Hi, I hope you’re managing to cope during these difficult times. There seems to be very little that we can rely on as the world changes day by day. But we have each other! Thank you for standing by The Village MCC as we struggle to keep up and meet community need. Last month we gave out £220 in Pickle fund aid, so I have no doubt that your love and care is making a huge difference in the community. If there’s anything you need, or I can help you with, then do let me know and I’ll do my best to help.
Even in lockdown there’s quite a bit going on. This is some of the local news:
- Sheila recommends connecting with the Lama Rod Owens tour on skype – see below for details.
- Tony Purkiss is looking to buy a little inexpensive runabout as his car is now 20 years old and becoming prohibitively expensive to keep roadworthy. If you have a small car for sale, or know of one that you would recommend then please do let him know. (Just call me for his details).
- The carers hub have arranged an online support group for LGBT carers. If this is you then the details are below.
Be safe out there. You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
Love and blessings
Rev. Michael.
Over the weeks you will have noticed special music in our Sunday service. Offerings of music continue to come in and I’m so grateful for everyone who is contributing. If you’d like to have something considered for inclusion please email me and let me know! Pastor@thevillagemcc.org. Thank you.
Worship with us on Facebook HERE
AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP YOUR CHURCH REACH
OUT THEN PLEASE SHARE THE SUNDAY SERVICE ON FACEBOOK!
Keeping up to date with MCC Internationally
Do you receive emails from the MCC denomination? There are updates on the way churches around the world are meeting this crisis, along with prayers, support, and much much more. If you would like check out what newsletters are available then please email:
Carers
If you provide unpaid support for a partner, spouse, family member, or friend with a disability, physical or mental health condition you could access further support from the Carers Centre.
Please join Inclusion worker Louisa for our first virtual meet up for any LGBTQ+ carers who would like to get together to chat and meet others in similar situations.
Date and Time; Friday 3rd July , 11-12, via ZOOM.
This is a new group and we hope to meet monthly via Zoom and move to face to face meetings/ social events once we are able to. We will also invite guest speakers to join us and talk to us about other relevant services/support available in Brighton and Hove.
There is digital support available from within the Carers Centre team if you need help with setting up Zoom or any other aspects of technical support. I would also be very interested to hear any thought or ideas you have about developing our support for LGBTQ+ carers.
Please let me know if you would like to attend and I will email you the Zoom link prior to the meeting.
Louisa.Marchant@thecarerscentre.org
Pastoral Care Team
Each of The Village MCC deacons are now available on their own dedicated church number. Of course you’re free to call me on the usual 07476 667353 but if you’d like to chat with either Charlie, Isla, or Wendy, you can use one of the dedicated numbers below.
Charlie 07434611096 – Wendy 07434611099 – Isla 07434611108
When the pandemic first broke we tried to reach out to everybody at least once a month. As time has gone on we have reduced our pastoral care calls to those who have either requested them or are at high risk. Of course we don’t want to miss anybody out so if you would like to connect then please give one of us a call!
Much love – Rev. Michael
Lama Rod Owens
“Love and Rage” Tour 2020
July 10th & 11th
Zoom events in Brighton for Dharma and LGBTQ+ Community and Friends
Bodhi Tree Brighton and MindOut are hosting two Zoom events with Lama Rod Owens in July, marking the recent publication of his book
Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger
Friday 10 July: A Book Reading Event 7-9PM
Saturday 11 July: Teaching Event for LGBTQ+ and allies 6.30-9PM
See http://www.bodhitreebrighton.org.uk/meditation-events for booking details
Both events are by Donation and via Zoom. The link will be sent out before the event.
Book Reading Event: Friday, 10 July, 7-9pm
Lama Rod Owens — the dharma teacher, meditation and mindfulness instructor and co-author of the best-seller Radical Dharma — explores with grace and candor the power and uses of anger. In Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation Through Anger he shares his personal journey with rage — how, at a young age, he internalized the belief that his anger was dangerous. “I have seen over and over again,” he tells us, “that anger can get me killed. I know that this is how I have survived in a Black queer body in America. My fear of death and policing has translated into a self-policing of my anger to such an extent that if it weren’t for my meditation practice, I wouldn’t know how to find my anger.”
Owens frames his approach within accessible Buddhist philosophy and contemplative practice, offering meditation exercises throughout the book to help readers recognize, honour and tap into their anger. Many practices focus on self-preservation and self-care. In a time when the politics of anger — who gets to be angry, how, when and at whom — infuse every institutional and cultural sphere, Owens offers a radical re-envisioning of a deeply timely topic. Love and Rage will resonate with many: young adults, activists, political organizers, Buddhists, POC, those living in marginalized bodies and anyone who wants to metabolize or harness their anger for change.
See Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/279423729841976/
Teaching Event for LGBTQ+ and Allies: Saturday, 11 July, 6.30-9pm
Love and Fear During Times of War
The world is having a difficult moment. Each day we learn of a different conflict or crisis, which threatens the lives of so many people. It is easy to live with a lot of fear right now and it is even easier to react out of that fear was well. When we react out of fear we tend to create much more harm in the world. This is a time of darkness and war and fear lies at the heart of much of the violence we are experiencing. How do we befriend our fear and offer it permission to teach us how to move through it into a state of freedom? How do we use our fear to connect to the fear so many other people are experiencing? Ultimately, how do we begin to love what is unlovable, especially our fear? During our time together, we will call on the teachings of Buddhadharma as well as our own intrinsic wisdom to lean into our fear with love.
See Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/212815866456873/
A little note from Keith – The Village MCC treasurer
Giving to The Village MCC
‘The Village MCC’ is self-financing, we do not receive any central funding. If you would like to support the work we do, there are a number of ways to do so.
Regular giving:
If you would like to set up a regular monthly Payment to The “Village’ Church, which is the best way for us to budget for our work, Please email the treasurer at; thevillagemcc@outlook.com, you will then be sent the details of how to do this.
Single donation
If you wish to make a single donation You can send a direct payment from your bank account using the following details From the UK:
- Lloyds Bank
- sort code 77-91-29
- account number 40361660
- account name The Village MCC
- Please use the reference ‘Collection’ • Please also email the Treasurer at thevillagemcc@outlook.com to let them know to expect a payment.
- There is also a donate button on the Church Website homepage at thevillagemcc.org if bank transfer is not possible.
If you do not have access to the internet, you can still make a donation with your debit card. Please email the Treasurer at; thevillagemcc@outlook.com to arrange a phone call to make this payment.