As always, all are welcome at Spirit of Hope MCC. But during five days in late August, that permanent invitation is extended with special significance, as the church celebrates its ruby anniversary.
Many readers know Kansas City’s local Metropolitan Community Church simply as Spirit of Hope or MCCKC. Some may have attended a community event there. Still others have been to the church’s services or are members.
Using the MCCKC abbreviation can lead to people confusing the church with our local community college system, Metropolitan Community College (MCC-KC). No degrees are conferred and no tuition is assessed at Spirit of Hope, but this congregation is all about community.
The Celebration
As part of its enduring embrace of community, Spirit of Hope invites all who are able to attend one or more of its 40th anniversary events Aug. 22-26.
Wednesday, Aug. 22
7 p.m. -- Interfaith Service
Speakers: The Rev. John Barbone, pastor emeritus; Sly James, mayor of Kansas City, Mo.; U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II; and the Rev. Kurt Krieger, senior pastor.
Entertainment: Heartland Men’s Chorus and Kansas City Women’s Chorus
Reception follows.
Thursday, Aug. 23
7 p.m. -- “The History of Spirit of Hope” in music, reading, slides and video.
Friday, Aug. 24
6 p.m. -- Congregational Potluck: Bring a side dish. Spirit of Hope will provide meat.
7:30 p.m. -- Musical celebration with soloists, choirs and praise band.
Saturday, Aug. 25
6 p.m. -- $100/person semiformal dinner, entertainment and awards. Madrid Theatre, 3810 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.
Dinner by Brancato’s Catering. Entertainment by Sweet Harmony, et al.
Sunday, Aug. 26
10:15 a.m. -- Extended Morning Worship
The Rev. Troy Perry will deliver the main sermon, the Rev. John Barbone will offer a ministry moment, and the Rev. Kurt Krieger will administer communion.
Worship music by praise band and choirs. Special music by Jason & deMarco. Cake and ice cream served after worship.
7:30 p.m. -- Jason & deMarco in concert. Reception afterward.
The denomination’s founder, the Rev. Troy Perry, will be present Friday through Sunday. All events will take place at the church, 3801 Wyandotte St., with the exception of the Saturday dinner.
Denomination History
In Los Angeles, in 1968, the Rev. Elder Troy D. Perry founded what has come to be called the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.
Perry felt called to preach at a young age. Finding that impossible within existing mainline Christian denominational structures, he withdrew. His disgust with societal and religious treatment of LGBT people finally pulled him back into the ministry.
Perry placed an ad in The Advocate announcing a worship service for gay people in Los Angeles. Initially, a very small number responded. But by 1971, the welcoming church had dedicated its own building in Los Angeles, the first in the nation owned by an LGBT organization. The 2007 documentary film Call Me Troy tells the story of Perry and of MCC’s founding.
Metropolitan Community Church theology is based upon the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds. Every affiliated church must celebrate the Eucharist at least once a week and practice open communion when doing so. Otherwise, MCC churches have broad latitude in doctrine and worship style.
Local History
In Kansas City, you’ll find the Spirit of Hope house of worship tucked between Main and Broadway Streets, just north of 39th in Midtown. The first congregants, however, met in 1972 in a park amid the trees.
From the park, they moved to The Asylum, Reggie Greene’s coffee shop on Broadway, then to Conover Hall at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church on Walnut. After that, the church convened at 4000 Harrison, before finally moving to its current address.
Around the time of its 20th anniversary, church members voted to adopt a specific name in addition to Metropolitan Community Church of Kansas City. Spirit of Hope was added to the name in 1993.
Through its community forums on HIV, Spirit of Hope helped to form both the Good Samaritan Project and SAVE Inc. The Lesbian Cancer Project and food assistance programs have been and continue to be integral parts of Spirit of Hope’s community outreach. The church has allowed innumerable nonprofit groups to hold events and fundraisers at its facility.
Through its new Spirit and Hope Foundation, the church plans to help build a local chapter of SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders).
Current and Upcoming
During August, the Spirit of Hope pulpit will be opened to special guest speakers.
The lead organizer of the 40th anniversary celebration, church member Eddy Potter, is also the eponym behind Spirit of Hope’s Potter’s House, which brings outside performers into the church to bolster its community connection.
The next Potter’s House event will be at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 23, when gospel recording artist Justin Ryan will perform a free concert. A love offering will be taken during the show.
The July Potter’s House event will feature the church’s pastor, the Rev. Kurt Krieger, cooking hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill.
To those who question the continued relevance of an LGBT-focused church, Spirit of Hope members affirm, “We’re not done yet. We are ‘Uniquely Us.’” More and more religious denominations are welcoming LGBT members on some level, but there are often limits to this acceptance involving ordination, sacraments, families and children. At Spirit of Hope, there are no barriers. “Uniquely Us” seems quite appropriate.
Go, check out Spirit of Hope on a Sunday or a Wednesday. Or help celebrate its big 4-0 in August.
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Spirit of Hope MCC
3801 Wyandotte St.
Kansas City, Mo.
816-931-0750
10:15 a.m. Sunday worship with children’s church and youth ministry; potluck meal on first Sundays
6:30 p.m. Wednesday Refresh! prayer service
spiritofhopemcckc.org
facebook.com/spiritofhope.mcc
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WhistlePig and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Wind Tunnel-Trialed Whiskey Is a Ryed You Don’t Want to Miss
SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.
The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.
Like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s signature C43 racing vehicles, trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-Forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, staying true to the physical nature of Formula 1.
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The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel will be available for purchase online starting around September 13 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle and sold in select stores across the U.S. Consumers can win VIP merchandise by scanning the QR code on the back of each bottle.
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Fans and collectors have followed WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating those who give 100% in the name of greatness, since its launch in March 2022 with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), followed by Country Music Duo Brothers Osborne in November 2022.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz
When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.
I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.
If you don’t have a primary care physician who specializes in LGBTQ+ care in your community, you may need to educate yourself (and your provider). But, before you seek such therapy, here are five things you should know!
- Monitor closely. At Spectrum Medical Care Center, we screen patients for certain risks before starting anyone on hormones. We frequently monitor patients in the first year to ensure there are no adverse reactions and lab results are within safe ranges. Follow-up care is also important to assess your comfort with the transition as well as the social impact and social support you’re experiencing.
- Some changes are permanent, some temporary. For transmasculine individuals going on testosterone, they’ll experience these permanent changes: deepened voice, clitoral enlargement (also known as bottom growth), more body, facial hair, and male pattern baldness. Reversible changes include cessation of menses, increased muscle mass and strength, body fat redistribution, and skin oiliness or acne. For those going on estrogen therapy, the most permanent change is breast growth. Feminizing hormone therapy can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the genitals and loss of erectile function that may not be reversible. Estrogen will thin body hair, soften the skin, can increase scalp hair, and decrease muscle mass and strength, all of which are reversible.
- You can’t pick and choose results. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the physical changes you want, which may feel challenging. Some of my patients will say, ‘Okay, ‘I’ve seen the permanent changes I want, and I don’t want it to go any further,’ and so at that point, we stop therapy. Low-dose hormone therapy can slow down the rate of changes, allowing for a more gradual physical transition. We counsel patients in advance about the common changes, and it’s up to the individual as to when they’d like to scale back and determine whether some benefits are worth the potential risks.
- Be aware of risks. Like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. Some risks with testosterone therapy include increased red blood cell mass, acne, hypertension, sleep apnea, weight gain, and dyslipidemia (increases the chance of clogged arteries). Cardiovascular disease is likely increased with additional risk factors for testosterone and estrogen therapy. Transfeminine patients going on estrogen therapy may experience weight gain, thromboembolic disease (when a blood clot breaks off and blocks another blood vessel), and a high level of triglycerides in the blood.
Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area
Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!
Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.
"Our entire team is honored to be named Best of the Best. To be the only gay men's resort recognized in the Top 1% is incredibly humbling," said Kent Taylor, General Manager at Descanso. "We appreciate Tripadvisor and we're grateful to all our guests who gave us such high marks and reviews to help us reach this achievement."
“Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who maZer most: your guests,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am con6nually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”
Santiago Resort was once again honored by Tripadvisor with a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of travelers’ top reviewed des6na6ons. Twin Palms will become eligible for ranking in 2024.
Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Descanso Resort on Tripadvisor here. We have an excellent library of resort imagery available to accompany editorial and additional resources on our press page. Please contact Descanso Resort’s General Manager, Kent Taylor, at kent@descansoresort.com for further information.
About Descanso Resort
Inspired by Palm Springs’ history as a des6na6on for Hollywood stars to unwind in privacy, Descanso offers guests a casual yet modern take on the legendary style of that 6me. Created by the same hospitality team that revitalized Palm Springs’ much-loved San6ago Resort and recently launched the all-new Twin Palms Resort, the Descanso property opened in 2022 featuring 15 spacious guest rooms with custom-designed furniture, dreamy King-size beds, and luxe details. Ameni6es include continental breakfast, poolside lunch, welcome snack basket, and lots of special touches. For guests who need to stay connected, the entire property is equipped with blazing-fast Wi-Fi. Mul6-speed bikes are available for exploring the surrounding midcentury neighborhoods and public art installations. Like the Hollywood stars before them, guests at Descanso are encouraged to unwind, relax, and rest in style.
About Tripadvisor
Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.