Sunday News - Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto

June 26, 2016
Sunday News
VIBRANT
INCLUSIVE PROGRESSIVE
beliefs, I was terrified that somehow
I could be wrong. I began to distance
myself so far from God that my life
had an overwhelming sense of
emptiness.
Finally, I made a pact to myself that
I would devote a year to seeking
God, while still identifying as a gay
man. If by the end of that year I
hadn't felt the presence of God, I
committed to renounce my sexuality.
MCC Toronto was my first stop on
my search to re-find God - and
I was born into a very conservative
praise the Lord, because it was also
church and received contradicting
my last stop. The second I entered
messages about the nature of God.
It took me quite some time to figure the front doors, the love of God that
I had been craving was so tangible
out who I was. Once I did, I boldly
and alive. Since that first service, I
came out.
have never again doubted that I was
I wanted to be an example to other
created in God's image and that
young people who were struggling
every part of my identity was by
with their sexuality; to let them know God’s design.
that they didn't have to choose
MCC Toronto provided me and so
between their religion and their
many others a way back to God and
sexuality. I wanted to tell them all
I will forever be grateful.
that had never been said to me.
Matt Ferriss — MCC Toronto
Despite being so vocal about my
Soloist
Order of Service
Tasheka Lavann
Tasheka is a true lover of
music and has been singing
and performing all her life.
She is also an LGBTQ
Activist and Huffington
Post/Youtube blogger.
Tasheka was born on the
Caribbean island of
Antigua where she worked
as a Journalist and TV
News Anchor for ten
years. Tasheka is the 2007
Miss Antigua and Barbuda
and a proud graduate of
the University of the West
Indies. Now a resident of
Toronto, Tasheka has been
making her mark as a
singer and songwriter, even
placing second during the
Hidden Talent Canada
Season 8 competition. She
considers MCC her second
home as this was the first
place that welcomed her
when she arrived in
Canada in 2015. Today she
has dedicated her
performance to our
LGBTQ family, especially
those who are mourning in
Orlando.
At the  symbol, please rise as you are able.
Welcome Home
 Jesus’ Prayer
Prelude
I’m Coming Out
Call To Worship
 Processional
This Is The Day
 Opening Prayer
Anthem
Purpose
Prayers of the
People
Sacred Readings
The Beatitudes: A
Spiritual Fashion
Show
Lessons for Life
Offertory
Still I Rise—
performed by
Tasheka Lavann
Gathering Our Gifts
Our Journey Of Faith
Inspirational
Quotes
Celebration of Holy
Communion
Give Us This Day
A Wonderful Saviour
Lead Me, Guide Me
Alleluia (Traditional)
 Because You Live
Awakening To Your  Benediction
Life Purpose — Josh  Closing Words
Alao
I’m Alive
MCCTYA
Today’s service is organized by MCCTYA.
Join our Young Adults on the 1st Tuesday
each month: Church St. Second Cup @ 6:30 p.m.
MCC Toronto Clergy
Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, C.M.
Morning Worship Pastor: Rev. Deana Dudley
Evening Worship Pastor: Sandra (sam) Morris
Alternative Worship Pastor: Rev. Carmen Llanos
First Reading
1981 Bath House Raids
Psalm 77:1-6, 11-15, 20
I yell out to my God, I yell with all
my might, I yell at the top of my
lungs. He listens. I found myself in
trouble and went looking for my
Lord; my life was an open wound
that wouldn't heal. When friends
said, "Everything will turn out all
right," I didn't believe a word they
said. I remember God - and shake
my head. I bow my head - then
wring my hands. I'm awake all
night - not a wink of sleep; I can't
even say what's bothering me. I go
over the days one by one, I ponder
the years gone by. I strum my lute
all through the night, wondering
how to get my life together. Once
again I'll go over what God has
done, lay out on the table the
ancient wonders; I'll ponder all the
things you've accomplished, and
give a long, loving look at your
acts. O God! Your way is holy! No
god is great like God! You're the
God who makes things happen;
you showed everyone what you
can do - You pulled your people
out of the worst kind of trouble,
rescued the children of Jacob and
Joseph. Hidden in the hands of
Moses and Aaron, You led your
people like a flock of sheep.
Earlier this week, Chief of Police
Mark Saunders apologized for the
1981 bathhouse raids that saw
hundreds of gay men arrested.
“The Toronto Police Service regrets
those actions” said Saunders during
the annual Pride reception at police
headquarters on June 22.
Saunders said that the Toronto
police force has learned many
lessons about how to work with the
LGBTQ community for greater
understanding and acceptance. In
light of the tragic events in
Orlando, police must support and
protect those marginalized because
of their sexual orientation.
Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes helped craft
the historic statement. “My
intention was to honour the people
who went through the horror of
that night,” said Brent.
mcctoronto.com/apology
Be Proud!
Join the parade!
Visit our PRIDE tables in the Social
Hall after service to sign up for our
many PRIDE events—Church on
Church Street, Trans March, Dyke
March & the PRIDE parade! We
have received some exciting new
themed products for PRIDE 2016!
Take posters and postcards to share
with friends and colleagues, buy a tshirt, sleeveless shirt, or a colourful
folding stool so you can sit with us!
Visit our website for more info:
mcctoronto.com/pride.
There’s always room at our table.
We are so excited for next week’s
PRIDE parade! After several years
in storage, we have resurrected and
repaired our beautiful rainbow
banner, one of the longest in the
world, so that we can all hold the
flag high and walk together in
PRIDE! Let us know if you’ll be
joining us in Sunday’s parade
following the Church on Church
Street service. More information is
available in the Social Hall today
after service!
July 3 | 1:00 p.m. | Bloor/Church St.
Pride Prayer Walk
Trans Pride
Join us for a Prayer Walk through
the village to kick off our annual
Church on Church Street service.
Contact team leader James Glaab:
[email protected]
July 3 | 10:00 a.m. | Sign up today!
Trans Pride is Friday, July 1st and
we at T.R.E.A.T. are looking for
members of the congregation to
help us celebrate! We need people
to march with us as allies in the
Trans Pride March and people to
help us operate our table at the
Trans Community Fair in Allen
Gardens. Come and see us in the
Social Hall after service to sign up
and celebrate Trans Pride. You can
get more information by talking to
any T.R.E.A.T member at our
PRIDE tables in the Social Hall.
July 1 | 6:00 p.m. | Sign up today!
Dyke March
Join us on Saturday afternoon in the
annual PRIDE Dyke March. Several
of our clergy are organizing our
participation this year. Talk to Sam
Morris for more info.
July 2 | 2:00 p.m. | Sign up today!
Happening Today
Happening This Week
Thrift Shop
After a.m services | Upper Social Hall
Repair Cafe
After a.m services | Lower Social Hall
HOLA rehearsal
12:30 p.m. | Room 109
Blacks in Praise & Worship
12:30 p.m. | Triangle Room B
Refugee meeting
12:45 p.m. | Sanctuary
Healthy at any Weight
Wednesday | 6:00 p.m. | Social Hall
Expansive Spiritual Gathering
Thursday | 11:00 a.m. | Rm 109
Spanish Classes
Thursday | 6:00 p.m. | Rm 109
The Choir
Thursday | 7:00 p.m. | Social Hall
Saturday | 9:00 a.m. | Social Hall
MCC Toronto Worship Services
Every Sunday at 9:00 a.m., 10:50 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Worship online at 10:50 a.m. at mcctoronto.com/video
Special service listings: mcctoronto.com/alternative-worship
This is a story of reconciliation,
forgiveness and renewal.
A documentary that will have you
see Jesus in a new light,
while at the
same time
convincing
you to work
on your abs!
June 29 | 7:30 p.m. | MCC Toronto Sanctuary | Free admission.
Financial Controller
MCC Toronto has an extraordinary
opportunity for an experienced
accountant with an interest in social
justice issues and serving in a
progressive spiritual community. The
Financial Controller leads all the
financial management activities at
MCC Toronto, including the
development of a Mission Based
Budget over $1,000,000. A critical
aspect of this role will be recruiting,
training and supporting volunteer
teams. This position reports to the
Executive Director.
Other key aspects of this role:
 Ensure that the church has the
systems, procedures and financial
controls in place to support the
effective management of diverse
sources of revenues and expenditures.
 Work closely with organizational
leaders to design and monitor the
recently introduced Mission Based
Budgeting approach.
 Identify and implement continuous
process improvements to increase
the effectiveness and efficiency of
our finance and accounting function.
 Frequently analyze the financial
health of the church and
continuously improve the financial
reporting required to meet the
needs of diverse stakeholder groups.
 Lead MCC Toronto through a
successful annual external audit.
This includes the preparation of
several financial statements:
Statement of Financial Position;
Statement of Operations;
Statement of Changes in Net
Assets. You will present these
statements to the Finance
Committee and Board of
Directors before providing them
to the auditor.
Key Qualifications:
 CA, CPA, CMA or CGA is
preferred but not required.
 Experience working in faith-based
organizations or non-profits is required.
 Experience developing high functioning
volunteer teams is required.
 Exceptional communication skills,
both written and verbal is required.
Send you resume and cover letter
stating salary expectations to
[email protected] by
Monday, July 18. Compensation is
commensurate with experience and
includes an excellent benefits package.
Living Well
Seniors Network Survey
The Living Well Discussion Group
meets every 2nd Wednesday from
7:30 to 9 p.m. to talk about topics
of interest to the group like
gratitude, love, spirituality, sexuality,
integrity and many others.
Wednesdays | 15 Maitland Place
The Seniors/50+ Network is
looking for your feedback! Please
take a moment to complete a
simple survey on our website. Your
response will help us determine our
programming and communications:
mcctoronto.com/senior-survey
115 Simpson Avenue 416-406-6228 mcctoronto.com