MCC Manchester News

The next MCC Manchester Trans Discussion Group meeting is on Saturday 26th January 2008, at 3.30pm, in our usual venue - the Church Social Room of St John Chrysostoms Church, Anson Road, Manchester M14 5BG.  (Access is from the side entrance by the bell tower on Anson Road A-34, with the room being open from approx 3:00pm).

For 2008, we usually meet on the 4th Saturday afternoon of the Month. 

Our  meeting will include a talk & discussion on “What matters to Manchester Women” an Art’s Project to celebrate 80 years of Woman’s suffrage.  Stephanie Kendrick Jones from Manchester City council will be bringing along the artist Charlotte Newall who has been commissioned to do the “What Matters to Manchester Women” art exhibition.

Stephanie is keen to involve the TransCommunity in this project and needs your opinions.  Susan Hargreaves will also talk about her new project and how TransWoman can be involved.

Bernie Clifton from Greater Manchester Police will also talk about how the law can aid the acceptance of Trans People.

Frances Nicholls will also make a presentation about her visit to “Chez Le Femme ” in France where Augustine and Kirsty host transgendered holidays on their wonderful trans-friendly estate in Brittany.  See http://www.tghols.com/

Details about the group can be obtained from jennyannebuk@yahoo.co.uk

We hope to have a Membership Class on Saturday 8th March from 11 until 4pm.   Please let Andy know if you wish to attend.    

We hope to have an evening looking at the Bible, Sexuality and Gender in mid February – we just need to confirm the date.  Please let Andy know if you might be interested.

We are planning to hold a Come and Sing Day for the choir, and anyone else who wants to learn some new songs, on Saturday 1st March from 11am until 4pm.  Please let Neil know if you wish to attend. 

We are having an evening for anyone who has started to attend recently.  This will be on Tuesday 29th January, at 8pm.  It is an evening designed to give information about MCC and to help us get to know each other a bit better.  Let Andy know if you plan to come along. 

MCC Manchester is delighted to welcome Hermione McEwen, Senior Solicitor from the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU), as a guest speaker at our worship service at 4pm on Sunday 4th February 2008.

Details of GMIAU can be found at their website http://www.gmiau.org

An article describing Hermione’s work can be viewed at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,200-2260733,00.html

On Sunday the 6th of January the MCC church planters held the first Sunday Gathering of Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Glasgow.  11 people prayed, sang and dreamed together about what God’s vision is for the community. 

No single person holds the whole vision for the church, so as a group they prayed and meditated on what God is calling them to be.  The following is what they put on their Dream Tree.  Within these words is the vision of God, and more will be added as they work and grow together and more people bring their part of the vision.

Love * a ’safe place in the world’ ministry * a place full of friends * less doom and gloom and more laughter, music and fun * a place that is inclusive of all people in our community * a beacon of thoughtful, heart-filled christianity * building a Queer Theology for each individual * MCC in Glasgow needs to reach out to folk who are seekers so they may hear the Good News of Christ * a childrens ministry * honest, nourishing and life changing friendship with each other and with God/Jesus * a place of sanctity where I can feel calm * meeting needs in the wider community - social justice * welcome people of all ages * a place of refuge * working together, even in a small way, to make a difference in the community and the world * ‘beyond tolerance’: affirming and celebrating the marginalised * diversity of practice, of worship, of belief - unity in love for each other, unity in respect * ’community ministry’ (development of church ‘history/her-story/other-story, usually accepted boundaries) * a place of hope where no shame is felt * inclusive * part of the wider interfaith community * this is a place for me not to lead, but feed - a place to receive, and be an ‘internal organ’ of the body * a place for me to do some church healing * a place for spiritual sustenance in a spiritual desert * to be visible in the LGBT community and the wider community * ministry/place of real acceptance for religious beliefs *
a place to support Christians who are involved in other churches * to further the saying ‘God Loves All’ * a place where all are free to be * a place where art is - where expression can take many forms: music/web/art - each are valued * rest when it’s needed * peace between people - trust in each other * hope of Christ * compassion
to others - understanding of other groups in society * something different - a place where we learn to approach God in all sorts of, sometimes new, ways * a place of suprises * to sing to shout, to praise out! * friendship * safe space * youth work * outreach to other minority groups * a place to ask questions

The next meeting of Metropolitan Community Church in Glasgow is 3rd February, 11.30am, at The LGBT Centre, 84 Bell Street, Glasgow.

See their website at http://www.mccinglasgow.co.uk for full details and contact information.

The church planting team at MCC in Glasgow, with their inclusive Christian ministry to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, invite everyone to join them for their first Sunday gathering - a time of worship, reflection and dreaming - on January 6th 2008, at 11am, at The LGBT Centre, 84 Bell Street, Glasgow.

Full contact details are on the MCC in Glasgow website at http://www.mccinglasgow.co.uk