Call to Worship - You are invited to light a candle in your home to welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit
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 - We will be off on Monday, Feb. 21 for President’s Day, and will resume on Monday, February 28 with Chapter 30
ASH WEDNESDAY: Imposition of Ashes
March 2 from 12-1 at 1020 S. Flower Street
Stop by for a moment of prayer, reflection, and pause. All are welcome to walk up/walk through. If you need a parking pass, we will have some to hand out on site.
Potential In-Person Worship Resuming on Sunday April 3rd!
The Church Council, our Worship Team, and Senior Pastor Mandy are working on plans to resume in person worship on Sunday April 3rd. We will keep you updated as plans progress.
Regardless of when we do reopen in-person, we will be maintaining our strong on ONLINE worship presence and forming a hybrid worship experience since we are blessed by those across the country including in CO, Il, GA, TN, NC and across the world who join us each Sunday in fellowship.
LENTEN SERMON SERIES: March 2 - April 3 - FINDING OUR HALLELUJAHS
MARCH 2: Ash Wednesday - MIND - Repentance
MARCH 6: LENT I - BODY - Fasting & Temptation
MARCH 13: LENT II - HOME - Like a Hen Gathering Her Brood
MARCH 20: LENT III - WORK - Nurture What Bears Fruit
MARCH 27: LENT IV - RELATIONSHIPS - The Prodigal
APRIL 3: LENT V - RESOURCES - Give Freely What You Have (In Person Worship Resumes!)
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:
29 Ways You Can Participate in Black History Month
No matter your heritage, culture, or racial background, Black history is EVERYONE’s story. Here are 29 ways you, your family, and our congregation can celebrate and participate in Black History Month: https://bit.ly/3GPHUZY
Black History Month: Activity for Kids
Do you know these Black United Methodist History-Markers? Look up these history-makers from our church and unscramble their names as an activity.
Call to Prayer and Support for Tonga
Please join Bishop Grant J. Hagiya in your regular prayers for our Tongan siblings and for the physical island itself. We ask God to watch over the Tongan people, animals, and land. We ask God to move us to send relief in the form of donations as well as these prayers. May the Island of Tonga know that we hold them in our daily prayers! Donations for relief can be sent to the California-Pacific Conference at P.O. Box 6006, Pasadena, CA 91102-6006. Please mark any donations with “Tongan Relief” on your check or electronic offering here.
The 2022 GBHEM Methodist scholarship app is now open! The deadline is March 24th. They gave Lauren a scholarship last year, and it really helped her out. She wants to pass this along to all students. https://www.gbhem.org/loans-scholarships/scholarships/apply/
Get insight into mental health issues
WesPath is offering two virtual seminars on mental health first aid will be offered on March 10 and 24. The free events will be led by Chris White, a hostage and crisis negotiator and mental health trainer: https://bit.ly/3GTfn6N
COMMUNITY RESOURCES:
Afghan Refugee Job and Resource Fair
Do you know any new friends or neighbors who are Afghan refugees? You can encourage them to attend. Afghan refugee families resettling in LA County are invited to join us on Monday 2/28 from 10AM-6PM for a virtual job and resource fair. Link to attend the event: bit.ly/afghanfair
Check out Our SPOT, a FREE after-school program for teens ages 12-18. You can check-in Mon-Fri activities, like creative writing and music workshops, yoga classes, sports & more. parks.lacounty.gov/ourspot
LA Public Health wants to hear your ideas for street and sidewalk improvements in South LA. Share your ideas at bit.ly/PedPlanInputMap to help shape Community Pedestrian Plans in our unincorporated communities. For questions, email mhuertajones@ph.lacounty.gov
LA Public Library Tech Support
Need help with your tech? Cybernauts are trained computer aides that offer technology assistance, computer support, and mobile device support: lapl.me/ooBzN8f
Free at-home COVID-19 tests: https://www.covidtests.gov
Every home in the U.S. can soon order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests will be completely free—there are no shipping costs and you don’t need to enter a credit card number. Ordering begins January 19: Click here to order your tests.
Sliding Scale Therapy at the Maple Center
As Ashley mentioned last week, the Maple Center is a great place to start if you want to find resources for mental health. They do therapy on an income based sliding scale, and are very respectful and caring people. https://www.maple4counseling.org/
Homeowners, the California Mortgage Relief Program application portal is open! Visit https://camortgagerelief.org/
Food Equity
1 in 10 residents struggles with food insecurity. LA County has convened the Food Equity Roundtable to address systemic inequities in our food system. Govt, philanthropy & nonprofit leaders will soon issue a blueprint for change. Have ideas? Email lafoodequityroundtable@gmail.com
Support The Ending PUSHOUT Act
This summer, many United Methodist Women members and friends all across the country participated in the Mission U study of Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools by Dr. Monique Morris. We learned about the extreme racial disparities in discipline impacting Black girls. Addressing the deep roots of intersecting oppressions targeting Black girls is complex and long-term work. There is no simple one-and-done fix. But we can have an impact. One way we can help make change is by showing our support for an important federal bill, The Ending PUSHOUT Act, and by encouraging our loved ones to join us in action.
The Ending PUSHOUT Act of 2021 (H.R.2248):
creates a $2.5 billion fund to incentivize schools and states to abandon unfair and discriminatory disciplinary policies and practices that push children of color out of the classroom;
strengthens civil rights monitoring and enforcement;
and establishes a task force to address school pushout, with particular attention to the needs of girls of color.
Participating states and schools would be supported to invest in restorative practices, trauma-informed care, counselors, social workers and mental health professionals. Funds could not be used for police in schools. Please join us in supporting The Ending PUSHOUT Act. Already taken action in support of this bill? Multiply your impact by asking three friends to join you in taking action on this campaign.
Winter Shelters are open 11/1-3/31.
The Winter Shelter Program provides a warm place to sleep and access to supportive services to our unsheltered neighbors. If you or someone you know needs shelter visit LAHSA.org/winter-shelter or call 1 (800) 548-6047.
GreenFaith: Lauren K wanted to share this interfaith climate change group to pass along if anyone at church is interested: From coast to coast; continent to continent, our message is crystal clear: Our faiths call for an end to climate destruction and a sustainable and just future for all. https://greenfaith.org/
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
CALL TO PRAYER: Holy Spirit - 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.
Scripture: Luke 9:28-43a, NRSV - The Transfiguration
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
One: This is the Word of God for us, the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
Sermon: SUBVERSIVE RESOLUTIONS: All Were Astounded at the Greatness of God - 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 Prayer
Our 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: Bless the Beasts and the Children - El Dorado, originally recorded by The Carpenters
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