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08 Fall

2–MetropolitanCommunityChurches

TOOLKITforMCCCHURCHES

HostingthePULSEMemorialServiceon12June2017

7June2017ThankyoufortakingaleadershiproleinhostingaPULSEMemorialServicetocommemoratetheliveslostandrecommittoactsofjusticeandcompassion.Aglobal,virtualservicewillbeheldatJoyMCCinOrlando,Florida,USA,andbroadcastthroughFacebookLive.Wehopeyouwilljoinourvirtualserviceandpersonalizeyourlocalservicetomeettheneedsofyourcongregationandcommunity.

Toolkitincludes:

1. PULSEBackground–page22. MemorialServiceOrderofWorship–page33. MemorialServicePrayerforCommitment–page34. LitanyforRememberingPulse(thisisanadditionalresource)–page45. SampleMediaRelease–page56. MCCStatementofFaithandCoreValues–page67. TechnicalTipsforLivestreamingserviceviaFacebook–page7

MCCMediaandPULSEServiceContacts:LindaBrenner:LindaBrenner@MCCchurch.net,941-321-7886Rev.LisaHeilig:RevLisaHeilig@MCCchurch.net

PULSEMemorialBackgroundJune12,2016,thesanctuaryofPulse,apopulargaybarinOrlando,Florida,USA,wasshatteredwhenagunmancameinnear2:00amandstartedshooting,killing49peopleandwounding53others.ItwasthedeadliestincidentofviolenceagainstLGBTQ+peopleinU.S.history,surpassingthefireattheUpstairsLoungein1973thatkilled32people.InadditiontobeingabarthatcateredtotheLGBTQ+community,SaturdaynightatPulsewasLatinnight,withavarietyofdifferentkindsofLatindancemusicplayedandattractingLatinxqueerandstraightpeoplefromacrosstheregion.ThisshootingwasanattackclearlytargetingLGBTQ+peopleofcolor.Itwasaneventthatrockedtheentireworldastheeffectsofhateandviolenceevokedresponsesofshockanddisbelief,thenturningtoactionsofcompassionandsolidarity.

3–MetropolitanCommunityChurches

OrderofWorshipGatheringMusicWordsofWelcomeOpeningPrayerWordsofIntroductionReadingoftheNamesMomentofSilentRemembrancePrayerofCommitmentClosingPrayer

PrayerofCommitment: Godoflifeandjustice,wethankyouforyourcreation.Forbodiesthatsweat,thatmovetothebeatofmusic,thatembraceoneanotherwithpassionatedesire.Wethankyoufortheministryofthedancefloorthatconnectsustooneanotheracrossgenerations,languages,skintonesandeconomicstatus. Hearourprayersforthedancefloor… Godofhealing,weknowyouarepresenttousinallthingsthataregood.But,whenthereistragedy,itiseasytofeelyourdistance.Helpustoseeyouatworkinthemidstofdifficulty;openoursensestobediligentdefendersofhope. Thankyouforthesemomentsofopennessintragedy…. HolySpirit,helpuslivewiththemysteryandtensionofsacrifice.AswearecalledtotasteandseeGodisgoodandcalledtorest,wealsomustserveourneighbor,labor,andofferourfirstfruits.Somesacrificewillingly,othersunknowingly.Holdourquestionswithcare.Takeourconcernseriously.Knowwhatliesbehindourapprehension.

Blesstheofferingsofourchurches,organizations,andindividualeffortsthatworkinthetension…

Godofjusticeandtendermercy,wearegratefulfortheprogressofhumanrightsinourworld,andweareangryatthedenialofjusticethatstillexists.Sparkinuscompassionateangerthatwillnotceaseso,together,wecancontinueintheunfinishedworkofChristintheworldtobuildpeace. Hearourprayersforinjusticethatyetexists… Godtoyouwelifttheseprayers,spokenandunspoken,writtenintextandwritteninourhearts.Weknowthatyouworkinwayswedon’talwaysunderstand,weknowyouareatworktorectifywrongsinourworldasyouuseustobeinthetensionoflifeanddeath.Evenaswerememberthetragedy,werecommitnowtoactsofcompassioninourcommunitiesandintheworld.Giveushope,giveuscourage,giveuspowertomakerealyourinclusivelove.Amen.

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LitanyforRememberingPulse: Wegathertorememberthelivesof49peoplewhoweremurderedinthePulsenightclubshooting. Godwhoremembers,hearourprayer Weplaceinyourtenderhandsfamiliesthatweretornapart,loverswholosttheirlove,parentswholosttheirchildren,friendswholosttheirfriends. Godofreconciliation,hearourprayer. Werememberthe53peoplewhowerewoundedandthecountlessotherswhowerewoundedspiritually,psychologicallyandphysicallyinotherways. Godofhealing,hearourprayer. Grantusthestrengthtoseekforgivenessfortheshooter. Godwhoforgives,hearourprayer. Bindustogetherinourcompulsiontocontinueourunfinishedcallingandpropheticdestinytodemand,proclaim,anddojusticeintheworld. Godofenduringlove,hearourprayer. Allowustobeevermindfuloftheimportantworktounitesexualityandspirituality,workingtobeunitedinbodyandspirit.Helpusaffirmourbodies,ourgenders,oursexualitiesandthebodies,genders,andsexualitiesthatsurroundus. Godofglitterandgrit,hearourprayer. Allowustobepeopleofradicalhospitalityateveryoccasionasweworktowardaworldwhereeveryoneflourishes,warscease,andallcreationlivesinharmonywithoneanother,theland,sea,andair,wherepeopleofallnationalities,ethnicities,races,religions,andlanguagestrulycometogetherinequalityandpeace. Godofcreation,hearourprayer. Evenwhenthedayisovercastandcouragemayfade;eveninthemidstofloneliness,despairanddegradation,maywealwaysknowthatyouarenearandmayweeverknowthejoyofbeinginrelationshipwithyou. Godofsilence,hearourprayer. Heartheprayerstodaythatbeenspokenaloud,andheartheprayersinourheartswesilentlyofferyounow(pause). Godofmercy,hearourprayer. Andso,letusraiseourvoicestogethersayingtheprayertheJesustaughtusinwhateverlanguageisclosesttous: “OurCreator…

5–MetropolitanCommunityChurches

(SAMPLEMEDIARELEASE:addlocalclergyandleadershipquotes,dates,times—who,whatwhen,etc.Emailtoprintandbroadcastmediaoutletsinyourlocalarea.)MEDIARELEASEDATE:8June2017Contact: Name Email MobilePhone

MCCChurchtoHostGlobalPulseMemorialService

CommunityfaithleadersarejoiningMetropolitanCommunityChurches(MCC)inaglobalvirtualmemorialserviceJune12,tocommemoratethe49victimsofthedeadliestactofviolenceagainsttheLGBTQ+communityinU.S.history.“ItisMCC’scallingtobetheleadingvoiceofloveoverhate,particularlyatcriticalpointsinhistory.MCCpreachesGod’smessagetocelebratediversityacrossculturesandethnicities.AsthevictimsofthePulseshootingareremembered,wecommittoactsofcompassionandjustice.Westrivetoresiststructuresthatoppresspeopleandspeakboldlyonbehalfofthoseinthemargins,”saidRev.ElderRachelleBrown,MCCGlobalInterimModerator.“Icommendeachclergyperson,eachindividual,whopausesonthefirstanniversaryofPulsesothatourcommunitycanrespondinprayerandwithhopetoinfluenceourfuture.”Who: NAMESOFSPEAKERSandtheirTITLES(FYI:Suggestion:EACHONEtospeak3-4MINUTES=1

SINGLESPACEDPAGE)What: MCC,aglobaldenomination,tohostvirtualmemorialserviceforPulseshootingvictims.Local

speakerstobefeatured.When: June12,2017,7:00pmETWhere:ChurchorlocationnameandaddressWhy: Commemoratethevictimsandrecommittoactsofcompassionandjustice.###Foundedin1968,MetropolitanCommunityChurches(MCC)hasbeenatthevanguardofcivilandhumanrightsmovementsbyaddressingissuesofrace,gender,sexualorientation,economics,climatechange,aging,andglobalhumanrights.MCCwasthefirsttoperformsamegendermarriagesandhasbeenontheforefrontofthestruggletowardsmarriageequalityintheUSAandothercountriesworldwide.MCCrecognizesastateofneedaroundtheworldintheareasofhumanrightsandjustice.Aspeopleoffaith,MCCendeavorstobuildbridgesthatliberateandunitevoicesofsacreddefiance.MCCleadsfromthemarginsandtransforms.

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MCCStatementofFaithPreamble

MetropolitanCommunityChurchesisonechapterinthestoryoftheChurch,theBodyofChrist.Wearepeopleonajourney,learningtoliveintoourspirituality,whileaffirmingourbodies,ourgenders,oursexualities.Wedon'tallbelieveexactlythesamethings.Andyetinthemidstofourdiversity,webuildcommunity,groundedinGod'sradicallyinclusiveloveforallpeople.Wearepartofanongoingconversationonmattersofbeliefandfaith,shapedbyscriptureandthehistoriccreeds,buildingonthosewhohavecomebeforeus.OurchapterbeginswhenGodsaystous:"Come,taste,andsee."OurFaith

"Come,taste,andsee."JesusChrist,YouinviteallpeopletoYouropentable.YoumakeusYourpeople,abelovedcommunity.YourestorethejoyofourrelationshipwithGod,eveninthemidstofloneliness,despair,anddegradation.Weareeachuniqueandweallbelong,apriesthoodofallbelievers.BaptizedandfilledwithYourHolySpirit,YouempowerustobeYourhealingpresenceinahurtingworld.WeexpecttoseeYourreignonearthasitisinheavenasweworktowardaworldwhereeveryonehasenough,warscease,andallcreationlivesinharmony.WeaffirmYourchargetoallofhumanitytocarefortheland,sea,andair.Therefore,wewillactivelyresistsystemsandstructureswhicharedestroyingYourcreation.WithallofcreationweworshipYou—everytribe,everylanguage,everypeople,everynation.WeknowYoubymanynames,TriuneGod,beyondcomprehension,revealedtousinJesusChrist,whoinvitesustothefeast.Amen.MCCDenominationalCoreValuesInclusionLoveisourgreatestmoralvalueandresistingexclusionisaprimaryfocusofourministry.WewanttocontinuetobeconduitsoffaithwhereeveryoneisincludedinthefamilyofGodandwhereallpartsofourbeingarewelcomedatGod’stable.CommunityOfferingasafeandopencommunityforpeopletoworship,learn,andgrowintheirfaithisourdeepdesire.WearecommittedtoequippingourselvesandeachothertodotheworkthatGodhascalledustodointheworld.Spiritual-TransformationProvidingamessageofliberationfromtheoppressivereligiousenvironmentofourdayortothoseexperiencingGodforthefirsttimeiswhatguidesourministry.WebelievethatwhenpeopleareinvitedtoexperienceGodthroughthelifeandministryofChrist,liveswillbetransformed.JusticeWorkingtotalklessanddomore,wearecommittedtoresistingthestructuresthatoppresspeopleandstandingwiththosewhosufferundertheweightofoppressivesystems,beingguidedalwaysbyourcommitmenttoGlobalHumanRights.

7–MetropolitanCommunityChurches

TechnicalTipsIfyouhavenotusedFacebookLiveyet,youareencouragedtotryitoutinadvanceofJune12th.It’sagreatplatformforpostingbriefinterviewswithpeopleinyourcongregation,promovideosabouteventsgoingoninyourchurch,onlineworshipservices,etc.Hereareafewtips:

1. MakesureyouhaveagoodWi-Ficonnectionora4Ghotspot.

2. Testyouraudioforthesizeofyourspace.

3. DeterminewhetheryouwillaccessFacebookLivebysigningintoyourchurchFacebookpageorsigningintothepastororchurchmember’spersonalFacebookpage.FacebookLiveisonlybroadcastthroughFacebook.

4. IfindividualsopenMCC’sFacebookpagetoposttheirowncommentsthroughouttheservice,youmaywanttoaskthemtomutetheirphonestoavoidaudioissues.

5. ThePULSEMemorialServicewillbeginlivestreamingonMCC’sFacebookpageat6:55pmET,12June2017,athttps://www.facebook.com/MCCchurch/.Theservicewilllast30-45minutes.

IfyouhaveanyconcernsaboutaccessingFacebookLive,pleasecontactMCCStaffmemberMikeHaasetodiscusstechnicaldetails:MikeHaase@MCCchurch.net,orgeneralquestionstoLindaBrenner:LindaBrenner@MCCchurch.net.

MCCHashtag:#BeMCCUse#BeMCCforyoursocialmediapoststoconnectwithotherMCCposts.PULSEOrlando’sHashtag:#WeWillNotLetHateWinUse#WeWillNotLetHateWinforyoursocialmediapoststoconnectwithpostsoutsideofMCC’scommunity.Youcanusebothhashtagsforphotosandotherposts.FacebookLive:CheckInAfterjoiningFacebookLive,pleasepostyourchurchname,stateorprovince,country,andapproximateattendanceofyourgroup.ParticipateintheServiceWeinviteyourcommentsandemojisthroughouttheworshipserviceincludingduringtheprayerofcommitment.IndividualscanalsogotoMCC’sFacebookpagewhilealsoattendingyoureventsotheycanposttheirowncomments.Considerpostingpicturesofyourgroupandspeakers(withtheirpermission)sothatMCCpeoplefromaroundtheworldcanbeincommunityaswesharethisvirtualspace.