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Greetings!
Thank you to all who attended our Annual Fall Congregational Meeting last Sunday. So much work went into preparing for the meeting, and it is so important for our membership to attend so everyone knows the upcoming plans for the church. Thanks to all the Ministry Leaders for getting their reports in, to the Media and Creative Worship Teams for getting all the logistics ready, to the Board of Directors who got the information together, and to Pastor Bam Noriega for putting together the Narrative Budget for 2027.
Speaking of Pastor Bam, we're excited to announce their Ordination Service, a combined worship service on December 7th at 11:30 a.m. Pastor Bam has worked very hard to complete a Masters of Divinity degree as well as take extra required coursework and an ordination interview with our denomination in order to be ordained in MCC. This will be a historic day for Pastor Bam and for FMCC/ICMF!
This Sunday, we will continue our Stewardship Sermon Series with Pastor Lucia Chappelle preaching at both services. The theme for this Sunday is Stewardship of our Environment. The message is entitled, Lilies of the Field. If you'd like to read ahead, check out Matthew 6:28-29 (New Revised Standard Version).
Let's once again come to worship ready for a wonderful day in God's Spirit!
Pastor Keith
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Reading is taken from Matthew, Chapter 6, Verses 28 through 29
(The New Revised Standard Version)
And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even
Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
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SAVE THE DATE
Join us in celebration and prayer as
Bam Noriega
is ordained into the ministry of the Metropolitan Community Churches
Sunday, December 6, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Founders MCC / ICM Fundadora, Los Angeles, California
All are welcome to witness and celebrate this special day!
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Saturday, Nov. 14th, 8 pm
Founders MCC member Wayne Babineaux / Weaux will perform a full hour-long original music show celebrating the release of his new double EP "Future Vu / Queer as Funk" ON VINYL!!!
Tickets are free and you're highly encouraged to order your "Future Vu / Queer as Funk" vinyl at the show to help him towards his goal of selling 300 records to get these vinyls made!!!
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GOOD GRIEF
Surviving and Thriving After Loss
Notwithstanding the fact that grief is the normal and natural response to loss, many of us feel woefully inadequate when it comes to grieving well. And for those who identify as religious or spiritual, this sense of inadequacy is often magnified. As a result, we find ourselves feeling lonely, emotionally isolated, and misunderstood when thrust into a grief experience.
Please join us for a day-long retreat on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 10:30 a.m. where certified Grief Recovery Counselor, Skip Chasey, will facilitate a group discussion regarding the many myths about grief, grief dynamics and grief theology. During this retreat we will also identify and chart our personal loss histories, and together we will engage in a powerful, life affirming ritual that is certain to leave you feeling cleansed and renewed.
Lunch will be served. Please be sure to bring a writing pad and a pen with you to the retreat.
We will follow up with Zoom sessions on Mondays (11/23, 11/30, and 12/7) at 6:00 p.m. with Rev. Tim Hamilton. Here's the link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82539812377?pwd=r4G3bq02B6OMp2CaWJ56crgmcWsaOp.1
| On Sunday, Nov 22nd, Rev. Eric Buter will be offering a healing service after both worships. You will want to be in attendance to be offered prayers of healing, of restoration, or for blessings. | | Also on Sunday Nov 22nd, we will be honoring Transgender Day of Remembrance as is our custom with a video homage and flowers. | | Sunday, November 29th, we'll have our annual Friendsgiving Meal together! Both the English and Spanish-speaking congregations will gather between the two services for our lunch celebration. We'll also be honoring our VOLUNTEERS during the celebration! Don't miss it! | | |
On December 1st, our Latin Choir, Voces de Alabanza, will be performing at Bienestar's annual World AIDs Day. If you would like to attend, please RSVP. Here is the invitation from Bienestar:
Bienestar's Unidos 2026 World AIDS Day commemoration in Los Angeles
For 34 years, Bienestar has brought our community together to remember those we have lost, honor those living with HIV, and renew our commitment to dignity, health, and social justice.
Join us for UNIDOS 2026, Bienestar’s World AIDS Day commemoration. Together, we will share community stories, enjoy musical performances, and gather for an evening of reflection, remembrance, and solidarity.
December 1, 2026
6:00 PM
Ukrainian Cultural Center
4315 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
Space is limited. Register today at Eventbrite. World AIDS Day - Día Mundial del Sida Tickets, Tuesday, December 1 • 6 PM - 10 PM | Eventbrite
| | Collecting needed items for SELAH. This month: Coats/Jackets and tents. | | Sunday, October 25th, was our annual Commitment Service, which is in line with our sermon series: Stewardship, Not What You Think! If you didn't fill out your annual Commitment Card for 2027, please see an usher for a form and drop it in the offering plate (or fill it out online). | | Third Space is now open on Mondays and Thursdays. | | 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: 11-08-26: $10,310.00
Facility Rentals: $2935.00
Building Fund: $275.00
Tithing: $7100.00
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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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