action.

Registration and Payment Information

The cost of the day is $25; for students, it’s $14. Registration includes lunch, but payment must be received by April 5 to guarantee a meal.

For the first time, the Council will offer an optional add-on event at the end of the day. Join us as we partner with Stop Hunger Now to package food for those in need. Participation in the food packaging is an additional $25 to defray Stop Hunger Now’s costs.

Click here for more info on schedule, workshops, and registration.

St. John’s is thrilled to announce the return of Jason and deMarco to Raleigh. They will be in concert here on Saturday, April 14th, at 7:00 pm. Jason and deMarco are a Christian musical duo (and life partners) with outreach to the LGBT community. They will also be selling copies of their new album, The Oneness of Praise after the concert. For more information on them, you can visit their website at www.jasonanddemarco.com.

Mark Your Calendar!

Hosted by: Metropolitan Community Church of Charlotte

When: March 16th and 17th, 2012
Place: Charlotte NC

Join Us On …
Friday Evening for a “Soul-Filled Celebration” through Music,
featuring musicians and singers in our Network,
followed by opportunities to explore and enjoy “The Queen City”

Then Join Us Again On …
Saturday for a full day of informational Workshops,
Lunch, as well as Worship and Communion

Details Regarding Hotels and Workshop Topics to Follow
Registration Fee: $15
Come ready to be blessed and to be a blessing!

For More Information Contact:
Host Pastor: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Network Lead: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Anniversary Weekend • March 2-4, 2012

St. John’s MCC would like to invite you to join us as we celebrate the church’s 36th Anniversary on March 2-4. Our Special Guest for the weekend will be The Rev. Delores Berry.

Schedule of Events

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 (Potluck and fellowship opportunities) or Richard Haas or Will Robinson (Concert and worship services). We would like to hear from you by February 26th.