The Rock MCC  church home page         Rev. Brad Rice, pastor

The Rock MCC News & Events   (See:  Calendar)

Take home a Sunday church bulletin to remind you of coming events you may want to attend! Announcements are given verbally during the start of each service. They are also sent out by e-mail to all on our church e-mail list, and are listed in the church e-news letter called "The Rock MCC Weekly News" sent out by Tracy each week.

 

Most Current Events on this church website are now listed on the current Calendar only.
 
Upcoming Events

Rev. Brad Rice, Pastor

Partial List of Past Events
Local Gay Community-Wide Events
 World Gay Community News of Interest
 Local Events to Participate In
 Gay Community Links

 Periodical Events to Attend  (seasonally, or whenever scheduled)
  
Prayer & Bible Study   (See Calendar  for dates; meets every other Wednesday night @ 6:30pm) [Not meeting for now]
 Church Membership Inquirers Class
 Homosexuality [being Gay] and the Bible Class





Upcoming Events      (See:  Calendar)

Our Food Voucher Program
Applications for food vouchers are accepted on the last Tuesday of each month from 11am to 1pm.

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Rev. Brad Rice is our Pastor

Rev. Brad Rice, The Rock MCC pastor     Rev. Brad Rice comes to The Rock MCC to serve as the Pastor. Originally from Georgia (where he visited Chattanooga as a little kid), Brad had come to us from Claremont, California where he received his Masters of Divinity from Claremont School of Theology. Before coming to Chattanooga, Brad had lived in five states, including Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, California, and finally Tennessee. Brad received his B.S.Ed. in Social Science Education at the University of Georgia, his first M.A. in College Student Development at Appalachian State University, before settling into his M.Div. at Claremont.
 
     Brad was formed and raised in the Southern Baptist Church (with a little Pentecostalism) in the church his grandfather, a former Southern Baptist pastor, had built. He found MCC in 2005 while living in Tucson, Arizona and has not looked back! Brad really loves how God had other plans for him as he began his journey. He moved to serve MCCLA as the Intern and worked with the Young Adult group. Brad believes that God is still working in his life. God continues to speak to him through the Gospel message of hope and liberation, the idea of inclusive communion, and acts of compassion and love that this church offers. Some of his passions include reading and studying the Word, HIV/AIDS Ministry, and worship with one another.
  
     Outside of church, Brad is a HUGE sports fan: he loves college football and baseball. Brad also loves eating, constantly reading, and singing. Overall, Rev. Brad invites all people to experience God’s inclusive love through Jesus and the Spirit at The Rock MCC. To all people, whether visitors or returning, he wants everyone to know they are “welcome home at The Rock MCC”.

email: brad_rice81@yahoo.com


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Rev Tessie Mandeville photo     The Pastoral Search Team and Board of Directors of The Rock MCC church are very excited to announce the appointment of a temporary pastor for The Rock MCC.  Rev. Tessie Mandeville  has graciously accepted this position for the period of January through May, 2010.  She is very excited about keeping this connection with the MCC denomination and looks forward to her work and ministry with The Rock.  Her mentor for this time will be Rev. Keith Mozingo  and she would be supported as well by Rev. Margaret Walker, the Coordinator of Transitional Ministry.

 

      Most of you already know Rev. Tessie. She calls Charleston, South Carolina her hometown and was previously the pastor of Christ Covenant MCC  in Decatur, GA.  She has been with MCC  for many years.  We know great things come from Christ Covenant, such as Rev. Lisa Heilig. Rev Tessie Mandeville standing photo

 

     Rev. Tessie holds a Bachelor of Science  degree in Psychology from the College of Charleston and graduated from the Pacific School of Religion eight years ago with a Master's of Divinity.  Rev. Tessie supports the progressive Christian movement and queer / feminist / liberation theologies.  She has served churches in California, Oklahoma, and Georgia.

 

     Rev. Tessie and her partner Lisa currently reside in Decatur GA.  Rev. Tessie is an avid book reader, continues her interest in psychology, politics, theology, choral music, and everything “Church”.
 

       We know that Rev. Tessie will be a great asset to our church and congregation over the next several months as we prepare to move into our next phase of selecting a permanent pastor. 
 

     Rev. Tessie says: "As your pastor, I am available to you for spiritual care and direction.  This includes pastoral cares and concerns.  Please know that I am available to meet with you in scheduled appointments on Sundays between services.  You can call The Rock MCC main office number, (423) 629-2737 or send an email to RevTessieM@aol.com  to speak with me."

 

 

 

Listing of Current Events

List of some Past Events... at The Rock MCC  church
 

  Gay Pride 

Gay AND Christian?
 Homosexuality and the Bible class

[has finished for this time around]  Hosted by the Small Groups Team

Let Freedom Ring For All Peoples!

United Church of Christ (UCC) voted in favor of  "equal marriage rights for all people, regardless of gender. It marks the first time that one of the nation’s mainline churches has expressed support of marriages for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons."

World Jubilee & General Conference 2005  is now history! 
The Rev. Troy David Perry, MCC  founder, has retired from
being our church Moderator.
The Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson is the new MCC Moderator!

Fun Filled Fridays
 presents: Jade Esteban Estradas's
ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History
of the World, Vol. 1

Use E-mail,  phone,  mail, or  in person only, to communicate with us. Thanks.


The 2010 Strides of March  AIDS Walk

The Strides of March, an annual benefit for Chattanooga Cares, will be here sooner than you think.  The Rock MCC has been a participant in this event for many, many years.  Are we going to be there in 2010?  If so, we need volunteers to organize fundraisers, recruit walkers, set up and staff a display booth, and various other jobs.  Please speak to David Howard, the board's Outreach liaison, or any other board member, about how you can be a part of the 2010 Strides of March.  More info here.


 

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