Greetings!
Wow. What a wonderful Pride service last Sunday! I am still feasting off of the amazing testimonies we heard. Special thanks to Lola Shahdadi, Peter Kirkpatrick, and Rev. Wayne Lindsey. It was a good reminder that we can all share our stories wherever we are, and that IS "church outside the walls." I hope you've found a way to share your story this week!
There are still many Pride events going on. Please take a look at the information that follows so that you can be a part of the fun. Also, don't forget to wear your Pride tee shirts! Every time we wear them, we get so many compliments and positive responses!
This Sunday, we'll celebrate three holidays: Trans Pride, Juneteenth, and Father's Day. It's a lot to pack into one service, so hang on tight! We've done it before, and we'll do it again. I'm so excited about the message this week. As you may recall, I've started a new sermon series for the season of Pentecost: Same Spirit; New Voices. This week, we'll hear from a new voice named Mamie L. Pack. The title of the message is, I Am Unbecoming. If you'd like to read ahead, check out Galatians 3:23-29 and Ephesians 4:21-24 (The Voice Version).
Let's come (Sunday at 10:00 !!!) expecting a move of the Spirit once again!
Pastor Keith
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Thanks to Desiree Downs for using her artistic ability to paint a banner in support of our Ukrainian siblings here in Los Angeles! As you can see, it was very much appreciated by the community! |
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It's that time again! Our Trans*Unity ministry will be awarding their annual Christine Daniels Scholarships in August. Between now and then, there will be multiple fundraisers to give as many $1000 scholarships as possible. (First Yard Sale: June 25th!) |
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Trans*Unity Yard Sale - Next Saturday! |
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Come out and support our Trans*Unity's first Yard Sale of the year next Saturday, June 25th from 7:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.! All proceeds go to the annual Christine Daniels Scholarship Fund! |
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Board Meeting This Tuesday! |
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Our regular monthly board meeting will be next Tuesday, 6/21, at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Our board meetings are open to all. Link:
Founders MCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Meeting ID: 892 1466 1682
Passcode: 603609
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General Conference Stream Teams
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If you have registered for (our first-ever fully streaming) General Conference, and you are willing to share your time online with others, please check out the General Conference schedule and let Rev. Keith ([email protected]) know what functions (plenaries, workshops, worship services) you're willing to host.
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Stewardship Campaign Info
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These are the 2022 Stewardship Refocusing Our Vision Campaign totals so far.
Tithes 37 @ $156,630.00
Building Fund 13 @ $5,182.00
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Please take some time this week to prayerfully consider your financial commitment for 2022. Then, fill out the Stewardship Commitment Card either in person or online at www.foundersmcc.org. We so appreciate all that you commit to make Founders MCC a vital part of our lives. |
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Vaccinations for those 5 years of age and older: |
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5 or Older? Let's get vaccinated!
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Free Home Covid Test Kits
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Free Home Covid Test Kits are now available, four per household. Go to www.COVIDtests.gov to order yours today.
Here is an additional link for ordering from USPS:
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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 PushPay) or simply sending a check in the mail (4607 Prospect Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027). Again, thank you.
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Hospitality - online - after worship! |
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Do you have questions about the Discussion Circles or any other aspect of the Business Meeting?
Contact us at [email protected]. We will get your question to the best person to answer it.
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General Conference Business Meeting Information
Informações da Reunião de Negócios
da Conferência Geral
Información sobre la reunión de negocios
de la Conferencia General
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- Registro de reuniones de negocios
- Materiales de negocios
- Candidatos a la Junta de Gobierno
- Círculos de discusión
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- Registro de Reunião de Negócios
- Materiais de Negócios
- Candidatos ao Conselho Deliberativo
- Círculos de Discussão
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Registration - Registro
You MUST register for the Business Meeting! Even if you are registered for the General Conference Transformational Weekend, you must register separately to attend the Business Meeting and to vote. This registration is free. Registration is now open.
¡DEBES inscribirte en la Reunión de Negocios! Incluso si está registrado para el Fin de Semana de Transformación de la Conferencia General, debe registrarse por separado para asistir a la Reunión de Negocios y votar. Esta inscripción es gratuita. Las inscripciones ya están abiertas.
Você DEVE se inscrever para a Reunião de Negócios! Mesmo que você esteja inscrito para o Fim de Semana Transformacional da Conferência Geral, você deve se inscrever separadamente para participar da Reunião de Negócios e votar. Esta inscrição é gratuita. As inscrições já estão abertas.
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Business Materials - Materiales de Negocios
- Materiais de Negócios
The Business Materials are now available. Some of the translated materials continue to be added as they become available. The documents are on the website AND are also available in the Resource Bank.
Los Materiales de Negocios ya están disponibles. Algunos de los materiales traducidos continúan añadiéndose a medida que están disponibles. Los documentos están en el sitio web Y también están disponibles en el Banco de Recursos.
Os Materiais de Negócios já estão disponíveis. Alguns dos materiais traduzidos continuam a ser adicionados à medida que se tornam disponíveis. Os documentos estão no site e também estão disponíveis no Banco de Recursos.
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Governing Board Candidates - Candidatos a la Junta de Gobierno - Candidatos ao Conselho Deliberativo
Read the biographical statements of the Candidates and watch their videos at the link above.
Lea las declaraciones biográficas de los Candidatos y vea sus videos en el enlace de arriba.
Leia as declarações biográficas dos Candidatos e assista seus vídeos no link acima.
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Discussion Circles - Círculos de discusión
- Círculos de Discussão
See the schedule for the Discussion Circles at this link. Check the language and time zones carefully. Use the zoom link for that specific circle. You may attend any Circle in any time zone.
Vea el calendario de los Círculos de Discusión en este enlace. Verifique cuidadosamente el idioma y las zonas horarias. Utilice el enlace de zoom para ese círculo específico. Puede asistir a cualquier Círculo en cualquier zona horaria.
Veja a programação dos Círculos de Discussão neste link. Verifique cuidadosamente o idioma e os fusos horários. Use o link de zoom para esse círculo específico. Você pode participar de qualquer Círculo em qualquer fuso horário.
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Exciting General Conference Updates!
A month from now, we will all be basking in that post-conference glory of Global worship, reunions, new connections, inspiring ideas, and Spirit-led transformation.
As you get your minds and hearts ready for General Conference, this email includes a link to the schedule, information about streaming parties, an invitation for your church to get involved, an opportunity for you to give toward our Go Global Fund, and an invitation to the General Conference Orientation Webinar!
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Send Us a Video!
During the Live Welcome, we will have an opportunity to travel the world! Submit your video (less than 20 seconds) with your church saying "Hello from [name of your church or community, city and country!]" with people from your church waving hello!
Please submit all videos by June 20th.
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The moment you've been waiting for... The Global General Conference Schedule is out now!
On the website, you will see that each time zone is listed on the top of the page so you can follow along with your time zone in the easiest way possible. Though we have made every effort to create live content that fits everyone's schedule around the world, you are welcome to any event at any time.
Soon, we will release the workshop list and host an orientation webinar so you can have the best experience from our first ever online General Conference.
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Streaming Parties!
We have been in touch with many organizers planning streaming parties in their regions, churches, and homes!
To help you get ready for your streaming party, check out this tool kit with tips for interacting and utilizing the General Conference content.
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Go Global Fund
The Go Global Fund makes it possible for people all over the world to access General Conference by covering registration fees, getting Internet connection, or helping people who are isolated to gather together for Streaming Parties where they otherwise would be unable to.
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Save the date for the Orientation Webinar!
June 22, 2022
4:00-5:00 PM Eastern Time
The Orientation Webinar will be recorded to be viewed at your convenience.
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Are You Registered For General Conference?
Scholarships Available!
Do you want to attend but cannot afford it? Request a full or partial scholarship by clicking one of these links: In English | En Español
Already registered but want to help someone who cannot otherwise afford to attend? Give toward the Go Global Fund to help people access General Conference around the world.
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THANK YOU for your support as we navigate this new way holding General Conference!
Global General Conference Core Team:
Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos
Dr. Lillian Dunlap
Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston
Rev. Elder Hector Gutierrez
Rev. Jennifer J.C. Hall
Chad Hobbs
Barry Hundley
Rev. Lori McPherson
Léo Rossetti
Rev. Lauren Bennett, co-chair
Mike Haase, co-chair
We look forward to co-creating this new way of doing General Conference with you.
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Statement on
The Situation in Ukraine
and its Impact on the World
from MCC Helsinki and the Council of Elders
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May 30th, 2022
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
(Isaiah 2:4 & Micah 4:3)
“We work toward a world where wars cease”
(From the MCC Statement of Faith)
Metropolitan Community Churches remains steadfast in prayer for an end to the war in Ukraine as well as continuing conflicts in over 20 other countries around the world. The MCC church of Finland has been holding regular prayers for peace since the beginning of the conflict, praying for all those touched by this war.
Rev Tarja Pyykkö, Pastor of Elävä vesi MCC Helsinki says "This war is a world tragedy that we will continue to live with for decades, if not centuries to come. Our hearts go out to the Ukrainians who have been attacked brutally, forced out of their homes, and driven out of their own country. At the same time we want to remember the ordinary Russian people who oppose this war. Their oppression has reached unprecedented heights, and many have also left their country. We pray for a quick end to this war, rebuilding of Ukraine, and we pray for increasing democracy in Russia. We also pray for all those around the world who are impacted by this war through increasing food and energy prices. We are especially concerned about the rising probability of famine in many areas of the world due to the impact and consequences of this situation.
It has warmed our hearts to see the hands and feet of God working on earth in the many surrounding countries helping Ukrainian refugees and Ukrainians in general. Many ordinary people are opening their hearts and homes to the refugees. We pray for resilience in this situation, as it is likely the situation will not be resolved quickly and rebuilding will take time and much effort. At the same time, we want to remember all those in other conflicts around the world who are lacking the support they need. Let us open our hearts and minds to them as well.
Last but not least, I would like to share a prayer by John Birch that MCC Helsinki has modified a bit and have used to pray for peace:
We pray for all whose lives
have been touched by the Ukrainian war,
whether by accident
or a deliberate act.
For those who mourn,
immerse them in your love
and lead them through this darkness
into your arms, and light.
For those who comfort,
be in both the words they use
and all that’s left unspoken;
fill each heart with love.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
whose own suffering brought us life,
here and for eternity. Amen.
MCC believes that war is preventable when strong connections are fostered and encouraged between countries: “blessed be the tie that binds” all of us together.
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\Friends, colleagues, we are in each other’s care. Pride season is our reminder and our conviction that we do not live in a vacuum. The theologian Martin Buber talks about this when he says “Er leibt mir gegenuber,” or, “he bodies across from me.” Vietnamese spiritual leader Thay Nhat Hahn teaches that we “inter-are,” that there is no place where I stop and you begin.
We cannot find peace alone, and our truest peace is what we locate in community: My equilibrium is tied to yours. Your balance is affected by hers. Together we upend or stabilize, agitate or calm one another. As surely as if a rope tied you to the people you work with and cross paths with, your boat tips with theirs. My heart breaks with yours. Our spirits rejoice with one another.
Across the globe we celebrate Pride at different times and in different ways, and yet a common thread often ties our local Pride origins in that a pivotal crisis was met by our people with strength and defiance. Many of our heroes and veterans of these Pride origin stories were people who lived at the fringes of the margins, who took up the mantle like Elisha, and who demanded change at great risk. Our Pride festivals honor these trailblazers and mark our achievements and celebrate our differences.
And still, queer sexuality and genderqueer expression is criminalized in dozens of countries, and the death penalty is a sentencing possibility in more than we can count with both hands. Pride organizers across our own communities often act as gayness gatekeepers and limit gender/queer joy to exclude some of us as unfriendly to “family.” Even within our MCC communities, we struggle at times to understand and affirm some of our consensual sexual expressions that don’t conform to traditional norms or moral assumptions.
Pride intentionally highlights and celebrates the differences we share; and it importantly also calls us to attend to our own edges. It asks us to extend and work to ensure joyfulness and abundant life for our queer and genderqueer siblings who remain deprived of them. Its themes call us to protest with and join in solidarity with our kin who are still dismissed, demeaned, and demonized.
Pride is knowing the extent to which our home is in one another – for better or worse. And with that comes a responsibility and challenge, as well as a blessing. Pride is finding and celebrating our unity within our diversity. Romans 12 enjoins, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
Many members, one body. A rainbow of colors, one flag. Innumerable floats, one parade. Lots of feathers, one boa. Happy protest, comrades. Happy Pride.
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Founder's Metropolitan Community Church Board Of Directors |
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Rev. Keith Mozingo (Moderator)
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Martin Covarrubias (Vice Moderator) |
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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. |
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