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Greetings!
Dear Saints,
Another Spirit‑filled Sunday is ahead of us, and I hope you are continuing to feel energized by our sermon series, Radical Hospitality — Come, Taste, and See. Last week, we explored the invitation of Psalm 34:8 — an invitation to experience God’s goodness with our whole selves. Thank you for the ways you keep showing up again and again, embodying that kind of welcome in our community, both inside and outside the church walls.
This Sunday, we continue the series as Elder Larry Rodriguez brings a Spirit‑filled message rooted in Luke 10:14–37. Many of us know this passage as the story of the Good Samaritan, but it is also one of Scripture’s clearest pictures of radical hospitality in action — compassion that crosses boundaries, love that disrupts exclusion, and mercy that refuses to look away. I invite you to read ahead and reflect on what hospitality looks like when it becomes a way of life, not just a moment. How do we “taste and see” God’s goodness by showing up for one another? How do we become the kind of neighbors Jesus calls us to be?
We also hold Rev. Keith close in prayer this week as he is back home in North Carolina following the passing of his brother, Philip. We surround him with love, comfort, and strength. Please keep Rev. Keith, Philip’s wife, Dawn, and all his family and friends lifted in your prayers.
Come expecting a blessing next Sunday — and come ready to take your next step in radical hospitality.
Pastor Bam
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Reading is taken from
Luke, Chapter 10, Verses 14 through 37
(The New International Version)
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” the expert asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”
The legal expert answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But the legal expert wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said:
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
The next day the Samaritan took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ the Samaritan said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told the legal expert, “Go and do likewise.”
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| On Sunday, July 26th, at 11:30 am, both congregations will once again come together to celebrate our Founder, Rev. Troy Perry's birthday. The service will feature special music, and a guest speaker. This is one service you won't want to miss! | | 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: 07-05-2026: $7,208.00
Helping Hands: $271.00
Facility Rentals: $1,760.00
Tithing: $5,177.00
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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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Health Update, July 2026
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Subtitles available in English, Spanish, German, and Portuguese
Hello, I'm Reverend Elder Cecilia Eggleston, Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches. And today, I want to share some personal news and ask for your support. It's interesting how many things can be true at the same time. I'm in a great space emotionally and spiritually and physically. I feel great, and at the same time I've been having some medical tests. These medical tests have shown a diagnosis of cancer. The prognosis is good. It's perfectly treatable. But obviously, I'm going to need some time—time to be treated and take some time off work. That treatment initially will be radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and it will start soon. I'm going to work for as long as I can. I anticipate taking all of August off because we know these treatments can knock us about a bit. And then I will be returning to work, as and when I'm able, during the rest of the year.
The MCC Staff, the Governing Board, the Council of Elders, Network Leaders, Flourish Expanse Coordinators—they are still there to help and support you, provide resources, guidance, etcetera—just as they do every day. And the Governing Board, the Council of Elders and the MCC staff will work together more closely during this time. The National Health Service in the UK is fantastic, so I'll be in really good hands. I'm surrounded by a wonderful and huge family and great friends who are going to support me at this time.
And now I'm wondering if you will support me too. Here are three things that I'd really appreciate if you would work with me on. So the first is prayer. I love prayer. I think it's so important. I'm a great believer in it. And it's so uplifting to me whenever someone says to me: “you know, I pray for you on a regular basis.” So please hold me and the medical team, hold my family and friends in prayer at this time.
Secondly, privacy, or “PRY-vuh-see”—depending on what you like. In the UK, medical records are private, just as I'm sure that's how it is where you are. So during this time, just give me some space. I'd appreciate that. And I know that you want to share those cancer stories of your own. Just now, I need to make my own cancer story. So just put those stories on hold for now. Thank you.
And thirdly, positive news. Every day around the world, MCC is making a difference. Your ministry is saving and changing lives. And I want to hear about it. So, send it to me in an email. Headline it: “Positive News.” It may be a small thing, a private thing. You know, perhaps you worked really hard on a sermon or a Bible study, and you got some really great feedback that you'd like to share. Perhaps it's a huge thing: your biggest attendance at Pride, some civic awards that the congregation has been given, or maybe you've got a grant or a new ministry has really taken flight. Let me know. Whether you're a layperson, whether you're a clergy person—really doesn't matter. Just headline it: “Positive News.” Send it to me in an email. And my amazing executive assistant, Tammy Rabon-Noyce, will forward it to me so I can read it at my leisure and rejoice in your success.
The prognosis is good. I'm in a good space. You are going to continue to do the work of MCC around the world. And as I go on this journey over the next few months, I know that God will continue to bless me and continue to bless you, because it takes all of us to be MCC. God bless.
Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston
Moderator, Metropolitan Community Churches
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