Call to Worship - Since we are all at home, you are invited to light a candle to welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit)
From This Valley by The Civil Wars - El Dorado
Welcome - Stephen Folds, Creative Director
I Remember Everything by Kacey Musgraves and Zach Bryan- 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
Lenten Practice of Praying the Lord’s Prayer at Noon Pacific Time
Each day during Lent, we will go live on Facebook at (or just prior to) noon to pray the Lord’s Prayer together with any who might want to join.
2024 CAL-PAC UMC Lent Prayer Calendar
Embark on a spiritual journey this Lenten season with our prayer calendar, dedicated to uplifting those struggling with physical and spiritual hunger. Join us in daily reflection and prayer as we extend compassion and support to those facing challenges in their rhythms of life. Together, let's create a powerful wave of positive energy, practicing being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did. May our collective prayers bring healing and blessing, and inspire us to consider specific ways we can serve our communities: PDFs available in English | Spanish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Tagalog | Vietnamese
COMMUNITY RESOURCES:
Assistance Navigating Healthcare Systems for Those Who Are Uninsured or Underinsured
Southern California Healthcare Outreach (SCHO) is a student organization at the USC working towards expanding healthcare coverage serving mostly uninsured & underinsured populations in LA.
Some of their members have become Certified Enrollment Counselors, allowing them to use the Covered California platform to enroll people in certain public health insurance programs.
They provided us with a Medi-Cal and CHIP (insurance for children) Handout. They can also be reached at schealthcareoutreach@gmail.com
Skip Election Day lines by voting early!
Early voting is available at select locations throughout LA County starting today.
Find a location near you: locator.lavote.gov/locations
The Seasonal Winter Shelter Program (SWSP) is now in effect!
Contact 2-1-1 LA County (dial 2-1-1) or 1-800-548-6047 . SWSP is available until March 31, 2024. These shelters help to keep our unhoused neighbors safe and warm during the coldest months in our region. lahsa.org/winter-shelter
Free Tax Prep from LA County
Tax season is starting, and you could qualify for more than $11,000 in refunds regardless of your immigration status. At FreeTaxPrepLA.org, you can learn more about the tax refunds available and get support from IRS-certified tax preparers who can help you file for free.
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: Sorry Now + Him I Love Both Day and Night by Jill Andrew and Andrea von Kampen - 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.
Old Testament Reading: Numbers 21:4-9 NRSV
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea,[a] to go around the land of Edom, but the people became discouraged on the way. 5 The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” 6 Then the Lord sent poisonous[b] serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous[c] serpent, and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it upon a pole, and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
Gospel Reading: John 3:14-21 NRSV
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.[a]
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”[b]
Sermon: A Sign Of The Covenant: Repentance - Rev. Dr. Mandy Sloan 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
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:
Intacta by Quattro - 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!
