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
Earth Song - 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
DISCIPLE BIBLE STUDY, Monday, November 23: Phil Valdes, teaching
Monday, November 30: Week 22 - The Gospel of John
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 PM PST
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/598868178?pwd=U1B2YjZYWURDRXJXMStKajI3L1RWZz09
Upcoming Sermon Series:
November 29: Advent I: Soon and Very Soon: Keep Alert! - Mark 13:24-37
December 6: Advent II: Soon and Very Soon - Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord - Mark 1:1-8
December 13: Advent III: Soon and Very Soon - The Voice of One Crying Out - John 1:6-8, 19-28
December 20: Advent IV: Soon and Very Soon - Cast Down the Mighty, Lift the Lowly, Fill the Hungry, Send the Rich Away Empty - Luke 1:46-55
December 24: Christmas Eve: A Change Is Gonna Come - Luke 2:1-20 (Bilingual virtual service with La Plaza UMC)
December 27: Sabbath Sunday
January 3: Epiphany Sunday - This is a Day of New Beginnings - Matthew 2:1-12; Isaiah 60:1-6
Community Resources:
Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 5:00 PM: A Discussion on Racism From an Asian Young Adult Perspective
Register Here: Raise Up Your Voice Against Racism webinar
South Park Bid is creating a community cookbook:
Friendsgiving Recipe Book
We're getting ready for a Thanksgiving without big gatherings by putting together a neighborhood recipe book – a peek into your family recipes, chef favorites, and more. For each submission, we're looking for a recipe, an optional photo (we'd love to see your Granny's recipe card or a snapshot from a previous Thanksgiving), and something you're grateful for this year. Click here to contribute.
Covered California Open Enrollment
The enrollment period for Covered California, and for the individual market outside the exchange, started Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 31. To apply for new health insurance or update your plan, visit coveredca.com.
11/21: 9Round x Onyx Food Drive
9Round Kickboxing Fitness is partnering with Onyx DTLA to host a local food drive! Bring your donations to 9Round for a socially-distanced reception this Saturday, November 21st from 12pm to 3pm located at 430 W Pico Blvd. Help 9Round and Onyx knockout hunger, together. Click here for more information and a flyer to share.
State Wide Curfew:
The State has issued a new order that will go into place on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 10 p.m. and applies to L.A. County.
Californians in affected counties are asked to stay home except for essential activities between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Free Flu Shots: Coronavirus.LACity.org/FluShot
Pop up mobile site available today! Check out the link below for a list of drive-up and walk-up sites offering #free flu vaccinations across the city (With @USCSchPharmacy).
Covid Testing: Coronavirus.LACity.org/MobileTesting
The LA City Mobile Testing Group is bringing COVID-19 testing to communities throughout the City for those who are unable to drive to a testing site.
✅ No appointment necessary
✅ Tests are free with or without insurance
CALL TO PRAYER: Amazing Grace - El Dorado
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.
Scripture: Ezekiel 34:11-24, NRSV
For thus says the Lord God: “I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. “I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.”
“As for you, my flock,” thus says the Lord God: “I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats: Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture? When you drink of clear water, must you foul the rest with your feet? And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have fouled with your feet?”
Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: “I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.”
One: This is the Word of God for us, the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
Sermon: To Whom Do You Belong? - 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.