Greetings!
Are you enjoying this Lenten season? I don't know about you, but it has been one of "awakening" in my spirit. (Keep that thought in mind as we move toward Easter!) The music has been on point each week, leading us into deeper worship (thanks, Louis!), and the opportunities to share in Justice for our community has lifted us (thanks, Lucia!). I keep watching, waiting, and participating in the joy of the Mystery of our Faith!
I want to thank you all for your warm welcome and offerings for Olena Shevchenko and her organization, Insight LGBTQ NGO. We gave them $795 to aid our LGBTQ siblings in the Ukraine. God bless you for your help.
With all the push-back against our Trans community, as well as our Drag community, please know that we are working behind the scenes (and soon in the streets!) to offer our support. We in the LGBTQ are experienced at standing up for our rights and holding fast to what we know is right. We will do so again to keep oppression at bay. Please, for now, keep praying that the Spirit will lead us as we get more involved. One way we stand up is to honor and celebrate Trans Day of Visibility. We'll do that in service on March 26th. I'm so proud of our Trans*Unity ministry here at Founders. It's a strong ministry, and we want to celebrate together! Don't miss that service!
Last Sunday, I felt the Spirit once again so strong throughout the service. Once again, it just makes me want MORE! This Sunday, as we continue our series entitled, Vulnerable Together, we'll hear a message entitled, Authentic Love. If you'd like to read ahead, check out Psalm 130:1-2, 5-7 (Common English Version) and John 11:1-45 (Message Version).
Let's come once again expecting a move of the Spirit!
Pastor Keith
|
|
Board Meeting - Next Tuesday |
|
Our monthly board meeting will be next Tuesday, March 21st, at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Our Board meetings are open to the public. Here's the link:
Meeting ID: 868 5351 8198
Passcode: 580456
|
|
Join us next Sunday, March 26th, for a celebration of Trans Day of Visibility! Our Trans*Unity Ministry will participate in our worship service, and we will have special guests: The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles! This will be an exciting service, and we are delighted to have such distinguished guests come and worship with us. Don't miss it! |
|
This year, at our Spring Congregational meeting in late April, we will vote on four board positions! If you are feeling called to serve and/or you have the gift of administration, we invite you to consider being a candidate for our Board of Directors. The application is on our website for easy downloading/printing. Please have completed forms back to Rev. Keith by April 2nd. |
|
Volunteer Opportunities - Social Justice |
|
So many opportunities! Faith Climate Action Week is coming up fast - April 14-23! How will FMCC's participate? Films? Discussions? Petitions? Email justice@mccla.org or talk to Pastor Lucia to help us plan!
|
|
Volunteers Needed Immediately!
|
|
Have you been feeling a nudge by the Spirit to get a little more involved at church? Here's a simple way to start - we need a couple of people to help for a couple of hours on Friday mornings and/or Saturday mornings with the Food Bank. It's really simple: On Fridays, the food truck arrives, and the food just has to be moved from the pallets to the Hunter Room or the kitchen. On Saturdays, the food just has to be set up on the tables in the courtyard for those who come for food. Not only will it do your spirit good, you'll be in great company! Come and join us!!! |
|
Assistance for two of our Church Members |
|
Two of our church members are experiencing major health issues - cancer. There are ways that ALL of us can help, such as keeping these folks in our prayers. There are also some tangible ways we can help: financial assistance for medical bills and providing meals. Check out the website links provided to see how you may help:
|
|
Rev. Steve Pieters Needs Assistance |
|
Rev. Steve has been undergoing chemo therapy for cancer. He is currently in need of assistance in the following areas:
1. Transportation to and/or from City of Hope in Duarte (every other Tuesday)
2. Getting groceries.
3. Minor chores (dishes, laundry, kitty litter)
4. Taking him for a walk 20 to 30 minutes each day.
If you can assist weekly, daily, monthly, anytime, please email Rev. Steve's scheduler, Solomon Trager:
There is also a GoFundMe page set up for Rev. Steve here:
|
|
Our Commitment Cards are available on-site and online throughout the year. We ask that you prayerfully consider your financial commitment for 2023. |
|
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! |
|
Monkey Pox Vaccine Available
|
|
Change In Covid-19 Protocols |
|
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.
|
|
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: 3-13-2023: $8,304.00
Tithes for both services: $7,631.00
Pastor's Discretionary Fund: $151.00
Building Fund: $487.00
|
|
Hospitality - online - after worship! |
|
Don't forget that we have a time of Hospitality after worship each Sunday. The link is at the top of the first page of our website. Come and have some fun with your church family! |
|
A Call to Courage
Rev. Elder Goudy
Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)
Greetings Metropolitan Community Churches and welcome to a journey together through the Lenten Season. There is a call to courage during this season:
• The courage to face death and embrace life
• The courage to invest time and energy on things of the Spirit
• The courage to seek deeper relationships with God and God’s people
• The courage to be sacrificial
The courage to face death and embrace life: Lent is a journey with Jesus to the cross and also to the resurrection. At some point we will all courageously face Golgotha (Matthew 27:33), a place of death and destruction. Equally courageously, we will all encounter eternal life, “for if we have been united with Christ in death, we will certainly also be united with Christ in a resurrection” (Roman 6:5).
The courage to invest time and energy on things of the Spirit: There are so many distractions and so many things demanding our attention but in Lent we are invited to pause and reflect on where we are making investments of time and energy. We may experience the Spirit nudging us to spend more time in prayer or praise and less time in worry or finding fault. May the hearts of MCC’ers be brave in seeking out fresh winds of the Spirit.
The courage to seek deeper relationships with God and God’s people: It does not require much of us to travel in the shallows with one another, exchange occasional pleasantries and avoid authenticity in favor of cheap peace. Likewise, we can keep things on the surface with God, sing a few hymns once a week and consider ourselves in good with the Divine. It is audacious to desire connections of greater depth with God and God’s people. May we be gutsy in developing stronger bonds with one another.
The courage to be sacrificial: “Sacrifice” is a loaded word but I think it is time to reclaim it.
Certainly we have to be careful when using the term and many people in oppressed groups have had the experience of being called on to sacrifice while no sacrifice has come from those holding power. And yet sacrifice is at the core of the call of Jesus, who says, “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” There is nothing more thrilling than surrendering control of one’s life to the glory of God. Many MCC’ers have experienced this joy that comes with entrusting our lives to God’s care. We do it for a moment and another moment and another and those sacrificial moments build on one another and we come to understand that it is all about love.
I became a part of MCC Churches because of the love I witnessed for all of God’s people. Let’s continue to pour out that love this Lenten season and beyond.
Amen.
|
|
Please click on the image below to view the video on YouTube. |
|
Rev. Keith Mozingo (Moderator)
|
|
Martin Covarrubias (Vice Moderator) |
|
|
Tony Martinez (Treasurer) |
|
Bob Stayton (Properties Committee)
|
|
Children's Hospital has so graciously volunteered up to 10 spaces for us to park. It is a small lot off Sunset Blvd., just beyond the Metro Station entrance. |
|
Founders Metropolitan Community Church Address And Contact Info:
4607 Prospect Ave, Los Angeles CA 90027 | 323-669-3434
E-mail: info@foundersmcc.org
Website: www.foundersmcc.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
