Call to Worship - Those of you joining us from home are invited to light a candle to welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit)
It’s About Time by John Croslin & The Reivers- El Dorado
Welcome - Stephen Folds, Creative Director
I Saw the Light by Hymn - 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.
TOP 5 ANNOUNCEMENTS
VENMO: You can find us here: https://venmo.com/LAFirstUMC
PAYPAL: https://paypal.me/LAFirstUMC
SQUARE:https://checkout.square.site/pay/be673aef7fcb424e98387016d184e57d
Fill out this Google Form to get free tickets to the LA County Fair to Support the Kid City Bands:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfOP4aMuexwP7e6J-n6C4W8lTioGVPWibzj2j4jPkQuEHAu1g/viewform
No Bible Study this Week- We Resume May 8th!
PDF of the UMC General Conference Prayer Guide https://www.resourceumc.org/-/media/umc-media/2024/03/14/16/33/guidetoprayer_gc24_english-c.pdf
CLUE Annual Summer Paid Internship Program
The stipend this summer is $7,200. For ten weeks from June 3 to August 9, fellows will undergo intensive training in CLUE's method of faith-rooted organizing and will work on active social justice campaigns alongside an experienced Faith-Rooted Organizer.
Please note this organizing fellowship is not a 9am - 5pm internship, so a flexible schedule is preferred.
Under the state of emergency declared to help the housing crisis, LA County is creating more job opportunities and making the application process easier than ever.
Learn more at homeless.lacounty.gov/emergency
Access to internet service is crucial.
The FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program provides a $30 dollar monthly benefit for internet service. Find out how you can get your home connected at: Getconnectedlosangeles.lacity.org.
CALL TO PRAYER: Be Here to Love Me by Townes VanZant - El Dorado
Joys and Concerns: Prayers of the People We believe that the best way to bear our burdens is to share them with one another. You welcome 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.
Gospel Reading: Acts 8:26-40 NRSV Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south[a] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?”[b] 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip[c] baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
One: The Word of God for the People of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
Sermon: “Can I Join Your Church?” - Rev. Lisa Williams
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
And now, with the confidence of the children of God, let us pray:
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,
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
MUSIC DURING OFFERING AND COMMUNION:
Neighborheart by Citizens - 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!
