Call to Worship - You are invited to light a candle in your home to welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit
Lovely Day - 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, July 19, Chapter 11 - God Opens the Sea
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 PM PST
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/598868178?pwd=U1B2YjZYWURDRXJXMStKajI3L1RWZz09
GENESIS-EXODUS
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
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
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.
UMW Silent Auction fundraiser
See the attached flyer for detailed information. There are going to be some great baskets, including ours! Feel free to share the registration information with others in your circle of friends.
Contact Cal Pac UMW President Diane Gin at dlokgin@gmail.com for further details.
All of the funds raised by the Silent Auction will go toward UMW mission projects.
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.
Cooling Centers
For a list of cooling centers and more, visit emergency.lacity.org/heat
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.
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
MASKS ARE STILL NEEDED INDOORS: 😷
Because of the rise in COVID cases related to the Delta variant, the LA Public health Director requested vaccinated people wear masks in public and indoor gatherings.
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: How the City Sings - 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: Mark 6:30-56, NRSV
v. 30-34: The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
[v. 35-52: When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late;send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?”And he said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” When they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.]
v. 53-56: When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
One: This is the Word of God for us, the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
Sermon: Cultivate Sanctuary - 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.
CLOSING SONG: Home - El Dorado
A cover of “Home” by Michelle Malone
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