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Greetings!
Dear Saints,
Church, I first want to thank all of you for your many gestures of comfort during this time of my brother's death. So many have reached out in one way or another, and there was even a beautiful floral arrangement at his funeral. Thank you also for giving me a couple of weeks to be with his wife and help her with the business that has to be taken care of immediately following a death. She and I are both having a very difficult time with Philip's death, but we are fully trusting in the Great Comforter to continue to hold us. Your prayers mean more than you know. Thank you all so much.
While I was away, I had full confidence in our ministry team to continue moving us forward. We have so many paid and volunteer staff that give way more than asked. I'm thankful that Rev. Eric Buter has agreed to become a Volunteer Staff Pastor here at Founders. I'm thankful for the other Volunteer Staff Pastors, as well as Pastor Bam, the Board of Directors, and all the ministry leaders who are truly making a difference in our church and our community!
Our Pastor of Social Justice, Pastor Lucia Chappelle, will bring the next message in our sermon series, Radical Hospitality - Come Taste And See, this Sunday. Her message is entitled, Are You Now, Or Have You Ever Been...? If you'd like to read ahead, check out Acts 2:42-47 (NIV).
I'm looking forward to being back in service with you in person this week. God bless you all.
Pastor Keith
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Reading is taken from Acts,
Chapter 2, Verses 42 through 47
(The New International Version)
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And God added to their number daily those who were being saved.
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We are saddened to learn of the passing of Tony Fanara, owner of our neighborhood Italian restaurant, Palermo. Tony has been a good and generous friend to Founders. Our hearts go out to his family, his restaurant family and his friends.
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Welcome, Rev. Eric Buter!
We're delighted to share that Rev. Eric Buter has joined FMCC/ICMF's volunteer staff! Rev. Eric is known for his healing services, his theatre expertise, and his personal prayers with us. Thank you, Rev. Eric, for your contribution of ministry that you freely give. We pray for an even greater anointing on your ministry here with us.
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This Sunday July 19th, CicLAvia is once again happening in the Hollywood area, so be aware of street closures. Try to use Freeway 101, exiting on Santa Monica Blvd, or Franklin, driving east to Virgil to get to the church. (This will not affect the Spanish-speaking congregation as much, because by then, streets will start to open.) Please see the map graphic.
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Breaking Bread: Monday, July 20th, Dinner and a Show!
Join us as we support one of our own, Wayne Babineaux! Wayne will performing their original music at the legendary queer performance art showcase Planet Queer at Akbar in Silverlake, LA on Monday July 20th @8 PM
Click here to RSVP and for show information:
https://partiful.com/e/gnKwbs1Hwye7lTWJmPmp?c=VVAyjUhZ
Also, join us at 6 PM for a pre-show dinner and fellowship at:
NORMS! (Who doesn't love NORMS??)
5453 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
https://maps.app.goo.gl/47NHrhTjX9qcMAyKA
All are welcome, invite your friends and family!
Come just for dinner, come just for the show, or come for both!
| | On Sunday, July 26th, at 11:30 am, both congregations will once again come together to celebrate our Founder, Rev. Troy Perry's birthday. The service will feature special music, and a guest speaker. This is one service you won't want to miss! | | |
You are invited to the baptism of Karam—María Eugenia and Karina’s baby—on August 2nd. The ceremony will take place after the 1:30 pm Spanish worship service at 3 p.m. with a reception to follow.
| | Our Founders MCC Podcast entitled "Queer Christian Faith" Podcast is on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Iheart Radio, audible and our YouTube Channel MCCLATV mcclatv - YouTube | | |
With the ICE, Homeland Security, and Border Patrol raids occurring so frequently here in Los Angeles, we at FMCC/ICMF realize the fear that many of our congregants have in leaving their homes. We are initializing an immediate ministry called, ANGELS. This ministry is for those who may be fearful of going to the grocery store, the pharmacy, and the department store and need to reach out to an ANGEL for help. It is also for people who may be willing to run these errands (for those too fearful to leave home currently) to let us know you're willing to BE an ANGEL. So, if you need an ANGEL, or if you're willing to be an ANGEL, please contact us at care@mccla.org and we'll match you up if at all possible.
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Rapid Response Network Launches Hotline to Protect Immigrants From ICE Raids in Los Angeles, 888-624-4752
There continues to be a need for a "White Wall" to help protect the attendees of our 1:30 Spanish-speaking service. Please see Pastor Keith.
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Join CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice) and other social justice groups who have been gathering weekly in Los Angeles to pray for the return of family members who have been detained or deported.
We invite people of all genders to accompany them and hold our disappeared community members in prayer. We are hurting along with them, and we have their backs.
This vigil takes place every Tuesday, Noon at the Los Angeles Federal Building.
Pastor Bam Noriega
Founders MCCLA
(480)773-0527
| | Order your shirts today from Lulu Madrid for only $25! | | We need additional volunteers to help in the sound booth (see Don Mueller) and broadcast booth (see Sandra Contreras) | | |
Thank you to all who have given so generously through our online giving portal. Our church cannot function without your generosity!! Feel free to continue giving through our website (on PushPay) or simply sending a check in the mail (4607 Prospect Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027). Again, thank you.
Grand Total For Week Ending: 07-12-2026: $3,752.00
Building Fund: $385.00
Facility Rentals: $790.00
Tithing: $2,577.00
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| Interested in Church Membership? Or, maybe, you just want to know more about our church's core beliefs and history. Set up an online meeting with Rev. Steve Swafford at membership@mccla.org for an individualized study! | | Join us before and after worship for a time of Hospitality in the church courtyard. Martin Miny is heading a team of people to get coffee, juice, and pastries ready each Sunday. Volunteers are always welcome! | |
As we continue to cope with Covid-19, we are changing our protocols. The new protocols are in line with the rest of LA County. Until further notice, here are our guidelines:
1. We will no longer require vaccinations and boosters for church attendance, though we highly encourage them.
2. We will make wearing masks optional. Please feel free to continue wearing masks as you feel comfortable.
3. We ask people that have symptoms of (or tested positive for) Covid, flu, monkeypox, or any other easily communicable disease to please refrain from attending until they are well.
As we have from the very beginning of the pandemic, we will continue to keep in line with the advice of the LA County Public Health Department. Thank you so much for your patience as we navigate new guidelines.
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Rev. Keith Mozingo (Moderator)
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Cesar Maldanado -
Spanish Speaking Ministries
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Patricia Wahle -
Vice Moderator
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Ed Shaughnessy - Treasurer
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MCC Kinship Groups
Kinship Groups offer a safe space of connecting with other people of similar struggles and challenges. We have groups for Trans, PAD, API, God-Talk, and Latinx.
If you have any questions, are interested in a particular Kinship group, or interested in forming another Kinship group, you may email Rev. Hector Gutierrez.
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Let’s Get CONNECTed: Invite More MCCers to Subscribe to this Newsletter!
As the recent General Conference 2025 has just been concluded, and as the spirit of connectedness within our denomination is still in the air, we encourage you to invite more MCCers to subscribe to our denomination’s newsletter.
We are delighted to grow our community by sharing our good news and stories with one another via this platform.
We invite all MCCers to subscribe to our denomination e-news by clicking on the following link: bit.ly/connect-mcc
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Health Update, July 2026
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Subtitles available in English, Spanish, German, and Portuguese
Hello, I'm Reverend Elder Cecilia Eggleston, Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches. And today, I want to share some personal news and ask for your support. It's interesting how many things can be true at the same time. I'm in a great space emotionally and spiritually and physically. I feel great, and at the same time I've been having some medical tests. These medical tests have shown a diagnosis of cancer. The prognosis is good. It's perfectly treatable. But obviously, I'm going to need some time—time to be treated and take some time off work. That treatment initially will be radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and it will start soon. I'm going to work for as long as I can. I anticipate taking all of August off because we know these treatments can knock us about a bit. And then I will be returning to work, as and when I'm able, during the rest of the year.
The MCC Staff, the Governing Board, the Council of Elders, Network Leaders, Flourish Expanse Coordinators—they are still there to help and support you, provide resources, guidance, etcetera—just as they do every day. And the Governing Board, the Council of Elders and the MCC staff will work together more closely during this time. The National Health Service in the UK is fantastic, so I'll be in really good hands. I'm surrounded by a wonderful and huge family and great friends who are going to support me at this time.
And now I'm wondering if you will support me too. Here are three things that I'd really appreciate if you would work with me on. So the first is prayer. I love prayer. I think it's so important. I'm a great believer in it. And it's so uplifting to me whenever someone says to me: “you know, I pray for you on a regular basis.” So please hold me and the medical team, hold my family and friends in prayer at this time.
Secondly, privacy, or “PRY-vuh-see”—depending on what you like. In the UK, medical records are private, just as I'm sure that's how it is where you are. So during this time, just give me some space. I'd appreciate that. And I know that you want to share those cancer stories of your own. Just now, I need to make my own cancer story. So just put those stories on hold for now. Thank you.
And thirdly, positive news. Every day around the world, MCC is making a difference. Your ministry is saving and changing lives. And I want to hear about it. So, send it to me in an email. Headline it: “Positive News.” It may be a small thing, a private thing. You know, perhaps you worked really hard on a sermon or a Bible study, and you got some really great feedback that you'd like to share. Perhaps it's a huge thing: your biggest attendance at Pride, some civic awards that the congregation has been given, or maybe you've got a grant or a new ministry has really taken flight. Let me know. Whether you're a layperson, whether you're a clergy person—really doesn't matter. Just headline it: “Positive News.” Send it to me in an email. And my amazing executive assistant, Tammy Rabon-Noyce, will forward it to me so I can read it at my leisure and rejoice in your success.
The prognosis is good. I'm in a good space. You are going to continue to do the work of MCC around the world. And as I go on this journey over the next few months, I know that God will continue to bless me and continue to bless you, because it takes all of us to be MCC. God bless.
Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston
Moderator, Metropolitan Community Churches
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