Order of Worship for Sunday, September 25, 2022: The Cost of Discipleship

Call to Worship - You are invited to light a candle in your home to welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit

Put the Message in the Box - El Dorado

Welcome - Stephen Folds

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus - 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. 

All who need a meal on Sunday, young and old, are invited to come sit down at the table with us for a hot, catered breakfast to get their day started! Our volunteers will be acting as servers, so that all who come join us have time to sit and enjoy their breakfast

LA First UMC is starting this ministry with the hopes of helping to fill the need for hot meals served on the weekends when most meal-providing services are closed in DTLA.

LA First UMC's Sunday Breakfast Ministry

Sundays 8:30-9:30am Pacific Time
Outside, at the picnic tables, in the parking lot on the South East Corner of Olympic and Flower
Next to Villa Flores located at 1020 S Flower St

Update to Volunteering Process

In order for the hour to run smoothly and efficiently, Debbie has planned to have jobs for 6 volunteers each week. Don't worry there are plenty of Sundays to sign up for the rest of the year. Please reach out to Debbie to get on the volunteering calendar. She can be reached at debbie@lafirstumc.org. Once you are signed up to be one of the 6 volunteers for a given week, Debbie will send out an email the Friday or Saturday before your volunteer shift to confirm your participation.

United Women in Faith Retreat Tuesday November 8th
Terrace Lounge at the Annenberg Community Beach House
Santa Monica, CA. Reach out to Sara Munshin for more details!

2022 DISASTER RESPONSE - Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico

Hurricane Fiona, the first major hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, caused catastrophic damage in Puerto Rico and brought torrential rains to the Dominican Republic in mid-September. It has left millions without power and running water. UMCOR is in close contact with the disaster response coordinator of the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico and awarded an initial solidarity grant to help address immediate needs.

Bolster Response Efforts - GIVE NOW

Get Involved - MAKE A RELIEF KIT * VOLUNTEER

Relief Supplies Request - ORDER RELIEF SUPPLIES

COMMUNITY RESOURCES:

Street Symphony (part of our Skid Row community) is Performing at USC! - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2022 AT 6:00 PM PDT
Trio Mosaic, presented by Street Symphony | Facebook

Registration is no longer required for the monkey pox vaccinations now available for eligible residents. 
For information and updates on monkeypox, visit ph.lacounty.gov/monkeypox

Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice unites low-wage workers, religious leaders, and community members across religions and regions to build an economy that works for EVERYONE.

FRANCISCA VALENZUELA - Grand Performances | Free Outdoor Summer Concert Series
Saturday September 24th, 2022, 6-10pm
350 South Grand Ave

"When it comes to entertainment in downtown Los Angeles, one of my favorite venues has got to be the Grand Performances at California Plaza. I strongly suggest that you make it out to the Grand Performances’ final performance of the season featuring Francisca Valenzuela. Francisca is from the Chilean world of pop music; a Latin Grammy nominee, she has two platinum albums, “Muerdete la lengua” (2007) and “Buen Soldado” (2011). Her recent album release in 2020, “La Fortaleza” is quickly becoming a fan favorite. So put on your red shoes and be ready to dance the night off in La Plaza California!"

Instagram/FranciscaMusic
Facebook.com/FranciscaMusic
YouTube.com/FranciscaValenzuelaMusic

The Downtown Women's Center, in partnership with the LA County Board of Supervisors, Urban Initiatives, and Urban Institute, is conducting its 8th Needs Assessment for women experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. The Needs Assessment is a community-engaged research project focused on documenting and learning about the experiences, needs, and preferences of women facing homelessness across LA. Information and data from this survey will be used to assist in ensuring programs and policies are meeting the needs of this community. We invite you to join our efforts as a volunteer survey administrator. Survey administration will take place between October 24th and November 20th, 2020. Flyer attached to the end of this email. To sign up for the required volunteer training, please click this link.

Wondering if your federal student loans qualify for cancellation? Undergrad loans, grad loans, spousal loans, and parent PLUS/grad PLUS loans are all eligible! Get the latest information at StudentAid.gov/DebtRelief

WAVLink & FASTLinkDTLA Assisted Rides ServiceA subsidized assisted ride service dedicated to serving the 14th District! WAVLink is funded by a pilot grant from CD14 to the US Green Building Council-LA, partnering with FASTLinkDTLA’s Transportation Management Organization (TMO) to provide assisted rides. The service is operated by ButterFLi Technologies, offering on-demand & scheduled assisted ride service.The rides cost only $3 per ride within the 14th District! 7 days per week, 7 AM to 6 PM. For more information, click here.

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/

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

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: Open Your Eyes - 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 14:25-33 NRSV - The Cost of Discipleship

Now large crowds were travelling with him; and he turned and said to them, ‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

One: This is the Word of God for us, the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God! 

Sermon: The Cost of Discipleship - Rev. Mandy McDow, Preaching

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: We Are One in the Spirit - 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. 

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