PRIDE🏳️🌈
On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a bar located in New York City’s Greenwich Village that served as a haven for the city’s gay, lesbian and transgender community. At the time, homosexual acts remained illegal in every state except Illinois, and bars and restaurants could get shut down for having gay employees or serving gay patrons. A riot broke out in the early hours of the morning, after police attempted to violently arrest a woman dressed in masculine attire (some believe the woman was lesbian activist Stormé DeLarverie), and she resisted.
On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States of America announced two rulings which changed the scope of American life for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriages in the state of California, was thrown out based on standing. And, the Defense of Marriage Act (known as DOMA) was struck down. Signed by President Clinton in 1996, DOMA allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed under the laws of other states. Until Section 3 of the Act was ruled unconstitutional, DOMA, had also effectively barred same-sex married couples from being recognized as "spouses" for purposes of federal laws, or receiving federal marriage benefits. With its repeal, thanks to the courage and determination of Edith Windsor, the 83-year-old plaintiff, same-sex marriages are now recognized at the federal level in the states in which they are legal.
On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal In all 50 states. The ruling affirms plaintiff Jim Obergefell’s argument, “what millions across this country already know to be true in their hearts: our love is equal."
This month, the LGBTQIA+ community celebrates the long, slow journey to equality in the eyes of the law. This past week, the Department of Justice moved to protect transgender young people against discriminatinatory state legislation in West Virginia and Arkansas, and the Department of Education issued a statement stating that Title IX protections apply to LGBTQ students.
And yet, Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24, according to The Trevor Project. LGB youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth. In a national study, 40% of transgender adults reported having made a suicide attempt. 92% of these individuals reported having attempted suicide before the age of 25.
Even still, in the United Methodist Church, “self-avowed, practicing homosexuals” are not permitted to be ordained, nor are clergy permitted to celebrate same-sex unions. Since 1972, when this harmful language was added to the Book of Discipline, people have been working to change the restrictive and homophobic practices of the United Methodist Church. Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), which was founded in 1984, has been working to equip and mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. The churches and members of RMN have been working to advance justice and inclusion for all LGBTQ people in The United Methodist Church and beyond. Los Angeles First UMC has been a Reconciling Congregation since 2015.
Today, we are blessed to have Rev. Dr. Israel (Izzy) Alvaran (he/him/his) preaching. Izzy is a remarkable person and preacher, but he also holds a unique role in his appointment to RMN. Izzy is a self-avowed gay United Methodist elder from the Philippines appointed as RMN’s organizer in the Western and North Central jurisdictions.
He has also served as pastor, conference youth director, faculty in United Methodist educational institutions, labor union organizer, and economic justice organizer with the General Board of Church and Society. He earned his Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees in the Philippines and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. A former political refugee, he is passionate about human rights and believes that queer justice is inherently intersectional.
Today, we celebrate with PRIDE all of the people who are living into the truth of who God made them to be. We honor the struggle, the heartache, and the tears of those who have fought to be true to themselves, knowing the risks and consequences it would have on their relationships, famiies, and careers. We continue to pray for liberty and justice for all. Today, we rejoice that we are all made in the image of God, and give thanks for the many ways God comes into being through us.
HAPPY PRIDE! 🏳️🌈
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, June 28, Chapter 10 - God in the Fire
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 PM PST
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/598868178?pwd=U1B2YjZYWURDRXJXMStKajI3L1RWZz09
GENESIS-EXODUS
June 28: Chapter 10 - God in the Fire
July 5: No Class
July 12: No Class
July 19: Chapter 11 - God Opens the Sea
July 26: Chapter 12 - Amid the Struggle God Provides
August 2: Chapter 13 - God’s Commands
August 9: Chapter 14 - The Just Laws of God
August 16: Chapter 15 - Protector of the Powerless
August 23: Chapter 16 - God’s Dwelling Place
Sermon Series: June 6-August 29: CULTIVATE
Exploring what scripture tells us about cultivating hope, possibility, and faith
June 27: Cultivate Pride - Pride Sunday! 🏳️🌈 - Rev. Izzy Alvaran, preaching
July 4: Cultivate Independence
July 11: Cultivate Courage
July 18: Cultivate Sanctuary
July 25: Cultivate Satisfaction
August 1: Cultivate Repentance
August 8: Cultivate Humility
August 15: Cultivate Communion
August 22: Cultivate Covenant
August 29: Cultivate Steadfast Love
Sept 5: Sabbath Sunday
Sept 12: HOMECOMING! In-person worship tentatively resumes
We have a NEW new mailing address!
When we are able to meet in person, we will still be congregating in our tents under the blue California sky on the corner of Flower & Olympic in the heart of DTLA, but if you need to send anything to the church via snail mail, here is the address you can reach us at:
Los Angeles First United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 173
South Pasadena CA 91031
CAL PAC UMC Urban Kids Camp: July 16-18
Registration: $75 dollars
Registration Deadline: July 12, 2021 or when the camp is full
Flyer: https://bit.ly/3qvieuZ
For questions regarding the program or applications, please contact Pastor Garth Gilliam at garthgilliam@gmail.com
UMC Summer Camp Counselors Needed
Being a camp counselor is one of the most rewarding volunteer opportunities around! If you can work out the time to be at any of our camps and can do the pre-camp Safe Gatherings and training, you are welcome and you are needed! Counselors range in age from 16 to 86. No previous church camp experience required. If you are at all interested, contact:
Rebecca Valenzuela (rvalenzuela@calpacumc.org) at LAZY W RANCH
Kimmie Stradling (family@venturafumc.org) at CAMP CEADR GLEN
Rev. Marlene Urban-Funk (murbanfunk@calpacumc.org) at CAMP WRIGHTWOOD
We need help in particular for the following camps:
LAZY W RANCH (San Juan Capistrano, CA) with Elementary students July 7-10 & Junior High students July 21-24
CAMP CEDAR GLEN (Julian, CA) with Junior High students July 11-14
CAMP WRIGHTWOOD (Wrightwood, CA) with Junior High students July 11-16
Mission U 2021
Dates: June 21 - August 8, 2021 California & Hawaii | June 22 - August 9, 2021 Guam & Saipan
Location: Zoom. Cost: Free
WHAT IS Misson U? Mission U is an opportunity to study a spiritual growth topic, a geographic area, and an issue impacting society. Participants grow in understanding of the mission of the church in the current world context. The studies give particular attention to the responsibilities of women in the fulfillment of mission. This mission education program strengthens the leadership and membership of United Methodist Women.
Studies include:
FINDING PEACE IN AN ANXIOUS WORLD
Bearing Witness in the Kin-dom: Living Into the Church’s Moral Witness through Radical Discipleship
Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools
Women United for Change: 150 Years in Mission
Managing Anxiety (Youth)
Becoming Peacemakers in a Culture of Violence (Youth)
Responding to Violence (Children)
You can purchase your study books at unitedmethodistwomen.org/mission-resources or Smile.Amazon.com.
Registration Form - English * Registration Form - Korean * Registration Form - Spanish
The UMW and Abolition Apostles Ministry are looking for pen-pals!
LAFUMC is partnering with Abolition Apostles Ministry to have church members paired with a pen pal who is currently incarcerated. The mission of Abolition Apostles is: “Our mission is to offer moral and spiritual support to members of the incarcerated community, and contribute to the destruction of the prison-industrial complex through solidarity, prophetic witness, and community organizing inside and outside of prison.”
You can learn more about their work here.
FRIDAYS: Sounds of South Park
Sounds of South Park is expanding! There will be free live music at two locations in South Park at South Park Commons and at The Petroleum Building. Stop by Fridays from 6-8 PM and visit southpark.la/music for more information.
7/3: South Park Block Party
South Park's newest restaurants, Kai's Table, B You, and Sonorita's Tacos have teamed up with Nimbus Coffee to host a block party next weekend. RSVP in advance here.
LA City Sanitation events:
LA City Sanitation has resumed in-person events. Make sure you sign up for their emails for information on bulky item and hazardous waste collections, and more.
For more information on clean and safe services or to submit a request, visit the South Park Bid website.
LACountyParks Splash Pads are OPEN!
During these hot summer months, youth are invited to cool off and have fun by visiting one of our 23 splash pads located across LA County.
https://parks.lacounty.gov/summer
Free Meals for Kids:
This summer, kids and teens 18 and under, can pick up 2 free nutritious meals at select @lacountylibrary locations. Meals are available for no-contact pickup on a first come, first served basis from 12–1 pm, June 14–August 6. Learn more here.
The June 15th reopening of LA is here! Expect updated guidance on masking, distancing, and capacity restrictions. For more information visit ph.lacounty.gov/coronavirus
Lights, Camera, ACTION!
LA County Parks Summer Classes offer classes for kids & adults who are natural entertainers. Sign up to join our Music, Acting, Dance, and Improv classes, to name a few!
Visit parks.lacounty.gov/summerclasses to check out the classes & register!
Free Rec Equipment and Snacks for Kids
Join us at Every Body Plays, a program that offers free sports equipment & snacks for youth at 55 parks within 20 cities countywide! 🏀🎾 Every Body Plays is a safe place where kids can get active & stay healthy (following COVID-19 guidelines). More info: parks.lacounty.gov/everybodyplays
Covid Testing:
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:
As of May 13th, ALL California residents over the age of 12 are eligible! Learn more about how people in the newly eligible groups can get vaccinated For more information on who is eligible, booking an appointment and required documentation, visit: Coronavirus.LACity.org/Vaccine
Check out https://myturn.ca.gov/ to see if you are soon becoming eligible for your vaccine.
There 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: It Is Well With My Soul - 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: 2 Sam 1:1, 17-27, NRSV - David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan
After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.
David intoned this lamentation over Saul and his son Jonathan. (He ordered that The Song of the Bow be taught to the people of Judah; it is written in the Book of Jashar.) He said:
Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
Tell it not in Gath,
proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon;
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult.
You mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain upon you,
nor bounteous fields!
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more.
From the blood of the slain,
from the fat of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
nor the sword of Saul return empty.
Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
In life and in death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles,
they were stronger than lions.
O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you with crimson, in luxury,
who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
How the mighty have fallen
in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
greatly beloved were you to me;
your love to me was wonderful,
passing the love of women.
How the mighty have fallen,
and the weapons of war perished!
One: This is the Word of God for us, the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
Sermon: Cultivate Pride - Rev. Dr. Israel Alvaran
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: Talkin' Bout a Revolution - 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.
