Live Stream Worship:
Facebook: Los Angeles First United Methodist Church - Home
Instagram: Los Angeles First UMC (@lafirstumc)
YouTube: Los Angeles First United Methodist Church
Call to Worship - You are invited to light a candle in your home to welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit
Up to Here - El Dorado
Passing of the Peace: Through the act of passing the peace of Christ, we offer our sincere desire to love our neighbor.
You are invited to greet one another in the live stream chat on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
Announcements:
Stewardship Campaign: Our goal is to raise $20,000/month for payroll, so that we can continue to employ all the people who are working tirelessly to bring the Good News to all who need to hear it. My prayer is that we can raise enough money to cover our church’s payroll over the next three months. This allows the congregation to use any money we have on hand to directly support our ministries.
We have converted our parsonage into a co-housing community, which now has 6 residents living safely and affordably together. We have been able to support people who might not have been able to find sustainable housing in the current market, and we can ensure that they will stay housed during the pandemic. It would be an additional hope to raise $3,000/month to support the utilities and expenses of the co-housing community.
Jubilee Fund: This fund is designated to helping reduce the burden of debt in our community. As we make our way through the pandemic, the economic pressures are going to be challenging. If you feel led, you can now donate through Venmo!
VENMO: You can find us here: https://venmo.com/LAFirstUMC
PAYPAL: https://paypal.me/LAFirstUMC
SQUARE: https://checkout.square.site/pay/be673aef7fcb424e98387016d184e57d
Guidelines for Church Re-Launch of In-Person Worship Services
Bishop Hagiya's Special Message in Response to Racism
DISCIPLE BIBLE STUDY, Monday, October 12: Week 17
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 PM PST
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/598868178?pwd=U1B2YjZYWURDRXJXMStKajI3L1RWZz09
NEXT SUNDAY: LAITY SUNDAY - Tom Grode, Lay Leader - Preaching
MUSEUM OF SOCIAL JUSTICE 9th ANNUAL TARDEADA:
We invite you to our annual Tardeada to celebrate the opening of
Thai El Monte Garment Workers: The Return of Slavery and Trafficking in the Modern Era
honoring
Melina Abdullah, professor of Pan-African Studies at California State University, Los Angeles and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles
Chancee Martorell, executive director of the Thai Community Development Center
Joy Prim, United Methodist Church deaconess and missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries
CHURCH DEVELOPMENT SESSION WITH TELACU:
Monday, October 19 at 1:00 PM - E-mail “office @ LAFirstUMC.org” for the Zoom link
CHURCH DEVELOPMENT SESSION WITH FORGE LAND DEVELOPMENT:
Monday, October 26 at 1:00 PM - E-mail “office @ LAFirstUMC.org” for the Zoom link
CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING: Tuesday, October 13, 4:30-6:30 PM via Zoom
CHARGE CONFERENCE DATE: Thursday, November 5 at 7:00 PM via Zoom
Zoom Fellowship Coffee Hour: Immediately following worship today.
Community Events and Resources:
Register to Vote
The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming November 3rd Election is Monday, October 19th. To register online, visit registertovote.ca.gov. To request a paper application, call (800) 345-VOTE(8683).
Check your voter registration with the Secretary of State.
Find out your local elected officals through the League of Women Voters.
Vote by Mail Drop Boxes
StreetsLA is installing 77 Vote by Mail Drop Boxes outside City public libraries and City recreation facilities. In downtown, boxes will be installed at the Little Tokyo Branch Library (203 S Los Angeles St) and Los Angeles Central Library (630 W 5th St). To learn more, click here.
Lakers, AEG to make Staples Center a voting center for L.A.
Staples Center will serve as a polling place where Los Angeles voters can cast ballots for the 2020 presidential election from Oct. 30 through Election Day, Nov. 3. Click Here.
CALL TO PRAYER: Hard Times, Come Again No More - Mavis Staples
Video in Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Biddy Mason
Joys and Concerns: We believe that the best way to bear our burdens is to share them with one another. You are invited to share your joys and concerns so that our community can hold these things in our hearts as we lift them to God together.
You are invited to share your prayers in the Facebook Live Chat, or on the YouTube Live chat.
HEBREW BIBLE READING: Exodus 32:1-14, NRSV
The Golden Calf
When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron and said to him, ‘Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ Aaron said to them, ‘Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.’ So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from them, formed it in a mould, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, ‘Tomorrow shall be a festival to the Lord.’ They rose early the next day, and offered burnt-offerings and brought sacrifices of well-being; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.
The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshipped it and sacrificed to it, and said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” ’ The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation.’
But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, ‘O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, “It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth”? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, “I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it for ever.” ’ And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.
One: This is the word of God, for us, the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
Sermon: THE WILDERNESS | WHAT DO WE WORSHIP? - Rev. Mandy McDow
HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation to the Table: As we understand the Body of Christ to be inclusive, we understand God’s table of grace and fellowship can extend into our homes. As you’re able, bring your own elements to this time. Bread, Juice, Coffee, Muffins… the Body of Christ is comprised of wonder and mystery. Today, we celebrate that God can reach us where we are, even if we are not together.
The Great Mystery of our Faith
All: Christ has died
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
The Lord’s PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
MUSIC DURING COMMUNION: Come, Ye Sinners - El Dorado
Benediction Remember:
God is with you,
God is for you,
God refuses to be God without you.
And may all of God’s people say: Amen.
Virtual Coffee Hour Begins now! Immediately following worship on Zoom