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
For What It's Worth - 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
VISIONING SESSION II: Monday, September 21 at 1:00 PM via Zoom with Rev. Jennifer Gutierrez
DISCIPLE BIBLE STUDY, Monday, September 21: Week 14
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 PM PST
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/598868178?pwd=U1B2YjZYWURDRXJXMStKajI3L1RWZz09
Zoom Fellowship Coffee Hour: Immediately following worship today.
4 Week Zoom Book Club, “Finding Peace in An Anxious World”
Wednesday at 5:00 PM, Sept. 23
For those who are interested but unable to attend, or those who just love additional information, the UMW has created a useful resource page to accompany the book on their national website, and there you can find videos and reading guides for further exploration:
https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/finding-peace-in-an-anxious-world
Community Events and Resources:
9/26: A discussion on city living in the wake of the pandemic
Months into the coronavirus pandemic, the extent of its impact on downtown Los Angeles is fluid – it seems every day presents new challenges and new reasons to remain hopeful. On Saturday, September 26, the South Park Bid is hosting a discussion on city living in the wake of the pandemic. Join them for a conversation about what's next for downtown's residents, workers, physical design, retail, transportation, and more. RSVP here.
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.
This Sunday Starts Deaf Awareness Week
Deaf Awareness Week is Sept. 20-26, This blog post includes links to helpful videos, including one on Deaf culture and another on the Lord's Prayer in American Sign Language.Read story
You can learn The Lord's Prayer in ASL here: Lord's Prayer in sign language
Here is a 5 minute Deaf culture video to build your awareness.
And here is a glossary of videos of ASL church-related signs
CALL TO PRAYER: All Who Are Thirsty - El Dorado
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg died on Friday, at the time Shabbat services were beginning on the first day of the Jewish New Year. According to Jewish tradition, a person who dies on Rosh Hashanah, is a tzaddik, a person of great righteousness. May her memory be a revolution.
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: Matthew 20:1-16, NRSV - The Laborers in the Vineyard
‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.”
So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.”
When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.
Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.”
But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?”
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’
One: This is the word of God, for us, the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
SERMON: The Spiritual Discipline of True Justice, 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: They'll Know We Are Christians - 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