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
Color Esperanza - 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:
TODAY: The Reverend Robert Wright Lee, IV, Guest Preacher
Rob is an author, activist, commentator, and preacher. His work has been covered by MTV, the View, The New Yorker, CNN, the New York Times, the Washington Post, NPR, and countless others. That may sound like a mouthful so Rob is often found just telling stories with friends in his hometown. Speaking of that, Lee is a native of Statesville, North Carolina and graduate of Duke University Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. He received his Master of Theological Studies in May of 2017 with a focus in practical theology and homiletics His thesis was on the corpus work of Bishop Will Willimon.
Rob, a nephew, generations removed of General Robert E. Lee has been engaged as an activist in the field of racial reconciliation. He participated in the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards and was on ABC’s the View where he spoke about the need to confront white supremacy and white privilege in white churches. Rob has written two books: “Stained-Glass Millennials,” and “A Sin by Any Other Name: Reckoning with Racism and the Heritage of the South” which was released in April of 2019.
Lee, an ordained Cooperative Baptist Fellowship minister is presently serving as pastor of Unifour Church, an open and affirming community of faith in Newton, North Carolina (Over 85% of the congregation is LGBTQ+, and he is the only straight clergyperson on staff). Rob was baptized and raised United Methodist, at Broad Street United Methodist Church in his hometown. Lee still lives in his hometown of Statesville, North Carolina with his wife Stephanie and his poodle Frank.
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
Guidelines for Church Re-Launch of In-Person Worship Services
Bishop Hagiya's Special Message in Response to Racism
Cal-Pac Annual Conference Updates:
Resolution 20-06: STRATEGIC PLAN FOR RACIAL EQUITY FOR CAL-PAC CONFERENCE
1. Conduct a racial equity audit at every level (church, district, and Annual Conference),
2. Create a part-time conference staff position dedicated to the examination of race and racism,
3. Empower the Commission on Religion and Race to oversee and monitor the progress of this resolution,
4. Dedicate $12K/year to fund a Leadership Development Institute for Young People of Color to address justice issues affecting them and their communities.
Motion to request $35,000 for Strengthening the Black Church (SBC), to be created as a new line item in the Justice & Compassion Essential Ministries Team (JCEMT) Budget.
SBC is a Cal-Pac Conference Committee which was established by Gaunnie Dixon in 2000, but was removed from the Conference budget in 2013. SBC currently relates to JCEMT, but does not have money in a line item.
Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century is a National Racial Ethnic Plan of the United Methodist Church, dedicated to helping predominately black congregations become effective and fruitful in mission and ministry. The primary purpose of SBC is to assist Black congregations in becoming more effective in mission and ministry. Without financial support, this purpose cannot be fulfilled.
Our budget is a direct reflection of our priorities, and we need to have a line item tied to the work of anti-racism, for accountability and response. I would like to propose that we add a line item in the Apportioned 2021 Budget to provide ongoing support of SBC.
Zoom Bible Study: LA First UMC Bible Study
Beginning Monday, June 8: Disciple Bible Study, Week 3
Time: Monday evenings at 5:30 - 7:00 PM PST
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/598868178?pwd=U1B2YjZYWURDRXJXMStKajI3L1RWZz09
21-DAY RACIAL EQUITY CHALLENGE:
The Adult Faith Formation team from Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC has created a resource to encourage us on a 21-day Racial Equity challenge, based on the work of Dr. Eddie Moore, a diversity and inclusion specialist. In doing so you will be exposed to voices and perspectives different than your own through articles, videos, and podcasts. Each day you will choose one way of engagement and reflect in a journal. At the end of the challenge, we will gather together to share our reflections.
The Challenge
Pick one of the resources listed below every day for 21 days.
Diversify your understanding by doing some of each.
Track and reflect by using the planning tool.
Share your reflections at the end of the challenge.
Pray for the places you are challenged and for those you are learning about whose lives may be different than yours.
Join us for conversation June 7th and 21st at 9:45 a.m. EST via Zoom here.
Notice
Test Your Awareness: Do The Test, This video shows us the importance of paying attention, and how much more we see when we are looking for particular things around us.
Use each question below separately as one day’s challenge.
Who is and is not represented in ads?
What are the last five books you read? What is the racial mix of the authors?
What is the racial mix of the main characters in your favorite TV shows? Movies?
Who is filling what kinds of jobs/social roles in your world? Can you correlate any of this to racial identity?
Zoom Fellowship Coffee Hour: Immediately following worship today. Today, we will be welcoming a new member via Zoom! Find the liturgy here.
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
CALL TO PRAYER: What Wondrous Love - 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.
GOSPEL LESSON: Mark 10:46-52, The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
One: This is the word of God, for us, the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
SERMON: Second Star to the Right - Rev. Robert W. Lee, IV
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: Blest Be the Tie - 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