Live Stream Worship:
Facebook: Los Angeles First United Methodist Church
Twitter: 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:
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
DISCIPLE BIBLE STUDY, Monday, March 22: Week 34, Rumana Choudhury’s lesson on Islam
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 PM PST
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/598868178?pwd=U1B2YjZYWURDRXJXMStKajI3L1RWZz09
Monday, March 22 at 5:30, Week 34, Rumana Choudhury’s lesson on Islam
Monday, March 29 at 5:30, Week 35, “Remember,” A Last Supper Together
Lenten Sermon Series: Color Esperanza
March 21: Lent V - Hope in What is Forgotten
March 28: Palm Sunday - Jesus Christ Superstar
April 1: Maundy Thursday
April 2: Good Friday
April 4: Easter Sunday
April 11: Sabbath Sunday
If You have not already done so, please consider supporting efforts for Justice for Our Friend and Member Dr. Aysha Khoury:
Dr. Khoury found out that the Kaiser Medical School terminated her contract after she gave a school sanctioned talk on racism in medicine, and she needs our help to hold the administrators of this school responsible for this racially motivated firing.
You can learn more about her story here: https://civilrightslawyerla.com/khoury
You can contribute to the GoFundMe in her name here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-aysha-khoury
Petition to Support Affordable Housing in Skid Row:
A couple years ago our Church Council endorsed the work of Skid Row Now and 2040, a coalition of Skid Row stakeholders looking to bring more affordable housing into Skid Row and improve the neighborhood for current residents. The 2040 refers to DTLA 2040, the current City Hall effort to update the Downtown Community Plan which sets Land Use policy and zoning. Please sign this Skid Row Now and 2040 online petition that will be sent to the Planning Commissioners. Now and 2040 has had a very positive relationship with the Department of City Planning over the years.
Sign the petition here: http://chng.it/HM82hTBp56
Statement Against Anti-Asian Violence (AALMP) from Bishop Hagiya
READ THE STATEMENT >>
A few days ago, the Asian American Language Ministry Plan with the General Board of Global Ministries and the National Federation of Asian American United Methodists issued a statement jointly condemning the rise of anti-Asian American violence in the United States of America.
Los Angeles Area Resident Bishop Grant J. Hagiya is a signatory to the letter along with several clergypersons of the California-Pacific Conference.
Given the incident which took place in the Atlanta area yesterday, Rev. John Oda, who directs the Asian American Language Ministry Plan, adds, “This ongoing, rising violence and hatred which sadly includes the recent murders in Atlanta of eight Asian American women – this violence is not just an Asian American concern. This is not an African American concern, a Hispanic/Latino concern, a Native American concern or a Pacific Islander concern. This increase in violence, these shootings in Atlanta are a concern for ALL Christians; for anyone who is striving to live out the tenets of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are a concern for all of us are seeking to fulfill His commandment to love one another. “
The United Methodist Church has a moral obligation to be vocally and visibly outraged at these recent murders in Atlanta and this precipitous rise in violence and hatred against the Asian American community.
Learn Intervention Techniques: Advancing Justice | AAJC has partnered with Hollaback! to make training available to equip people with techniques on how to safely intervene when they see or experience anti-Asian harassment. The next dates for each of the free public trainings in our three-part series follow:
Bystander Intervention to Stop Anti-Asian/American Harassment and Xenophobia
Tuesday, March 23 at 4pm EST/ 3pm MT/ 2pm PT/ 12pm HST. Register Here
Monday, April 5 at 1pm EST/ 12pm MT/ 11am PT/ 9am HST. Register Here
Wednesday, April 14 at 6:30pm EST/ 5:30pm MT/ 4:30pm PT/ 2:30 HST. Register Here
Thursday, April 29 at 3pm EST/ 2pm EST/ 1pm PT/ 11am HST. Register Here.
What Can You Do?
Report and help us document hate and harassment: We encourage community members who have experienced anti-Asian hate to share their experiences and report to our website www.StandAgainstHatred.org, which is accessible in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
The California-Pacific United Methodist Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2021 Lois Balsley Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded annually to college bound students within the Conference. Graduating high school seniors within the Cal-Pac Conference who plan to enroll in a two or four-year institution of higher learning in the Fall of 2021 are potentially eligible to apply. For this year only, the Grants Committee has relaxed the cumulative GPA requirement from 3.0 to 2.5, to give grace to students who may be adversely affected by the pandemic and virtual learning experience. Application is attached to this email. Call Nia Bailey at 626-568-7347 for more information.
General Board of Higher Education & Ministry Scholarships
The GBHEM scholarship application opens in January of each year. You can only submit one application per year where it will be screened for all possible eligible programs. You may indicate on the first page of the scholarship application which of the below listed programs you would most like to be considered for. Award amounts below are a general estimate of awards given. Scholarship programs are divided into three categories: General Scholarships, Racial-Ethnic Scholarships, and Ministry as a Career Scholarships.
SAI/UMC Latino Youth Scholarship Program - Apply Here!
Spanish American Institute (SAI) has opened the application process for the SAI/UMC Latino Youth Scholarships beginning mid-February until April 10, 2021.Scholarship applicants must: 1) have been a member of a local California-Pacific United Methodist Church for at least one year, and 2) provide a letter of recommendation from the Pastor or Youth Director indicating faithful service in a leadership role to the church and/or community. SAI awards $1,000 scholarships to selected applicants. The application deadline is April 10, 2021. For further information, email info@saischolars.org.
Bishops call Special Session of General Conference, issue timeline forward
In response to the further postponement of the 2020 General Conference, the Council of Bishops (COB) is calling a Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church (UMC) to be convened online on May 8, 2021.
The decision to call the Special Session came in conjunction with the Commission on the General Conference’s announcement of a further postponement of the 2020 General Conference to August 2022. The General Conference had been previously postponed to August 2021 due the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now scheduled to take place August 29 to September 6, 2022, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Click here to read the Commission’s announcement.
Women's Month El Pueblo LA Virtual Tour including the Beloved Biddy Mason:
In honor of #WomensHistoryMonth , #ElPuebloLA is proud to announce our newest digital #tour: Historical Women of El Pueblo: Highlighting Female Pioneers in #LosAngeles History.
For more info or to reserve your free tour, call (213) 628-1274 or email EPTours@lacity.org.
VACCINE UPDATE:
Residents 65+ are eligible to be vaccinated starting Wednesday, January 20th. Book your appointments by visiting VaccinateLACounty.com. For additional assistance, call 833-540-0473 between 8:00 am and 8:30 pm.
Orange County residents and workers can register for a vaccination appointment at https://othena.com.
Vaccinations for seniors (and persons with disabilities):
One of the challenges of getting our most vulnerable citizens vaccine appointments is that the methodst to do so are heavily reliant on technology. To help bridge the gap, Margaret Irwin (assistant to Bishop Hagiya), has set up her own grassroots program to match seniors in need or without computers with volunteers willing to spend hours on the phone/online to book vaccination appointments. The demand is greater than the supply as we know but this is a temporary problem, but it will be for a few months.
If you are interested in helping Margaret sign people up for their vaccine appointments, you can send her an email to let her know.
COVID-19 Testing
Updated for 1/2/21: The LA City Mobile Testing Group is bringing COVID-19 testing to communities throughout the City for those who are unable to drive to a testing site.
✅ No appointment necessary
✅Tests are free with or without insurance
Learn more:Coronavirus.LACity.org/MobileTesting
LA County Rent Relief Updates: https://211la.org/lacounty/rentrelief
- Relief extended through 12/31 for eligible applicants from the 08/20 application period
-New 2021 rent relief program coming soon
-Eviction moratorium extended through Feb. 28
The 2021 Rent Relief Program Applications are not yet available and are under development. Sign up to receive updates when the 2021 Rent Relief Application becomes available at
Distress Hotline:
If you're feeling anger, isolation or anxiety related to civil unrest, you're not alone. The national Disaster @Distressline offers 24/7 emotional support. Call or text 1-800-985-5990 and #TalkWithUs. #USCapitol
CALL TO PRAYER: All Who Are Thirsty - 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: John 12:20-36, NRSV
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.
One: This is the Word of God for us, the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
Sermon: Hope in Forgiveness - 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: Spirit in the Sky - 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