Live Stream Worship:
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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:
TODAY: Dialogue Sermon with Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes, Mary Esther United Methodist Church in Fort Walton, FL
The Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes currently serves as the senior pastor of Mary Esther United Methodist Church, in Mary Esther, Florida. A native of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, where his passion for both music and theatre were nurtured, Sam received a Bachelor of Arts in Music (1988 - Voice Performance) with a minor in Theatre from The University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. He received his Master of Divinity (1998) from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a Doctor of Theology in Homiletics from Emmanuel College in the University of Toronto (2016). He is an active member of the Academy of Homiletics. Sam has been a contributor to the Abingdon Preaching Annual and to the recent Abingdon Theological Companion to the Lectionary.
Sam is serving in his 29th year under episcopal appointment in the United Methodist Church and is a clergy member of the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference. He leads the Preaching Excellence Team of the conference which provides a variety of programming to preachers who seek to grow in the craft of preaching through collaborative sermon series planning and a bi-weekly podcast for lectionary preachers. Sam also developed a small-group coaching model called Partners in Preaching in which a group of six to eight pastors meet monthly to improve preaching through peer feedback and support. He has led this model in Alabama, Mississippi, and North Carolina. In 2019, Sam was named the Director of Worship for the 2020 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the UMC. Due to a “series of unfortunate events,” he will take up this post in task 2021.
Sam works in both church and community to establish systems of support for LGBTQ persons. He frequently travels in his conference to help localities and churches establish Reconciling Ministry groups and is a founding member and vice-president of PFLAG Niceville which provides support, education, and advocacy for the people of Okaloosa County, Florida.
An avid home cook, Sam can be found in the kitchen most evenings. Otherwise, he reads, writes, and loves a good movie while curled up on the sofa with his two tuxedo cats and Clover, the adorable mutt. He has a son and a daughter – Will, 16, and Harper, 14 – who keep his academic fancies grounded in the concrete world.
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
Zoom Bible Study: LA First UMC Bible Study
Monday, June 29: Disciple Bible Study, Week 4
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.
Zoom Fellowship Coffee Hour: Immediately following worship today.
Zoom Happy Hour: Wednesdays from 5:00-6:00 PM
🏳️🌈 HAPPY PRIDE! 🏳️🌈 Pride Worship Service, Sunday, July 5 🌈
Today marks 51 years since Black trans activist, Marsha P. Johnson, initiated the Stonewall Riots in New York City against the police brutality to the LGBTQIA+ community, launching the gay liberation movement. We will take next Sunday as an opportunity to honor and celebrate the events at Stonewall, celebrate the progress, and recognize the 5 year anniversary of the SCOTUS decision to allow same-gender marriage in the United States. That said, there is still much work to be done.
The Cal-Pac LGBTQIA+ Task Force has created a worship service for Pride! During this season of pandemic and stay at home orders, many Pride celebrations have been cancelled. The LGBTQIA+ community of the UMC are now having to wait an additional fifteen months longer for a decision from General Conference, and are holding on to their anxiety and pain, and continuing to operate in an environment which is filled with risk and harm. Join us for this opportunity to pray, praise, and hope for all that God is doing in our midst.
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: Open Your Eyes - 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.
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Psalm 13, read by Rep. Kirk Hatcher, District 78 in Alabama State House of Representatives
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me for ever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I bear pain in my soul,
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
4 and my enemy will say, ‘I have prevailed’;
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
One: This is the word of God, for us, the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
SERMON: The Spiritual Discipline of Lament - Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes and 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: We Don't Eat - 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