These are gatherings of prayer, learning, socializing and growing together spiritually in an open and affirming environment. The first study will be from “The Children are Free,” a study of the clobber passages in scripture.

For more information, please call 217-473-2045 or 217-726-8411 or e-mail MCCBloomington@yahoo.com.

Heartland Metropolitan Community Church, a Central Illinois MCC, is beginning an extension of MCC in Bloomington.  We are hoping to begin some informational meetings and small worship gatherings on Saturday evenings in Bloomington.  The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches began over 42 years ago, a year before the Stonewall Riots in California.  The founder of MCC, Rev. Troy Perry. was the first openly gay man to begin a Christian denomination that would be open to all people where every ministry, including ordained ministry, would be open to everyone.  Today, MCC is blessed with 250 churches worldwide, continuing to spread the Good News of God’s inclusive love and calling us to radical hospitality, even in places such as Uganda.  For more information, please contact Pastor Tony Thieman-Somora at 217-816-4344.

Open Worship Church of Hope, 722 W. Chestnut St., is Bloomington-Normal’s newest GLBTQ-Affirming church and celebrated its first anniversary in January.  We have been blessed in many ways and are grateful to have a place where ALL can worship God just as they are. 

As a way of giving back to the community, especially in these hard times, the church will open a personal hygiene pantry for the GLTBQ community.  This outreach is intended for those on public aid or unable to afford these necessities: soap, shampoo, deodorant, toilet paper, toothbrushes and toothpaste, mouthwash, body wash, laundry detergent, bleach, etc.

Please help us spread the word about this effort.  If you or if you know of someone who may benefit from this outreach, please contact us through our website http://www.owcoh.com or contact Pastor Rob Stamper at 260-519-0125 to setup an appointment.  This service is strictly confidential.

If you would like to support this outreach, we will accept monetary donations (if by check, pay to the church and indicate “hygiene”) and we will accept personal hygiene items dropped off at the church. 

We thank God for the opportunity to do what He has called us to do by giving back to OUR community.

You are invited to worship with them Sundays at 2pm.  Come as you are – you are welcome here!

In addition, there will be a building dedication service and dinner on Saturday, Dec. 4, starting at 3pm.  If you plan on attending, please contact Kristi Roth at 533-9721 so that they will know how much food to prepare.  Come hungry for good food and great fellowship!

The breakfast, sponsored by the Advocacy Council for Human Rights, Equality Illinois and Allied for Equality, included representatives from the Jewish, Presbyterian, Unitarian, United Church of Christ, Metropolitan Community Church, and United Methodist faiths. Attendees were from various central Illinois communities.

The group agreed to meet again in the spring to continue discussions on how they can continue to affect change in their places of worship as well as in the state of Illinois. Anyone who would like to be involved in this coalition can contact the Advocacy Council at info@achr-il.com to get more information.

Thanks to the First State Bank of Bloomington for providing the meeting space; to Val at Panera Bread and Caroline and Elizabeth for the donation of coffee, pastries and breakfast casserole; and to Bernard, Caroline and Rick from Equality Illinois for working with us to make this coalition a reality.

Dr. Meyers, senior minister of Mayflower Congregational UCC Church in Oklahoma, is also a professor of rhetoric in the Philosophy Department at Oklahoma City University. The author of five books, including Why the Christian Right is Wrong, and Saving Jesus from the Church: How to Stop Worshipping and Start Following Jesus, Dr. Meyers is a member of the Jesus Seminar and has appeared on Dateline NBC, numerous public television programs, and as a commentator on National Public Radio.

As our inaugural speaker, Dr. Meyers will be giving a free public lecture on the evening of Friday, October 29, 2010 entitled “Jesus: Galilean Sage or Supernatural Savior,” which will focus on material from his latest book, Saving Jesus from the Church. On Saturday, October 30, 2010 pastors and lay-leaders are invited to attend Dr. Meyers’ workshop, entitled “The Underground Church: Raising the Body by Corrupting the Empire.” Saturday’s dynamic workshop will allow local pastors to work with their lay people in designing a church that serves all. Open-ended and interactive, participants will brainstorm about the kind of church that could provide thoughtful people with the opportunity to live out a vision for peace and justice that is anti-imperial without being anti-intellectual. Registration is required for this workshop.

Please see the links below for more information, and for workshop registration.  Both events will take place at Heartland Community College, Normal, IL

GAAAP is the acronym for Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals, a ministerial organization of Pentecostal/Apostolic men and women “who have personally dealt with the issue of sexual orientation emerging with a strong faith in God and belief in His sufficient sacrifice for our gracious inclusion in the Body and Bride of Christ.”

Bishop Robert Morgan, General Chairman of GAAAP will be preaching at the event. All are welcome to attend whether associated with GAAAP or not.

Open Worship Pastor Robert Stamper welcomes everyone to join in this GAAAP Rally. For more information about the church, go to www.owcoh.com.