Morning Edition. January 8, 2017 Sunday News. For more news & events visit our website: VIBRANT INCLUSIVE PROGRESSIVE

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1 January 8, 2017 Sunday News Morning Edition VIBRANT INCLUSIVE PROGRESSIVE Each time I enter MCC Toronto and see the words Welcome Home, I dwell in gratitude that this church is an essential and integral part of my faith journey. Growing up Roman Catholic, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet deeply caring and forward thinking individuals, but my concepts of God, justice and inclusion and the centrality of compassion was just not connecting with the church as the institution I knew. I was physically present within the Roman Catholic Church but it was not home. Fast forward to 1993 and my first experience of MCC Toronto tears flowed for months each time I attended a service as I found for the first time in my spiritual journey that I was home. I was home to a place where doubt and other ways of seeing were welcomed and celebrated; where all were included at the table of plenty; where the grace of God was as reachable to the sinner as well as to the saint with equal accessibility. I found a church that garnered strength in weakness and where diversity was an essential asset rather than a tolerated act of charity. I met people from all walks of life who openly brought their joy and their pain and their authentic self to the table and in that vulnerability allowed me to do the same. Finally my sexuality, my spirituality and my person-hood has seamlessly connected I am home. Joe Jamieson - MCC Toronto For more news & events visit our website:

2 Offertory Hogtown Brass Quintet Formed in 2013, the Hogtown Brass Quintet (HBQ) is a collaboration among five accomplished and diverse musicians. Based in Toronto, the HBQ is committed to presenting unique concert experiences, entertaining and informative educational programs, in addition to bringing brass chamber music to new audiences. The members of HBQ reflect diverse musical backgrounds, from Classical to pop to jazz. Dedicated to education as well as performance, the HBQ is experienced in presenting music to people of all ages in a variety of settings. Order of Service At the symbol, please rise as you are able. Welcome Prelude Let The Walls Fall Down Call To Worship Processional God of Grace Opening Prayer Anthem A Nightingale Sang Prayers of the People Sacred Readings Lessons for Life A Hidden Wholeness Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, C.M. Time of Reconciliation Flow Through Me Invitation to Anointing MCC Toronto Clergy Shepherd of My Heart I Will Pledge This Song To You Jesus Prayer Offertory Contrapuntas IX Hogtown Brass Quintet Gathering Our Gifts Our Journey of Faith Holy Communion Give Us This Day As The Deer Pants On Eagle s Wings Hallelujah (Cohen) Because You Live Benediction Closing Words We Are The Church Alive Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, C.M. Morning Worship Pastor: Rev. Deana Dudley Evening Worship Pastor: Rev. Sandra Morris Alternative Worship Pastor: Rev. Carmen Llanos

3 First Reading Taken From The Book of Awakening by poet Mark Nepo Each person is born with an unencumbered spot free of expectation and regret, free of ambition and embarrassment, free of fear and worry an umbilical spot of grace where we were first touched by God. It is this spot of grace that issues peace. Psychologists call this spot the Psyche, theologians call it the Soul, Karl Jung calls it the Seat of the Unconscious, Hindu masters call it Atman, Buddhists call it Dharma, Sufis call it Qalb and Jesus calls it The Centre of our Love. To know this spot of Inward Grace is to know who we are, not by surface markers of identity, where we work, what we wear, how we are addressed, but by feeling and knowing our place in relation to the Infinite by inhabiting it. Regardless of subject matter, this is at the heart of all teaching and all learning- how to uncover that original centre and how to live there once it is restored Second Reading Psalm 139 O God you have searched me and know me! for you formed my inmost parts; you knitted me together in my mother s womb. My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. I praise you for I am wonderfully and exquisitely made my soul knows it very well! How precious to me are your thoughts, O God. How vast the sum of them. Search me, O God and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any grievous ways within me and lead me in the way everlasting For more church news visit our website:

4 Christmas Appeal Results All of the numbers are in and we are happy to report that we have exceeded our Christmas Appeal goal of $69,000 by over $3,000! In addition, we received a large gift of $50,000 just before the end of the year that we have added to the results, making our total $122,804. This appeal has had a great impact on our finances and we will be reporting our 2016 financial results within the next few weeks. Richard P. Davdison Melanie & Diana Howe Donna Roberts Adam Pounder Neil Mens Garry Carter Alan Rowe & Bryan Blenkin Anne Brayley & Nanette Sanson Peter Charlton Robert Gorham Guy Lacasse & Dameon Rev. Deana Dudley & Janet Fitzsimmons Anthony Warren Scott Galbraith Susan Maddick & Joan Lowden Barry Pollock Stephen Wateridge & Zenon Polejowski John Plummadore Brad Douglas Valerie DeSouza Julian Fernandes Brian Rolfes & Brad Berg Carol Osler & Linda Fairley Kelly Vollering & Pat Elfer Catherine McVitty Martha McCain Larry Peloso Cheryl Smith & Debbie Brown Darrell Jensen & Dan McHenry Shane Ferrao Hoerner Heating & Plumbing Leigh Sayers Marc McNamara David Hendrie Richard Saylor Mark Guiler Dawne Thomsen Anonymous Matt Griswald

5 Frances Grant Gwen Morris Jim & Deborah Marshall Andrew Fleming & Roger Keglevich Anne-Marie Houtappel Lyn McAlister Sheryl Pollock John Maedel Barb McIntosh Suzette Simpson John Desmarteau & Alvin Thomson Kathleen Devine & Barb Davis Bev Wybrow Brian Henry Mary Lou Maher & Virginia Hatchette James Bottoms Kevin Willcock Charleton Sherrer Michael Dolan Lee Hill & Walter Donovan Cathy Brown & Patti Gray Will Beekman Lisa Chinnery Jamie & Chris Scott Samuel Bereka Marilyn McCowan Darryl Davey Mike Dodds Marysia Czarski & Melee Hutton Bentley Springer & Denise Campbell David Rodrigues Text-to-Give Want to give a charitable gift to MCC Toronto? No cash? No credit card? No problem! Just use your cell phone to text your donation. TEXT MCCT9 to and choose your gift amount. Try it now! Paula Kotva & Cheryl Payne Gilbert Ma Alan Lyons Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes C.M. & John Sproule Calvin Mullin For more news & events visit our website:

6 Happening Today Special Project Thrift Shop All morning Social Hall T.R.E.A.T 12:30-2:00 p.m. Welcome Centre Happening This Week Expansive Spiritual Gathering Monday 7:00 p.m. Room 109 Grace & Gratitude (AA) Monday 7:30 p.m. Triangle B Peace & Justice Planning Meeting Wednesday 9:00 a.m. Welcome Centre The Choir Thursday 7:00 p.m. Social Hall The Social Justice Network is looking for a plumber who can assist us with a small pre-installation project at the church for our brand new Hydration Station. Please contact socialjustice@mcctoronto.com Peace & Justice Forum Saturday, January 21 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 Are you engaged in social justice work, within or outside of MCC? Would you like to find out more about the social justice vision and work MCC already does, shape its future priorities, or explore how you can become more involved as an activist? MCCToronto Peace and Justice Advisory Team is holding a Peace and Justice Forum on Saturday, January 21, 2017 from 1:00 4:00 p.m. in the Social Hall. Together we will explore a multi-faith vision of peace and justice and how to put this vision into practice, locally and globally with the assistance of our facilitator Katie Marshall Flaherty and members of our Peace and Justice Leadership Team. If you would like to register or volunteer for this event, please Wendy McGuire at wmcguire@yorku.ca or attend a planning meeting on January 11, at 9:00 a.m. in the Welcome Centre.

7 IT Manager MCC Toronto is looking for an experienced IT Manager to work part-time at the church for about 30 hours a week. The objective of this role is to ensure our IT platform is running effectively and efficiently. For more information visit jobs/manager-part-time If you're interested or want to learn more please contact our Executive Director Shelly Morris smorris@mcctotonto.com. Winter Clothes Our Refugee Ministry is seeking donations of gently used winter coats and boots to help keep our refugees warm this winter. All sizes will be accepted, even children s sizes. Please contact Aleks if you can help. Donations can be left n the Refugee Office on any Sunday. refugees@mcctoronto.com Rare Book - Collector s Edition This highly sought-after volume detailing one of the most influential magazines of the twentieth century is now in print at a newly affordable price. Critically lauded for its sharp mix of clothes, literature, art, travel, decor, theater and humor. See this rare book at the Thrift Shop today! Life Long Learning January 8 th - 29 th : Life Long Learning Sermon Series: A Hidden Wholeness January 29 th - Launch of Life Long Learning Magazine February 8 th, 7-9 p.m. Spiritual Location Retreat February 11 th, 1-3 p.m. Spiritual Location Retreat April 3 - May 10, 2017 Life Long Learning 6 week semester of courses For more info and registration, please mdodds@mcctoronto.com

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