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
Kyrie - El Dorado
The wind blows hard against this mountainside
Across the sea into my soul
It reaches into where I cannot hide
Setting my feet upon the road
My heart is old, it holds my memories
My body burns a gem-like flame
Somewhere between the soul and soft machine
Is where I find myself again
Kyrie Eleison, down the road that I must travel
Kyrie Eleison, through the darkness of the night
Kyrie Eleison, where I'm going, will you follow?
Kyrie Eleison, on a highway in the light
When I was young I thought of growing old
Of what my life would mean to me
Would I have followed down my chosen road
Or only wished what I could be?
Kyrie Eleison, down the road that I must travel
Kyrie Eleison, through the darkness of the night
Kyrie Eleison, where I'm going, will you follow?
Kyrie Eleison, on a highway in the light
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 Bishop Hagiya’s Update on a Worship Sabbath (May 24, 2020)
The Appointive Cabinet and I realize how much dedication our clergy, worship teams and staffs have been putting into our online Sunday worship services. In order to honor them and give them a much needed Sabbath, we will be recording and producing a full worship service as a video, of which each church can use all or part, as our local church leaders take a much needed Sunday Sabbath for themselves. The service will be available on Friday, May 15, 2020 at calpacumc.org/sabbath or via the button below and will use the Lectionary passages for Sunday, May 17, 2020. Of course, a local church may use this worship service at another time if the 17th is not convenient. [We will be sharing the Sabbath Worship service on Sunday, May 24.]
We would like to ask all local church clergy, worship teams, and church staffs to set aside one to three days of Sabbath in order to renew, recharge, and rejuvenate for the long haul that is ahead of us. Whereas the worship service use is optional, taking time for a Sabbath is not. So, we really want every local church to work on a date on which this happens. We need you for the long haul of this pandemic and we need you at your very best. So, please catch your breath, recharge your energy and renew your faith!
Be the Hope!
Bishop Grant J. Hagiya
Los Angeles Area Resident Bishop
As your pastor, I ask that you take some Sabbath time, as well. Sabbath isn’t truly a “day off.” It is time to return to God. Our musicians, technical producers, and administrator have been working so hard to help us transition to a digital platform and to stay connected. Sabbath isn’t a vacation. It’s the duty we have to pause, reflect, and cultivate the Spirit’s care for our next steps. I am so thankful that we will have the chance to worship together with our conference leaders. It’s a gift to receive some spiritual renewal in a season that has been so draining. I invite you to read more about Sabbath and how we can fully understand and practice it here.
Zoom Bible Study: LA First UMC Bible Study - Acts 3:1-26, NRSV
Time: Monday evenings at 6:30 PM PST
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/598868178?pwd=U1B2YjZYWURDRXJXMStKajI3L1RWZz09
Praying with the Daily Examen: What is the Examen?
St. Ignatius of Loyola created the Examen to be a very short prayer that can be prayed at any time. In the Examen, we review our recent past to find God and his blessings in our daily life. Ignatius would say that the Examen should be the most important moment of our day, because this moment affects every other moment.
Relish the moments that went well and all of the gifts you have today.
Request that the Spirit lead you through your review of the day.
Review your day.
Repent of any mistakes or failures.
Resolve, in concrete ways, to live tomorrow well.
Zoom Fellowship Coffee Hour: Immediately following worship today
Zoom Happy Hour: Wednesdays from 5:00-6:00 PM
Stay Connected:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LAFirstUMC/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lafirstumc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LAFirstUMC/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLh1AQKTgxTXSwwXr-J9qvA
Text Updates: https://slkt.io/5BMn
CALL TO PRAYER: Open Your Eyes - El Dorado
Open your eyes open your heart
Open your eyes open your heart
Open your heart open your eyes
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.
GOSPEL READING: John 14:15-21, NRSV
”If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
”I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
One: This is the word of God, for us, the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
SERMON: If You Love Me, Keep My Commandments - Rev. Mandy Sloan McDow
Spotlight on Latinx Justice and the work of Kid City/Hope Place
Introduction by Anne Hawthorne, United Methodist Urban Foundation Executive Director
Environmental racism in south central Los Angeles - Anakaren Andrade
Education equity in south central Los Angeles - Alma Sanchez
Kid City’s trip to Harvard; “ICE el Hielo” performed by Santa Cecelia
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: Color Esperanza - El Dorado
Se que hay en tus ojos
con solo mirar
Que estas cansado de andar y de andar
y caminar, girando siempre en un lugar
Se que las ventanas
se pueden abrir
cambiar el aire depende de ti te ayudará, vale la pena una vez mas
Saber que se puede querer que se pueda quitarse los miedos sacarlos afuera
Pintarse la cara color esperanza tentar al futuro con el corazón
Es mejor perderse
que nunca embarcar
mejor tentarse
a dejar de intentar
aunque ya ves
que no estan fácil empezar
Sé que lo imposible se puede lograr
que la tristeza
algun dia se iraá
y as será,
la vida cambia y cambiará
Sentiras que el alma vuela
por cantar una vez más
Saber que se puede querer que se pueda quitarse los miedos sacarlos afuera
Pintarse la cara color esperanza tentar al futuro con el corazón
Vale mas poder brillar que solo buscar ver el sol
Pintarse la cara color esperanza tentar al futuro con el corazón
Saber que se puede Querer que se pueda
Pintarse la cara color esperanza tentar al futuro con el corazón
Saber que se puede querer que se pueda quitarse los miedos sacarlos afuera
Pintarse la cara color esperanza tentar al futuro con el corazón
Saber que se puede Querer que se pueda
Pintarse la cara color esperanza tentar al futuro con el corazón.
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(I know) you’re tired of walking and walking and walking,
always in circles in the same place
I know that windows can be opened to change
the atmosphere depends on you
it’ll help you, it’s worth it once more
To know it’s possible, to want it to happen
to get rid of our fears, to expel them
to paint our faces with the color of hope
to tempt the future with our hearts
It’s better to get lost than never having boarded
better to fall in temptation than giving up trying
even though you see it’s not that easy to start
I know that impossible can be achieved
That sadness will go one day and it’ll be like that,
life will change and change
You’ll feel your soul flying
for singing one more time
To know it’s possible, to want it to happen
to get rid of our fears, to expel them
to paint our faces with the color of hope
to tempt the future with our hearts
It’s better being able to shine
than just trying to look at the sun
To paint our faces with the color of hope
to tempt the future with our hearts
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