Greetings!

This week has brought us joy and sorrow. There are many things around us that bring us to prayer - at least two shootings in CA, one of them affecting our Asian/Pacific Islander community. Rev. Alejandro and I attended a vigil at the Monterrey Park City Chambers on Tuesday, and I was moved by the number of people there, all in support of one another, drawing on the energy of one another. As I stood there, I noted that many of the speakers didn't speak in English, and while I couldn't understand their words, I shared their passion. I prayed silently for all affected by this tragedy and that we can bring comfort to those around us.

I also visited with Rev. Steve Pieters this week. He preached a sermon sitting in his chair and blessed me so much! God is still working in and through him, even while he fights cancer. That "call" from God I preached about last Sunday is sure evident in him! He'll just keep witnessing until his last breath! He is in need of some things - please take a look at the announcement I shared about him. Thank you to all who are willing to help.

I hope you are still feasting in the Spirit like I am from last week's service! My goodness! Spirit has kept me energized all week! I can hardly wait to get back to church this Sunday to see what Spirit has for us! The message this week is entitled, Blessed Are The Actors. If you'd like to read ahead, check out Micah 6:8 (New Revised Standard) and Matthew 5:1-12 (Voice Version). Come and be blessed!

Pastor Keith
Church Outside The Walls
Julianne's Girl Scout Cookies
It's that time of year, and our very own Julianne is excited to be selling Girl Scout cookies for the first time. If you are local to us, you can now pre-order for girl delivery or donate towards the community. Julianne and her dad (Bruce) will start delivering on January 29th.  If you are in the US but outside the area, shipping orders start on February 27th. Please click on the link below to help support her troop and help her meet her goal to sell 100 boxes. Thanks!
Ryland Room/Storage Clean-Up Day
Saturday, February 4th
We invite everyone with gifts of cleaning and organizing to join us on Saturday, February 4th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help with cleaning and organizing the Ryland Room Annex and storage areas. This is a great way to be the COMMUNITY in Founders Metropolitan Community Church; to get to know others in our extended church family. We will also be sprucing up the north side Disposal & Recycling area of the church. Join us and MAKE A DIFFERENCE in 2023.
Welcome, Louis Ramirez!
Next week, we have a special installation service planned for Louis Ramirez, our new Music Director and Office Administrator! Louis is no stranger to FMCC, and we are very blessed to have him back in Los Angeles. We will also have an official Welcome Reception/House Warming following worship on February 5th. For those who would like to bring gifts for the House Warming, please consider gift cards, particularly Target or Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Welcome, Louis!!!
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!!!
Saturday Pop-up Yard Sales
Our Trans-Unity ministry is offering weekly pop-up yard sales each Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.  Join them to help raise money for our scholarship funds. 
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. Keith at:


There is also a GoFundMe page set up for Rev. Steve here:


Lynne Witmer 
Commitment Cards
Our Commitment Cards are available on-site and online throughout the year. We ask that you prayerfully consider your financial commitment for 2023.
Hospitality!
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 
LA County now has another limited supply of Monkeypox Vaccine available. You can sign up here: https://lacpublichealth.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aY96Sxs2lUgUZb8
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.
Tithes & Offerings
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.
Evening Vespers
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!
FAITH LEADERS DENOUNCE VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIAN-AMERICANS
The attack on a Lunar New Year celebration in Monterey Park, California, last weekend was an unconscionable and shocking act of violence, and underscores both the pervasive gun violence of modern society but also the vulnerability of the Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population to targeted violence.

        Although the gunman in the recent case was also of Asian descent and the crime that killed 11 and injured many others is unlikely to be classified as a hate crime, the event nonetheless draws attention to the issue of racial violence in the United States.

"Targeted hate crime or not, clearly hate has played its part," said Rev. Stedney Phillips, Diversity, Inclusion and Laity Development Coordinator for Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC). "Hate crimes against Asian Americans increased 177.5 percent in 2021, according to the California Department of Justice. This case may not be a hate crime, but it certainly underscores the threats to AAPI persons."

"One of our church leaders was present at this event and left only about half an hour before the gunfire," said Rev. Keith Mozingo, senior pastor of Founders MCC in Los Angeles. "We're grateful for his safety but share the grief of this community. Additionally, we reached out to local authorities and offered assistance in providing translation. We are here to serve."

"MCC continues to stand for diversity and against discrimination or violence of any kind," said MCC Moderator Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston. "The United States is long overdue for a serious conversation about gun violence, minority populations are long overdue for proper protections worldwide, and MCC stands ready to facilitate these dialogues."
Introducing …
Our New Internal MCC Website!
Made just for YOU
Lay Leaders and Clergy of MCC
As many of you know, MCC has been in a three year process of revising our web presence and communications strategy. Our hope has been to ensure that our web presence is targeted to the appropriate audiences and provides easy access to the information and resources that respective audiences are looking for. Ultimately, of course, we hope to reach more people with the life-saving message and ministries of Metropolitan Community Churches.

The first phase was the launch of our visitor-based website at www.VisitMCCchurch.com. This website is aimed at those who do not yet know MCC, but who share our core values and are searching for the type of churches and spiritual communities that are a part of MCC. This external, visitor-based site introduces people to MCC, and is completely multilingual. Visitors can hear our stories through the testimonies of MCCers writing about their experiences in their own languages. They can also quickly locate the most up to date information about all of our congregations around the world. The VisitMCCchurch.com site also includes news coverage of MCC and individual leaders and congregations worldwide.

The second phase of our redesign is now complete through the launch of our new internal website at www.InsideMCC.org. This site is very specifically targeted to MCCers - clergy, lay leaders, church members, etc. Our goal for this site is for it to be (a) simple, (b) easy to navigate, and (c) successful at providing MCCers with the resources and information you need to do your best work. At InsideMCC.org you will find up-to-date contact information for Staff, Elders, Governing Board Members, Commissions, etc. You will also be directed to our new Resource Bank where you can find everything from worship resources to financial reports. The site also contains information about how to best find and utilize the resources that are available.
We encourage you to spend some time reviewing the new site(s), and as always, we invite your feedback. We also urge you to read the various READ ME FIRST documents found in different sections of the Resource Bank. Watch for the announcement of introductory videos about the new InsideMCC.org site and the Resource Bank. 

We are striving to be more inclusive and accessible in terms of language. While the website is created in English, Google Translate can make it more accessible to other languages. The same is true of the Resource Bank. Google Translate can be used on any of the documents whether the original is in Spanish, Portuguese or English. We acknowledge the limitations of the current technology noting that some MCC/ICM terms may not translate accurately and that the technology may not reflect the cultural nuances and evolution of language. Still, this is a big step forward in making our resources available to all of our global MCC members. 

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact [email protected].


(Facebook)
(Twitter)
Rev. Keith Mozingo (Moderator)
Martin Covarrubias (Vice Moderator)
Kim Doneche (Clerk)
Gef Aviles (Co-Treasurer)
Tony Martinez (Co-Treasurer)
Roger Owens (Governance)
Bob Stayton (Properties Committee)
Parking Available
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.