Membership Class

At Reconciliation Metropolitan Community Church, we want to be able to share with you what we believe and the direction that we are heading. Our membership class will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2011 from 10:00AM - 5:00 PM. Lunch will be provided.

At the end of the class, you will have the opportunity to complete your Membership Form and turn it in. Or, you can keep it and pray about it. Either way, we want to help you find the church home that is best for you.

To register for this class contact Pastor Steph

Membership Class

Pasta, Passion & Pistols Murder Mystery Dinner

Four days ago restauranteur Guiseppe (Pepi) Roni was found murdered in the kitchen of his renowned New York City eatery, La Sperenza. Pepi had been shot in the back with his own pistol. On April 15, 2011, his family and friends will gather to pay their respects to poor Pepi and to eat a feast of Italian food in his honor. One of them is a murderer.

All are welcome to join us for this Mystery Dinner Capital Campaign Fundraiser on April 15, 2011. 3864 Benjamin Ave NE, Grand Rapids MI 49525

6:30 hors d'oeuvres
7:00 Dinner Theater
Menu: Salad, Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Sparkling Juice
Cost: $5.00 per person

Pasta, Passion & Pistols Murder Mystery Dinner

March 27, 2011 Sermon

Sermon based on the Revised Common Lectionary Lent 3A -

John 4.5-42 at Reconciliation Metropolitan Community Church,

Grand Rapids MI by Rev. Steph Maxson, pastor.

You may find an i-pad version by clicking here.

March 27, 2011 Sermon

What I Want My Church To Be!

My church is composed of people like me.

. . .. I help make it what it is.

It will be friendly,

. . . . if I am.

It pews will be filled,

. . . . if I help fill them.

It will do great work,

. . . . if I work.

It will make generous gifts to great causes,

. . . . if I am a generous giver.

It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship,

. . . . if I invite and bring them.

It will be a church of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a church with a noble spirit,

. . . if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these same things.

Therefore, with the help of God,

. . . I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all the things I want my church to be.

What I Want My Church To Be!

March 20, 2011 Sermon

Sermon based on the Revised Common Lectionary Lent 2A - John 3.1-17 at Reconciliation Metropolitan Community Church, Grand Rapids MI by Rev. Steph Maxson, pastor.

You may find an i-pad version by clicking here.

March 20, 2011 Sermon

New Bible Study

BIBLE STUDY

"A Gentle Thunder: Hearing God Through the Storm” by Max Lucado.

God does what it takes to get our attention. It's the message of the Bible. It's the message of this book: the relentless pursuit of God. God on the hunt. God on the search. Searching, wrestling, pulling us back to him, over and over again.

Begins: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 @ 6:30 PM
3864 Benjamin Ave. NE - Grand Rapids, MI 49525

Wednesday, April 13, 2011 @ 6:30 PM
4032 Woodland Creek Dr. SE, Apt 102
Kentwood, MI 49512

Books are $10 each (+ S&H if applies)

Please contact Pastor Steph by Mar 26, 2011 to order your book today. RevStephMaxson@aol.com

New Bible Study

Game Night

Everybody's Irish on St. Paddy's Day, a great reason to fellowship with good friends and church family.

Join us for game night this Friday, March 18, 2011 at 6:00 PM to share in a potluck of Irish Foods. Please contact Betty Martin to share what you will be bringing for the meal.

Let the games begin and test your skills in a euchre tournament, spoons tournament, jacks tournament and other games.

Hope to see you there in your favorite shade of green.

Game Night

Community Meal Sunday, Mar 20, 2011

Bring your favorite dish, appetizer, main dish or casserole and join RMCC family and friends for fellowship and sharing of a community meal following worship on Sunday, Mar 20, 2011.

Community Meal Sunday, Mar 20, 2011

March 13, 2011 Sermon

Sermon based on the Revised Common Lectionary Lent 1A - Matthew 4.1-11 at Reconciliation Metropolitan Community Church, Grand Rapids MI by Rev. Steph Maxson, pastor.

You may find an i-pad version by clicking here.

March 13, 2011 Sermon

Prayer for Japan

Creator God,

We mourn the death and destruction in Japan,
And we pray for those who died in this recent disaster.
May their souls rest in peace.
May their families be comforted.

We pray for the living survivors.
Be with them, Lord, in this traumatic time.
May they experience Your healing,
In their spirits as well as their bodies.

We pray for the communities affected.
May they come together in solidarity
To rebuild and to affirm new life
Amid the ancient stones.

We lift up Hawaii and the West Coast.
Be with them as they prepare for the tsunami.

Amen.

Prayer for Japan

Daylight Savings

A reminder to set your clocks

forward one hour before you

go to bed on Saturday night.

Daylight Savings

March 6, 2011 Sermon

Sermon based on the Revised Common Lectionary Epiphany 9A - Matthew 17.1-9 at Reconciliation Metropolitan Community Church, Grand Rapids MI by Rev. Steph Maxson, pastor.

You may find a text version at this link as I forgot to turn on the recorder. The actual sermon varied however this will offer you the gist.

Click here

March 6, 2011 Sermon

Ash Wed Service

Join us for an
As Wednesday service at
Reconciliation MCC
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
7:00 PM

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent the 40-day period (not including Sundays) of fasting and repentance leading up to Easter.

Originally, the first day of Lent was the day on which public penitents at Rome began their penance. They were sprinkled with ashes, dressed in sackcloth, and required to remain apart from the community until Maundy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter).

As this practice fell into disuse between the 8th and 10th centuries, it was replaced by the general penance of the entire congregation.

From at least as early as the 8th century, this day was known as dies cinerum (day of ashes). This reflects the central ritual of this holiday, the placing of ashes on the forehead to symbolize mourning and penitence.

Ash Wednesday not found anywhere in scripture as is actually of pagan origin and was admitted into the church beliefs of the Catholic Church a few hundred years after Christ. This was the era when Constantine was attempting to weld pagans and Christians into a unit within the Roman kingdom.

Having said that, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in 2 Samuel 13:9; Esther 4:1; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21

Ashes are placed on all willing members of the congregation, usually in the shape of a cross.

At some churches, believers wash the ashes off before leaving the church to symbolize that they have been cleansed of their sins; in other churches, participants leave the ashes on when they leave, thereby "carrying the cross out into the world."

Hope to see you there!

Pastor Steph

Ash Wed Service