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
Soon & Very Soon - 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, December 7: Week 23 - The Gospel of John
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 PM PST
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/598868178?pwd=U1B2YjZYWURDRXJXMStKajI3L1RWZz09
Monday, Dec. 7 at 5:30 - Week 23, “Advocate” - The Gospel of John
Monday, Dec. 14 at 5:30 - Week 24, “Power” - The Book of Acts
Monday, Dec. 21 at 5:30 - Week 25, “Conversion” - The Book of Acts
Monday, Jan 4 at 5:30 - Week 26, “Justified,” - The Book of Romans
Monday, Jan. 11 at 5:30 - Week 27, “Love,” - The Book of 1 Corinthians
Monday, Jan. 25 at 5:30 - Week 28, “Freedom,” - The Book of Galatians
Monday, Feb. 1 at 5:30, Week 29, “Training,” - The Books of 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus
Monday, Feb. 8 at 5:30, Week 30, “Sacrifice,” - The Book of Hebrews
Monday, Feb. 22 at 5:30, Week 31, “Holy,” - The Books of 1 & 2 Peter, Leviticus 11, 19; Isaiah 52-53, 55-56
Monday, March 1 at 5:30, Week 32, “Victory,” The Book of Revelation
Monday, March 8 at 5:30, Week 33, “Ministry,” The gifts of each disciple
Monday, March 15 at 5:30, Week 34, “Remember,” A Last Supper Together (Holy Week)
Upcoming Sermon Series:
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
ADVENT SONG OF THE DAY Available on Spotify, and on the Pastor’s Blog each day!
Following the prompts for each day of Advent, this playlist is created with hope, preparation, joy, and promise in mind. May the music help you cast down the mighty lift the lowly, and fill the hungry with good things.
Nov. 29: HOPE - “Soon & Very Soon” - El Dorado
Nov. 30: HONESTY - “People, Get Ready” - Eva Cassidy
Dec. 1: PRESENCE - “Once In Royal David’s City” - Sufjan Stevens
Dec. 2: KINDLES - “A Change Is Gonna Come” - Sam Cooke
Dec. 3: KNOWN - “Somebody to Love” - Queen
Dec. 4: AWESOME - “Lovely Day” - Bill Withers
Dec. 5: PERCEIVE - “Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming” - Sufjan Stevens
Dec. 6: PREPARE - “Prepare Ye, the Way of the Lord” - Godspell
Dec. 7: TENDERLY
Dec. 8: REMEMBER
Dec. 9: GLORY
Dec. 10: REVEALED
Dec. 11: VOICE
Dec. 12: MIGHT
Dec. 13: NEWS
Dec. 14: CARRY
Dec. 15: RELEASE
Dec. 16: COMFORT
Dec. 17: PROVIDE
Dec. 18: JOY
Dec. 19: ACKNOWLEDGE
Dec. 20: EXULT
Dec. 21: GIVEN
Dec. 22: BUILD
Dec. 23: MOVING
Dec. 24: WORD
Dec. 25: FOREVER
Jan 3: EPIPHANY
Church Council Meeting: Tuesday, December 8 at 6:30 PM via Zoom (contact office for zoom link)
Community Resources:
Here are two new jobs available in our area from CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort):
1. Mobile Program Associate - CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA /FIELD OPERATIONS – MOBILE PROGRAM ASSOCIATE /FULL TIME https://jobs.lever.co/coreresponse/b9c06fa2-e33d-4880-8550-0b6622c26e0c
2. Program Associate - CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA /FIELD OPERATIONS – PROGRAM ASSOCIATE /FULL TIME https://jobs.lever.co/coreresponse/0bcf124b-47d5-495b-90cc-439a5d6c270d
West District UMW Celebration:
"Joy in a Time Like This"- A Christmas Celebration
Saturday, December 12, 9:45-11:30 am
All are welcome and FREE to Attend!
California’s Regional Stay At Home Order from the office of the Governor
All gatherings with members of other households are prohibited in the Region except as expressly permitted herein.
All individuals living in the Region shall stay home or at their place of residence except as necessary to conduct activities associated with the operation, maintenance, or usage of critical infrastructure, as required by law, or as specifically permitted in this order.
Los Angeles’ Safer At Home Order from the office of the Mayor
Subject only to the exceptions outlined in this Order, all persons living within the City of Los Angeles are hereby ordered to remain in their homes. Residents of the City of Los Angeles who are experiencing homelessness are exempt from this requirement. The City is working, along with partner government agencies and non-governmental organizations, to make more emergency shelters available for the unhoused residents of our City. City of Los Angeles officials and contracted partners responsible for homelessness outreach shall make every reasonable effort to persuade such residents to accept, if offered, temporary housing or shelter, as the Health Officer of the County of Los Angeles recommends that sheltering individuals will assist in reducing the spread of the virus and will protect the individual from potential exposure by allowing the individual access to sanitation tools. People at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and people who are sick are urged to stay in their residence to the extent possible except as necessary to seek medical care.
Aid For Food Service Workers:
SERVE is a new partnership between @MayorOfLA and @MayorsFundLA to provide cash aid to food service workers who reside in the City of Los Angeles. SERVE is a one-time stipend of $800 to help food service workers during this critical period.
Learn more: corona-virus.la/SERVE
Aid for Childcare Workers:
Due to popular demand, @LAEWDD @LACity @WeAreDACE has added orientations to assist childcare workers at risk of job loss, been laid off, furloughed, or had hours reduced due to #COVIDー19.
Sign up➡️bit.ly/36UQPt4
📅Sessions: 10AM 12/8 & 12/15; 5PM 12/17
Disability Resources:
LA CITY and @LACDOD is committed to ensuring accessibility to services, city programs, and facilities to our disabled residents. LA supports our disabled residents on this Day of People with Disabilities.
Learn more: disability.lacity.org/services
Food, Testing, and Support Services Information:
211 LA is here to help! Dial 2-1-1 or visit 211LA.org and get connected to food resources, COVID-19 testing information, and all types of support services available to you in @CountyofLA
Food Assistance:
Help starts with 211 LA ! If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance , dial 2-1-1 or visit 211la.org. 211 LA can connect you to all types of health, social, and human services in LA County!
Free - 24 hrs, 7 days a week - Multilingual - Confidential.
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.
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:
Advent Wreath Lighting: O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Iolani, Alex, and Ginny Brideau
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11 , NRSV
Reader One: Our lists are long, even in this strange mess where we live these days. And we
want to do it right, we want to be safe, but we want to be able to enjoy the season. We’ve got work to do to put right what has gone wrong, to heal what is broken, to mend the relationships, and to prepare for the company that will come.
Reader Two: The prophet Isaiah reminded us that there is work to be done. “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” When God comes in, then healing is to be found, but we need to make the way; we need to open the door into our lives. Reader One: So, we light these candles as a sign of our faith that the God we worship is not far from us and that we can clear the way for that God to come and dwell with us. We light these candles in faith that company is coming.
Reader Two: O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, v. 2
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: Mark 1: 1-8, NRSV: The Proclamation of John the Baptist
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight” ’,
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’
One: This is the Word of God for us, the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
Prophets are the originators of generational wisdom. Elizabeth is the herald of our faith. She is the prophet-bearer, the bringer of hope, and the mother of unkempt truth."
Sermon: ADVENT II: SOON AND VERY SOON: Prepare Ye the Way - 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: Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming - 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