MCC Illliana Gathers for Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021, 10:30am
Our church has been looking to a time more-closer to normal as our nation makes its way through the pandemic, we have made the decision to begin to phase back into our public worship experience once a month. Beginning on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021, MCC Illiana will be opening its doors on the first Sunday of the month for a live worship service. Given the uncertainty in this hopefully post-pandemic times, we felt it best to cautiously step back into gathering our community back together. This crisis has been a challenge for us to maintain our spiritual connections and we are taking the steps necessary to safely gather back in our sanctuary.
The current schedule for reopening for public worship will start with a celebration of Easter on Sunday, April 4th at 10:30am as we hear as a community of faith the miracle of the resurrection. The story that we paused a year ago when we suspended live services will finally step into the light as the miracle of God’s unending promise emerges from the darkness. This will be an exciting moment for our community. Additionally, our church will worship live on Sunday, May 2nd and Sunday June 6th. For the other Sundays in April and May there will be videos posted on Facebook as we have been doing throughout the pandemic.
COVID precautions will be taken at our live worship services including the wearing of facemasks and social distancing. For extra safety for those in our community there will also be some temporary changes to our Sunday worship routine including not having our hospitality time after the service, not singing and communion will be offered through individually sealed, disposable communion sets. For those who are still concerned about gathering, we attempt to livestream the service on our Facebook page (livestreaming will be a new challenge for us, so please be patient). We are glad that many in our church have received the vaccine and hope that as you become eligible that you will get it as well, so that we can get back to our full worship life as a church together.
You will also be excited to see some of the changes that have taken place during the shutdown. We have completed some long overdue remodeling of two areas of our church, some big upgrades to our internet capabilities, and the church will soon be getting a new roof (it is over 25 years old). We can’t wait for you to see! Also, we will also be continuing our Thursday Night Zoom Check-in and Bible Study which start at 7pm and can be accessed by going to zoom.us, clicking on “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID 7828858504. To call into the Bible Study as a conference call you can dial: 312 626 6799 and enter the meeting ID: 782 885 8504.
We are regularly monitoring the pandemic and these opening dates are subject to change if there is a new surge of the virus. Updates to our live worship schedule will be posted on Facebook and our church website.
Like many in our community MCC Illiana has faced the financial struggles of the past year and as we emerge from this time we hope that you will consider making a special Easter 2021 offering for our church. Help us make this reopening one where our community can Step Into the Light and return to the fullness of our ministry here in Northwest Indiana. As we make our way through this transition time back to normal know that your church is journeying with you.
Weekly Check-in On ZOOM Thursday Evenings - 7pm
You are invited to join us for an informal zoom meeting each Thrusday evening, This is a time for the folks of MCC Illiana to virturally connect and check-in during this time of social isolations. Join us either on your computer/tablet/smartphone through the zoom link or dial in like a conference call. There will be a time to check-in, a bible study and prayers. ZOOM is free to use. Join Zoom Meeting - Computer with at least a microphone, tablet or smartphone
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7828858504
Or Dail in on your phone for voice only 312 626 6799. Meeting ID: 782 885 8504
Support MCC Illiana During this Crisis
While we are not able to gather as a worshiping community in our building at this time, the fixed expenses to maintain and surport our church continue. We ask those who are able to support our virtual work and expensives to make a donation. Checks can be mailed to MCC Illiana, 5579 Clem Road, Portage, IN 46368 or you can make your tax-deductible donation to Metropolitan Community Church online through PayPal. This is a quick and easy way to financially support our church with your giving. Consider making setting it up as a recurring donation for your added convenience. PayPal is a secure service and you can use any major credit card. Click here to open the PayPal donate window.
MCC Illiana Prayer List
At Metropolitan Community Church Illiana, prayer is not only an important part of our weekly worship service but also an important part of our daily, spirit-filled lives. We invite you to pray with us each day for the needs of our community and our world. If you have any personal prayers that you would like to include, please email them to thisweek@mccilliana.org with the subject line Prayers
• For MCC Illiana and the work of our denomination
• For Joy's brother who is in the hospital with COVID and for his wife who is recovering at home
• For Laurie who is in the hospital
• For those dealing with the economic stresses of this pandemic
• For Shirley
• For one seeking a new place to live and a new job
• For Sharon's brother who has health concerns
• For a great nephew who is dealing with seizers
• For a friend who is trying to walk faithfully with God
• For those surviving cancer
• For an uncle dealing with cancer
• For those who are looking for work because they were laid off
• For those dealing with the stress of work in these times of crisis
• Prayers that people stay home when necessary
• For those without income now and those who must continue to work
• For relief from constant pain
• For financial issues and insurance issues
• For a father’s health
• For Veronica’s health
• For Whitney
• For Melinda
• For De as she lives with cancer
• For those in our community who have experienced trans related violence
• For those with HIV/AIDS and for the work for a cure
• For our GLBTQ youth and the struggles they endure.
