Call to Worship - You are invited to light a candle in your home to welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit
Great is Thy Faithfulness - 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, August 23, Chapter 14 - The Just Laws of God
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 PM PST
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/598868178?pwd=U1B2YjZYWURDRXJXMStKajI3L1RWZz09
GENESIS-EXODUS
August 16: No Class
August 23: Chapter 14 - The Just Laws of God
August 30: Chapter 15 - Protector of the Powerless
Sept. 13: Chapter 16 - God’s Dwelling Place
Sermon Series: June 6-August 29: CULTIVATE
Exploring what scripture tells us about cultivating hope, possibility, and faith
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
Beloved Journal Interview: Mandy McDow and Rob Lee talk with Dr. Peter A. Singer, Special Advisor to the Director-General of the World Health Organization about the Delta Variant of the COVID-19 pandemic
UMW Book Group
We will be kick starting our study of Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools by Monique W. Morris.
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZcvce-urDoiHNa-3HfBfRpMSP4L93bRdS36/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGrrD0sHNaUuB-FRpwqAI_oM-7zpn5Hgo1c0UzNBQJVUBPbBdIWHussEurU
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83266621862
Meeting ID: 832 6662 1862
This is the schedule and breakdown of chapters.
Wednesday, August 18th 5:30pm: Zoom- Chapter 2
Wednesday, August 25th 5:30pm: Zoom- Chapter 3
Wednesday, Sept 1st 5:30pm: Zoom- Chapter 4
Wednesday, Sept 8th 5:30pm: Zoom - Chapter 5 and Epilogue
Anyone is welcome to join! If they need a book, they should contact Sara Munshin. Please email Lauren at lk3497a@alumni.american.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
Invitation to Mentor High School Seniors at Kid City!
Kid City is starting to recruit mentors for its high school senior scholars program. Anne would love to welcome more LA First church members in as mentors as a way of learning more about Kid City, the amazing young people we work with, and the larger community that is affiliated with LA First. The commitment is 1-2 hours a week for the academic year. Please feel free to contact Anne at annehawthorne@urbanfoundation.org if you have questions. Kid City would also love to invite you tofill out this survey and learn more directly from Kid City staff. And thank you for supporting Kid City!
8/21: Redistricting Hearing
The LA City Redistricting Commission is holding this virtual public meeting for Council District 14, which represents most of downtown Los Angeles, to hear community input during the 2022 redistricting process. Click here for more information on redistricting, and how to share your input.
FRIDAYS: Dance DTLA
Dance DTLA is returning to the Music Center tomorrow to start five Friday nights of free in-person lessons and dancing under the stars on Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center. Click here for more information.
Los Angeles City Planning and the LA Housing and Community Investment Department are working to update the Citywide Housing Element, which will guide housing policy through 2029. Ensure that your voice is a part of this planning effort by checking out the draft version: planning.lacity.org/plan2housela
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles is hiring Youth Digital Ambassadors!Youth Digital Ambassadors will do resident outreach, promote digital literacy, and support with internet access at HACLA sites. To apply, contact Aracely Hernandez: (213) 252-5458, or Aracely.Hernandez@hacla.org
Cooling Centers
For a list of cooling centers and more, visit emergency.lacity.org/heat
Summer Night Lights 2021 is here!
SNL is providing both in-person and virtual programming for young Angelenos all summer, including: Sports, Grab & Go meals, Virtual workshops and more
Visit LAGRYD.org/SNL2021 to learn more.
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.
LA CountyParks 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. Find more information here.
Mask Mandate for Los Angeles
As the Covid cases increase, please remember we are required to wear masks indoors to keep ourselves and others safe.
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:
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: Down to the River to Pray - 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: 1 Kings 3:3-14, NRSV
Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt-offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you.’ And Solomon said, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart towards you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honour all your life; no other king shall compare with you. If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.’
One: This is the Word of God for us, the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
Sermon: Cultivate Communion - 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: Blest Be the Tie That Binds - 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