Greetings!

What an amazing, Spirit-filled service last Sunday! I hope that whether things in our lives got settled this week or not, at least we began to focus on WHO holds our tomorrow! Hallelujah.

I want to thank Rev. Alejandro for his hard work in coordinating the mobile vaccine clinic at church last Sunday. This is what it means to BE CHURCH...bringing help to our community! Rev. Alejandro had several helping hands, so we say THANK YOU to all who participated!

This Sunday, we recognize Trans Day of Remembrance. We will hear the voices of living Trans people that are a part of our own congregation. I'm so glad to be a part of a denomination that celebrates ALL of God's people! So many religious folks don't seem to understand that we are ALL created in God's image, and there are many "shepherds" out there that refuse to honor their trans "sheep." Scripture says that Jesus is the "Good Shepherd," and this week, we'll celebrate Christ the Sovereign/Christ the Good Shepherd. The message is entitled, Making Things Right. If you'd like to read ahead, check out Jeremiah 23:1-6 (Voice Version). 

Once again, I expect another Spirit-filled time of worship with you!


Pastor Keith
Church Outside The Walls
Trans Vagina Diaries
Founders MCC was well-represented last week at West Hollywood's Trans-Vagina Diaries presentation! We're so proud of Lee Te and Rev. Sheena Metal, along with all the other performers, for their courage and vulnerability, as well as their boldness in proclaiming their Faith. We love you ladies!
Vaccines! 
Thanks so much to Rev. Alejandro Escoto for arranging the mobile vaccination clinic for our church last Sunday! About 25 persons got their vaccines, including Pastor Keith. (Some of us accepted the shots easier than others!) 
(Pictured: Rev. Keith and Roger Owens)
Wednesday Night Podcast Starting December 7th!
Thoughts & Prayers will feature the same kind of in-depth Bible study, reflections on contemporary writings, prayer and meditation, and conversation about current issues — and life in general — as Wednesday Night Study, but in podcast form!
More details coming soon!

(No Wednesday meetings on Nov. 23rd and 30th)
Trans*Unity Yard Sales - Saturdays  
Our Trans*Unity ministry will begin holding weekly yard sales at the church each Saturday (weather permitting) through Christmas starting this Saturday, Nov. 19th here at the church, at 8:30 a.m.. Please start bringing items to sell, labeled as much as possible. Also, they will be very happy to have extra persons to help, whether setting up, taking down, or bargaining with buyers in-between! These will start just after the Food Bank distribution. Money collected will go to the Christine Daniels Scholarship fund.
World AIDS Day Service - Dec. 1
Join us at Kol Ami Synagogue (1200 La Brea Ave., West Hollywood, CA) on Thursday, Dec. 1, for a World AIDS Day service at 7:00 p.m. Rev. Keith will be one of the speakers.
Congratulations, Jane Syftestad!  
FMCC congratulates our former Music Director, Jane Syftestad, who was awarded the Outstanding Service Award for Music Ministry in the 2022 MCC Awards. Jane was recognized by the denomination because of her "service as Music Director for two General Conferences and for many years at Founders MCC." She is currently serving as Music Director at Church of the Trinity in Sarasota, Florida. Congrats, Jane!
Assistance for two of our Church Members

Two of our church members areexperiencing 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 
Lynne Witmer 
Commitment Cards
Last Sunday, we dedicated our Commitment Cards for our 2023 giving pledges. These will be 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 will invite congregants to wear a green sticker if they are amenable to handshakes and hugs.
4. 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.
Volunteers Needed!
Our Media Team is looking for gifted people who can create PowerPoint, operate Sound, operate the new church app, and operate Cameras. If you are already gifted in these areas (or you want to find out if you're gifted in these areas!), please contact Rev. Keith at [email protected]. 
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!
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].


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Celebrating All Of Who We Are
(Gender, Sexuality, Culture and Color)

"Humankind was created as God’s reflection: in the divine image God created them; all gender identities and expressions, God made them...God looked at all of creation and proclaimed that this was good -- very good." (adapted from The Inclusive Bible, Genesis 1: 27, 31a)

From the Creation stories of the Bible and other ancient cultures, we learn that all of creation is good because God is good. Creation flows from the goodness of God. 
To assert that, somehow LGBTQI+ people, and people of various colors and cultures, are not good and are not part of God's Good Creation, is an act of violence that denies truth, wisdom and logic.

The testimony of all people of color and most LGBTQI people is that we were born this way. We also believe (know deeply) that God made us this way, even when we sometimes do not fully understand the reason or purpose of our being. That said, no one can take away our experience of being who we are.

When we come into this world, we do not get to choose (at least not on any conscious level) our gender, our race, our national origin, the wealth or poverty of our family, or any other thing that makes us a unique individual. All any of us can do is work with what we've got. Our beloved MCC community has a wealth of experience of working with what we have been given. As individuals and as community we have travelled many journeys towards the liberation of who we are truly meant to be in the world. This work is not over. As MCC we still have much to do and we will keep on doing it, locally, nationally and globally. 

During the month of October, different communities around the world celebrate a variety of components which make us special. For example, Black History month is observed in the UK, LGBTQI History Month is observed in the USA, and on 11th October National Coming-Out Day is celebrated in many countries across the globe. 

Let us join together in prayer to remember, celebrate and give thanks for all that God has made us to be. 

Let join together in prayer to remember those places where “coming out” and liberation are a long way off. 

Loving Creator God
We offer you ourselves, just as we are.
Learning each day to love more with hearts open to new experiences and greater understanding.
You have given us the ability to grow and change, reflecting that you are God of many images and expressions.
Help us to be your liberating love in our many communities throughout the world.
You are with us as we remember and celebrate LGBTQI History Month and Black History Month.
Give us the wisdom, courage and strength we need, so that we can continue to be your agents of change for the greater good.
Let us embrace fully, find joy and cause for celebration in each other’s diversity and difference.
Let us feel your blessing this day and for all the days to come.
Amen














PRAYER SUBMITTED BY:

REV. ELDER CAROLYN MOBLEY-BOWIE

&

REV. ELDER MAXWELL REAY
Founder's Metropolitan Community Church Board Of Directors
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.