Dear Viewer,
This past Tuesday, December 1st, we recognized World AIDS Day. I was very moved by the words posted on FaceBook of our Founder, Rev. Troy Perry, as well as the words of Rev. Steve Pieters, who worked for our denomination to combat the AIDS pandemic. We have come a long ways from those early days, but this HIV virus is still affecting people, some who are still losing their lives.
Today, we find ourselves in another pandemic, one that is affecting everyone on the planet. Our city/county is on lockdown once again, and we all know what that means for us. The corona virus is everywhere, and we need to mask up when we go out, but stay at home unless it's absolutely necessary. Every day, I am hearing of yet another person I know either sick or dead from this virus. PLEASE stay safe...I want YOU around and well as long as God will give us breath.
These are troubling times, and it's hard to keep our peace, isn't it? And yet, we CAN have the Peace of God, working in our lives. Ironically, Jesus, the Prince of Peace, mentioned that He had NOT come to bring Peace, but division. That's pretty stark, isn't it? Well, don't let that worry you...we'll look at that a little closer this Sunday with the message Hope For Peace. If you'd like to read ahead, check out Isaiah 9:1-7 (Amplified) and Luke 12:49-56 (Message).
There are lots of ways for us to CONNECT while we are staying safe at home. Please check the announcements this week, as WE NEED YOUR HELP as we prepare our services over the next few weeks.
God bless. I love you.
Pastor Keith
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Founder's Metropolitan Community Church Announcements for the week of 12-04-20! |
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"Hope For The Holidays" Service - Pictures Needed |
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This is a year like no other that most of us have experienced. We have so much loss, and we are more and more isolated. This year, we will hold an online "Hope For The Holidays" service (sometimes referred to as "Blue Christmas") on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 5:00 p.m. We are partnering with UCC/MCC in the Valley for this service, and Rev. Tim Hamilton will co-lead this service. We would like for you to participate in the moment, but we need the pictures of those you would like us to remember. Please e-mail them to [email protected].
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Pictures for Passing of the Peace |
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Yes, we're asking for more pictures of YOU with a "Christmas-y" background to include in our Passing of the Peace segment of service. Send them to [email protected].
(Pictured: Adrian and Gef Aviles)
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Hospitality Pictures - Next Sunday |
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Each Sunday, we "connect" after worship for Hospitality on Zoom. Next Sunday, 12/13, we would like it if you would adjust your background to include your Christmas tree, Nativity, Advent Wreath, or any other holiday scene. We'd like to take your individual pictures on Zoom to include in our Christmas Eve service. |
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The holidays can be a very lonely time during usual times. With a pandemic looming and many of us isolated, this year may be more stressful than usual. Brian Navarro, one of our church members and licensed Social Worker (LCSW) for the LA County Department of Mental Health, will be hosting a weekly "Talk-O Tuesday" for us online. This will be a time to just check in with each other and hopefully relieve some of our stress. Brian will lead us in some exercises and meditation to equip us for what these times hold. We will do this for the next month each Tuesday 6:30 p.m. We will put the Zoom link on our FaceBook page each week. Please join us for the next few weeks. |
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Our Lady of Guadalupe Service - Next Saturday! |
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Saturday Night Spiritual Next Saturday! |
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Join us for our monthly Saturday Night Spiritual Interfaith Service next Saturday (12/12) at 5:00 p.m. Rev. Sheena Metal leads this service. |
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From Rev. Tim Hamilton: COVID Bereavement Groups |
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Kaiser Permanente has established some Covid specific bereavement groups that are open to the public. A person does not need to be a member of Kaiser Permanente to attend these call in groups, and these are provided at no cost. If you know anyone that might benefit, and has experienced the death of a loved one due to Covid, feel free to pass on this info. |
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Tithes and General Offerings: $3,654.66 for 11/29/20
(Paypal, Credit Cards, Checks, in person giving)
Designated Funds Income: $25.00
Building Fund: $25.00
Rental Income: $3,300.00
Grand Total of all Income for 11/29/20: $6,979.66
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Holiday Christmas Offering |
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Holiday Christmas Offering
At the Fall Congregational Meeting, we adopted a budget for 2021 that included the permanent layoff on Dec. 31st of three members of the Worship Band; Garret Wolfe, Suzy Horn, and Jeff Sorenson to balance the budget.The Worship Band provided dedicated and faithful ministry to our church and to our denomination for many years.
The Board of Directors met following the Congregational Meeting and set the dates of December 6 and 13 for our Holiday Christmas offering.
This year, ourHoliday Christmas Offering will be directed to our salaried staff, theWorship Band, and our faithful ASL signer, Lola Shahdadi, for our remote worship services. We have been ESPECIALLY BLESSED during these difficult times by our pastors and this special group of people and encourage everyone to give generously during the holiday season to be a blessing to them.
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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 PayPal) or simply sending a check in the mail (4607 Prospect Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027). Again, thank you. |
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Tuesday - Evening Vespers at 6:00 p.m. on Facebook Live. |
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Wednesday - Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. on Facebook Live. |
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Thursday - Pastor Pop-up at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom. |
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Friday - Evening Vespers at 6:00 p.m. on Facebook Live |
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Hospitality - online - after worship! |
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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! |
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COMMISSION ON PATHWAYS
OF HEALING AND RECONCILIATION
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October Meeting Report
At the monthly meeting, the Commission continued to build upon the framework and model we are using to guide our work. One resource is “Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture” produced by Equity in the Center. A Race Equity Culture is defined here as, “[an organizational culture] that is focused on proactively counteracting race inequities inside and outside of an organization.” With the guidance of this framework and guidance from Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice consultants, the Commission is moving forward with its work to connect with those in the denomination for healing pathways, as well as recommending structures and policy that address organizational and structural inequity.
To continue in developing a solid foundation and intermediary steps for making progress, the unprecedented move was taken to bring together the Governing Board, the Council of Elders, and the staff in a 6 hour interactive training session. Understanding that training alone does not solve challenges, it can provide a common language and understanding for those in leadership and throughout the organization. Education and training that is more specific to the particular leadership bodies and their responsibilities will be held in 2021.
The next step for the Governing Board, staff and Council of Elders is to examine their own areas of work and start to take action towards a race equity culture. The Commission is developing a survey for the leadership bodies to complete, to gain further insight into MCC's current state, with regards to race equity.
We are so grateful to Ms. Coralis Rosario for her willingness to serve on the Commission. Coralis has resigned from the Commission due to other commitments. As the body that determines and appoints the Commissioners, the Governing Board is considering who may be appointed to this position. We thank Coralis for her energy, her organizational skills and her passion for ministry during the development of the Commission’s work.
In partnership and ministry,
Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow, MCC Detroit, USA (Co-Chair)
Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston, Moderator UFMCC (Co-Chair)
Rev. Cathy Alexander, MCC Staff
Ms. Clare Coughlin, Governing Board UFMCC
Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw, MCC Tampa, USA
Mr. Richard Norman, Good Hope MCC, South Africa
Ms. Ivana Warwick, ICM Sao Paulo, Brazil
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2nd Sunday in Advent
Mark 1:1-8
John the baptizer: Does anyone else find him intimidating? And it’s not his wardrobe or diet that challenges me. He is just so successful in his ministry yet ever so humble. Can you imagine a twenty-first century scenario where “all” the “people” poured out of the city and made their way to a place in the wilderness to confess their sins and be baptized? (One can only imagine the media circus!) But what drove all the people to him? Was it peer pressure? Was it curiosity? Or was it really the desire to find a new path—one that truly filled their spirit and soul?
I’m pretty sure John didn’t have the time to discern what motivated each person, what with the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem waiting in line! It would seem the wilderness was no longer the wilderness but had evolved into a gathering place—and, more importantly, a place of transformation.
Perhaps this was the intention all along. To get people out of their comfort zone, away from the day-to-day mundane activities of life. To invite the people on a spiritual journey that begins with repentance and baptism and moves to a promise. A promise that involved someone even greater and more powerful than John the Baptist. Yes, John had an incredible ministry, yet he wasn’t the end game…he was preparing the way for Jesus and the ushering in of a new way of life.
Here we are in the midst of Advent, a season of preparing for the coming of the Christ child. Are we willing to set aside the comfortable and journey to the wilderness? Are we willing to spend some meaningful time in self-reflection and confess the times we’ve missed the mark? What are we doing to help prepare the way for others so that they may have the opportunity to experience the coming of the One that John said “he was unworthy to even stoop and untie the thongs of his sandals?” I guess this is really the intimidating part of John the baptizer and his message.
The call to transformation is just as real for us today, but we can’t experience the transformation without doing the work. So as this Advent season unfolds, may your “preparation” be filled with humble joy as we prepare for the coming of the One whom we are waiting for.
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PRAYER SUBMITTED BY
REV. ELDER TONY FREEMAN
MCC Council of Elders
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Founder's Metropolitan Community Church Board Of Directors |
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Rev. Keith Mozingo (Moderator)
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Dean Coffey (Vice Moderator)
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Oyie Esguerra (Treasurer)
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Antonio Martinez (Member)
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Founder's Metropolitan Community Church Address And Contact Info:
4607 Prospect Ave, Los Angeles CA 90027 | 323-669-3434
Website: www.foundersmcc.org
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