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Greetings!
What a Spirit-filled service we had last Sunday! I'm still flying high with the anointing that flowed throughout the whole service. Thank you for your worship, as we shared about baptism by water and baptism by Spirit!
This weekend, we honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a powerful minister and civil rights hero. Dr. King's legacy lives on despite our government's current administration trying to erase it, along with anything related to civil rights. Because of this push to rewrite history, this year it seems even more important than before that we remember our history and celebrate the rights we have right now. Those rights that we have fought so hard for are being threatened by our own government; yet, we are called of God to stand up for the oppressed and marginalized. Our denomination was built on the three principles: a relationship with God; community; and social justice. Let's never forget to stand up for those three principles and continue our call.
This Sunday, I look forward to hearing our special guest speaker, Job Garcia, who has an amazing testimony of his harrowing experience being detained by ICE here in Los Angeles. I believe his testimony is right in line with the theme of the MLK weekend, and we will be blessed by the message he's prepared for us. His message is entitled, Philippi In Hollywood: Citizenship, Solidarity, And The Kingdom Without Borders. If you'd like to read ahead, check out Acts 16:35-40 (English Standard Version).
Please stay safe. There is so much happening in our world, it's hard to keep up and keep our faith. Just remember the message I preached last month on Hope where I shared this: When my Faith runs out, my Hope kicks in!
God bless.
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First reading is taken from Acts,
Chapter 16, Verses 35 through 40
(The English Standard Version)
When it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen their siblings, they encouraged them and departed.
The second reading is from Philippians,
Chapter 3, verse 20
(The English Standard Version)
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.
The last reading is from Philippians,
Chapter 2, Verses 3 through 11
(The English Standard Version)
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is above all, to the glory of God the Sovereign.
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On Sunday, meet Job Garcia, our invited guest for this Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, in which we highlight our commitment to social justice. Job, studying for his PhD at Claremont Graduate University, was one of the US citizens to be swept up in the initial ICE roundups earlier this year in Los Angeles. He will share his story of wrongly being incarcerated and how this has changed the trajectory and ministry of his life.
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Join fellow members and friends as we once again go Outside the Walls to get to know each other better with food, fellowship and fun! Breaking Bread is taking us this month to the Coral Cafe in Burbank, on Wednesday, Jan 18th. The address is 3321 W. Burbank Blvd, Burbank CA. They have a wide variety of tasty dinner items and desserts.
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Our Assistant Pastor, Bam Noriega is calling for the 1st planning meeting for the Pride Ministry. Pride month will be upon us before you know it and we want to be ready! All those with ideas and would like to participate, please meet with them after the worship service on Sunday, February 1.
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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.
Bam Noriega
Founders MCCLA
Student Clergy
(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: 1-11-2026: $7,689.00
Facility Rentals: $847.00
Building Fund: $391.00
Christine Daniels Fund: $2,500.00
Tithing: $3,951.00
| | 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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Dean Coffey -
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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MCC Statement Against ICE Shooting and Detention of Rev Kenny Callaghan; Call for Solidarity
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The Council of Elders deplores the detention of Rev. Kenny Callaghan, Senior Pastor of All God’s Children MCC, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA by ICE officers whilst he was protesting lawfully, along with many others, against the activity of Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officers in the vicinity of the church. When the crowd learned that a woman had been shot and killed by an ICE officer, they started chanting “I am not afraid” and the noise of the protest intensified.
Rev. Callaghan was handcuffed and put in the back of a vehicle by a masked officer who did not have a name badge.
Rev. Kenny said:
“Three different times he came back to the car asking if I was afraid yet, to which I responded, "Hell NO!" They asked for my identification and cell phone, to which I responded, "Am I being arrested?," to which they slammed the car door. The last time they came to the car, they opened the door and asked if I was afraid yet? I said, "Absolutely NOT." Then they said it. "’Well, you're white and it wouldn't be any fun’ and told me to get out of the car."
This blatant racism, the violence of shooting a woman sitting in her own car, the detention of a clergy person who is protesting peacefully by a masked and unidentifiable officer, are all outrages against a just and caring society. As MCC, we are committed to resisting the structures that oppress people and to standing with those who suffer under the weight of oppressive systems. We call on the US Government to stop the ICE raids, which are racially motivated, terrorise communities and rip apart families. We applaud Rev. Callaghan and all those in MCC around the world who strive each day for justice.
Just as our MCC church in Minneapolis proclaims in its name, we are All God’s Children and, as such, deserving of dignity and respect…and the right to live.
In response to these egregious and unlawful acts by ICE, MCC calls upon its faith communities to join in local protests across the USA.
In Peace, the MCC Council of Elders:
Elder Hattie Alexander-Key
Rev. Elder Mark Byrd
Rev. Elder Nokuthula Dhladhla
Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston
Elder Velma Garcia
Rev. Elder Rich Hendricks
Rev. Elder Aaron Miller
Rev. Elder Elaine Saralegui Caraballo
Rev. Elder Stuart Sutherland
Rev. Kenny Callaghan's first-hand account on MS Now:
Minneapolis pastor: ICE 'pointed a gun at me' and 'put me in the back of an SUV'
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You are invited!
Making MCC Visible: Easy Ways to Use Local Media to Amplify Your MCC's Voice
Is Your Church’s Best-Kept Secret… Your Church?
We do incredible work in our communities, but sometimes it feels like nobody knows we’re here. It’s time to change that narrative.
Join James Hartman and Rev. Elder Rich Hendricks for a practical, hands-on workshop: "Making MCC Visible: Easy Ways to Use Local Media to Amplify Your MCC's Voice."
You don't need a big budget or a professional PR team to make headlines. Learn simple, effective strategies to connect with local newspapers, TV stations, and radio to spread the message of inclusive love.
Schedule:
18th January at 2am AEDT (see other time zones)
22nd January at 4pm PT, 5pm MT, 6pm CT, 7pm ET, 9pm BRT, 23rd January at 12am GMT, 1am CET, 2am SAST, 8am PHT, 11am AEDT (see other time zones)
Making MCC Visible (January 17 & 22)
Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator
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Exciting News from Flourish!
In the December Newsletter:
Flourish Challenge Matching Funds Donation
Flourish Work in 2024 and 2025
Resources for Clergy and Lay Leaders
Celebrating MCC Leaders
2026 Planning Questionnaire
How Flourish can Support Networks and Kinship Groups
Flourish Resources
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Five (5) Key Objectives of Flourish:
Mentorship
Convening Spaces
Respite
Equitable Resources
Infrastructure
Learn more about Flourish and how the program has supported Churches, Clergy and Lay Leaders in 2024 and 2025 by downloading an information sheet using the link below.
What is Flourish.pdf
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Thrive & Cultivate is an organization that was established in 2020 to support non-profits and clergy. Their mission is to provide Christian leaders with webinars, mental-health support and other resources to face the challenges of those in ministry.
To learn more about Thrive & Cultivate, visit the website at;
About
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The Center for LGBTQ & Gender Studies In Religion has partnered with Metropolitan Community Churches to present a series of classes titled "CLGS Queering the Word Preaching Workshop Series." All of the classes are online.
The workshops are designed for Christian preachers, seminarians, and anyone else interested in the art of preaching from a queer perspective! To learn more, you can download the flyer using this LINK.
CLGS Queering the Word preaching workshop _2_.pdf
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Celebrating MCC Clergy and Lay Leaders for their
work in the community!
Flourish is honored and excited to highlight the leadership within MCC. The work of MCC is not confined to a building—it reaches into communities and extends around the globe.
This month, we are celebrating the ministry and advocacy of Rev. Dr. Joe Cobb.
\We also want to recognize all of you for your efforts in social justice, humanitarian aid, and in supporting marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals and those living in unsafe or hostile environments around the world.
We invite you to share your story and your work—or to lift up someone whose contributions should be recognized—by emailing Flourish@mccchurch.net
Congratulations Rev. Dr. Joe Cobb
Rev. Dr. Cobb has been appointed to the transition committees for both Governor-elect Spanberger and Lt. Gov-elect Hashmi in Virginia. Too learn more about the work of Joe and his journey, click on the link below.
Rev. Dr. Joe Cobb.pdf
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Supporting MCC Networks and Kinship Groups
Did you know that Flourish helps support MCC’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity and creating meaningful spaces to gather?
Use this FLOURISH - Google Drive to learn how Flourish can support the work and to request financial support for your 2026 gatherings.
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Respite Program For Clergy and Lay Leaders
"Respite" is an interval of rest or relief. The Flourish Program recognizes the need for self-care and taking moments of respite during your ministry.
If you are in need of support for a time of respite, please complete the application found in the link below:
Use this Respite Application Form_Formularios de solicitud de respeto - Google Drive to complete the Respite application
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Programs sponsored by Flourish
Mentoring
Respite for Clergy and Lay Leaders
Spiritual Direction
Strength Finder training
Board Training
Individualize programming meeting your needs as a leader.
Would you like more information about Flourish. Contact the Program Manager at Flourish@mccchurch.net.
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