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
DISCIPLE 2 BIBLE STUDY: Mondays at 5:30 PM via Zoom
November 29: Chapter 24 - Sent as Witnesses
Day 1: Luke 19:28-48 - Palm Sunday
Day 2: Luke 20-21 - Teaching in the Temple
Day 3: Luke 22 - Betrayal, Passover Meal, the Garden, Arrest and Trial
Day 4: Luke 23 - Crucifixion and Burial
Day 5: Luke 24 - Resurrection and Empty Tomb, Emmaus Road, the Great Command
Day 6: Study Manual, p. 184-19
ADVENT SERMON SERIES: November 28-Jan 2
A Season of Fulfilled Promises:
NOV. 28: JUSTICE & RIGHTEOUSNESS
DEC. 5: PREPARED & UNREADY
DEC. 12: REPENT & REJOICE
DEC. 19: BLESSINGS WHICH AREN'T
DEC. 24: PROMISE FULFILLED - 5:30PM
DEC. 26: SABBATH SUNDAY
JAN. 2: EPIPHANY SUNDAY
EL DORADO - SONGS OF THE SEASON
Enjoy the music of our own El Dorado this season here!
GIVING TUESDAY:
VENMO: You can find us here: https://venmo.com/LAFirstUMC
PAYPAL: https://paypal.me/LAFirstUMC
SQUARE: https://checkout.square.site/pay/be673aef7fcb424e98387016d184e57d
UNITED METHODIST RESOURCES:
ADVENT PHOTO A DAY 2021:
The United Methodist Church offers a practice for the Advent season that we hope is more meaningful and rewarding than it is hard: Our Advent Photo-a-Day Challenge. Each day during the season of Advent, we'll post a word for reflection. Take a moment (or several moments) of pause and reflection, then share a response to that word through a picture posted on social media. Post your picture on social media with #RethinkChurch.
You can find 2020’s Advent Song a Day Playlist here.
November 28 - PROMISE: A Change is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
29 - FULFILL
30 - TIME
December 1 - JUSTICE
2 - RiGHTEOUSNESS
3 - LIVE
4 - CALLED
5 - HOPE
6 - MESSENGER
7 - PREPARE
8 - SEEK
9 - DELIGHT
10 - ENDURE
11 - OFFERING
12 - HOME
13 - FEAR
14 - GROW
15 - GLADNESS
16 - VICTORY
17 - RENEW
18 - GATHER
19 - GREAT
20 - WATCH
21 - AWE
22 - AMAZED
23 - TREASURED
24 - SEEN
25 - WORSHIP
UMW's Sharing Christmas Dreams Around the World, Saturday Dec 11th 2-3:30 via zoom
Advent-Themed Online Game Available!
An online United Methodist congregation, has developed a choose-your-own-adventure game that can be played on desktop or mobile browsers. In "Not Another Advent Story," players will control the journey of "MC" as they try to make their way to church on Christmas Eve. Find it here!
Community Resources:
Los Angeles Job Corps Virtual Job Fair
Join Los Angeles Job Corps online to hear from managers & staff about open positions. Join December 1, 2021 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM for entry level positions, and on December 8, 2021 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM for experience based positions. To register for the December 1st event, click here. To register for the December 8th event, click here.
Comeback Checks for Small Businesses
Round two applications open Monday, November 29th, for the $25M “Comeback Checks” program. $5K grants are available for 5,000 LA City small businesses. Applications close December 3rd. For more info, click here.
LAPD Central Division Annual Toy Drive
Join LAPD Central Division for their annual toy drive to benefit underprivileged children in Downtown LA. Please donate a new toy that will help make the holidays special for a deserving child. November 29th through December 18th, you can drop off unwrapped toys at our South Park BID office located at 1150-B S Hope St, during business hours.
COVID Testing:
You can get your digital vaccination record: myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov
healthvana.com or carbonhealth.com
LA City is now offering free testing, without appointments at City-run sites. Find a site near you: Coronavirus.LACity.org/Testing. For additional COVID-19 resources: Coronavirus.LACity.org/Resources
Vaccines:
In case you missed it: Pfizer's #COVID19 vaccine is approved for kids 5-11!! Children may now get vaccinated at select, walk-up clinics county-wide. Please call ahead to check availability. Visit vaccinatelacounty.com for info or talk to your child’s doctor
All COVID-19 vaccines are now approved for boosters - Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. People may also receive booster doses that are different than their original vaccine. For more info and to make an appointment, visit bit.ly/3m3Uspo--
CVS is already prepared to administer boosters. You can make an appointment for the booster of your choice at https://www.cvs.com/vaccine/intake/store/covid-screener/covid-qns
Vaccine requirements are in effect, LA County is providing mobile vaccinations, testing vendors, as well as a toolkit for owners of bars and businesses that serve alcohol, as well as for those running mega events. For more info visit, ph.lacounty.gov/coronavirus
California residents can now request in-home vaccinations and/or transit assistance to get vaccinated by registering at MyTurn.ca.gov or by calling the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) COVID-19 Call Center at 1-833-422-4255.
Everyone 12 years and older in LA County is now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Children 12-17 are only eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine—to find a location near you, visit bit.ly/PfizerSites. Learn more about the vaccines at vaccinatelacounty.com.
Need a ride? Uber and Lyft are providing free rides to and from vaccination sites. Don't have the apps? Call 833-540-0473 to book your ride.
There are several vaccine sites set up by Carbon Health that you can check: https://carbonhealth.com/
LA County: http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/vaccine/index.htm
Orange County residents and workers: Register for a vaccination appointment at https://othena.com
ADVENT WREATH LIGHTING: Week 1 – Caroline Magbojos, Stephen and Mia Folds
Watch and wait for Christ’s coming!
We light candles of hope, peace, joy, and love, remembering the promises of God with prayer.
Hear these words from the prophet Jeremiah: (Jeremiah 33:14-16, NRSV)
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and
the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David;
and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem
will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “THE LORD is our righteousness.”
We light this candle in hope. Light the first candle.
Let us pray…
God, we ask that you prepare our bodies, prepare our minds, and prepare our hearts for your coming to
this world. Take root, grow within us, and blossom for all to see. Your kingdom come; your will be
done. Amen.
Verse 1 of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
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: Luke 21:25-36, NRSV
‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud” with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’
Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
‘Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’
One: This is the Word of God for us, the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
Sermon: ADVENT I: A SEASON OF FULFILLED PROMISES: Justice & Righteousness - 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: O Little Town of Bethlehem - 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