Greetings!

I hope you haven't been "washed away" by all the rain this week. Goodness, this is quite unusual for us, isn't it? Well, rain or shine, we get together to worship! You all continue to bless me so much. Next week is Thanksgiving, but I already have a head start on my thanks. I keep going back to something Kim Doneche told me at the end of last year as we were discussing what 2025 would look like: "God is working behind the scenes." I felt the Spirit when she said it, and now, almost a year later, I've watched it become a prophecy over our church that we could count on. Yes, I knew that God works behind the scenes, but I need to be reminded sometimes. Do you? If so, let this serve as your reminder. God is STILL working behind the scenes.

I'm so proud of our denomination's leaders. Our Moderator, Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston, joined nine other heads of major American religious traditions to issue a statement "proclaiming that transgender, intersex, and nonbinary people are worthy of love, support, and protection." We are a diverse fellowship, and we are made stronger by that diversity.

This Sunday, we recognize Trans Day of Remembrance. So many trans lives have been lost through the years. I look forward to a year when there are zero names to be read for "those lost this year." Our Trans*Unity Ministry has been working hard to put together a meaningful service worthy to honor not only those lost in the past, but also to honor those who are still with us. The LA Trans Chorus will join us once again for this special day. We'll also hear from several folks as they share their journey as trans or gender-fluid people. I'm looking forward to every testimony!

See you Sunday.

Pastor Keith

We will be having a board meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Everyone is welcome to join.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89239510351?pwd=Sjq9PgHSlEhYvDQ31vYd6uMtAlnNt7.1

Meeting Id: 892 3951 0351

Password: 340537

Transgender Day of Remembrance will be held here at Founders on Sunday Nov 23rd at the 10 am worship service. The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles will be our featured guests.

CICLA Via Melrose Ave Party, November 23rd. Please go to ciclavia.org for street closures.

Sunday, November 30th. Breaking Bread: We will have a Friendsgiving Potluck between services inclusive of both congregations. Please sign up with your participation and food selection.

On Friday, December 12th, we will once again celebrate our Virgin of Guadalupe Day, with the Mariachi band, Arcoiris once again our special guests. We will once again have a taste of tamales afterwards.

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.

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.

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)

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.

Grand Total For Week Ending: 11-16-2025: $4,167.00

Facility Rentals: $401.00

Helping Hands: $254.00

Tithing: $3,512.00

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!

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!

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 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.

Rev. Keith Mozingo (Moderator)

Dean Coffey -

Vice Moderator

Patricia Wahle - Clerk

Ed Shaughnessy - Treasurer

Roger Owens - Governance

Ina Serene - Trans Unity

Martin Miny - Facilities

Founders Metropolitan Community Church Address And Contact Info:

4607 Prospect Ave, Los Angeles CA 90027 | 323-669-3434

E-mail: info@foundersmcc.org

Website: www.foundersmcc.org

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.

Inviting all MCC Trans and Nonbinary People of Faith to a Monthly Online Gathering

We held our first gathering last month (June) and it became clear that more of these gatherings are needed and welcomed. With the relentless attack globally on Trans and Nonbinary people, many emotions are being experienced within our global MCC community.

Rev. Elder Aaron Miller, on behalf of the MCC Council of Elders, is offering to host monthly meetings on Zoom with co-facilitators Rev. Elder Maxwell Reay and Rev. Dawn Flynn through the end of this year.

Discussion topics:

WHAT is happening and WHAT we are feeling -- in the place and country where we live
HOW can we be safe/er during these times
WHERE do we find grounding and spiritual renewal
WHERE do we (and can we) -- find God in the midst of this?
WHAT do we need and HOW can MCC help?

Please consider joining us for this much-needed time to gather. We know, as people of faith and Beloved of God, we are stronger when we center in love and for love, together.

Upcoming Schedule - 2PM ET, on these dates:

November 24
December 29

(see other time zones)

Click Here for Zoom Link

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/719817716

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

Marriage Equality Must Not Go Away

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In 1969, Reverend Troy Perry performed the first public same sex holy union in the United States. So, from our inception, MCC has advocated for the rights for same-sex couples to legally marry.

In 2004, I came to MCC QC for the first time to perform "I do ceremonies," which were publicized in order to call attention to the need for marriage equality. In Scott County, Iowa and in Rock Island County, Illinois, as in other communities across the country, MCC members applied for marriage licenses many times over the years, only to be turned down.

In 2008, Iowa became the third state in the United States to grant marriage equality, and I made sure MCC QC was a signer on the amicus curea (friend of the court) brief from religious organizations. I was proud to be second in line in Scott County to receive a marriage certificate as soon as they were permitted.

When my husband had an aneurysm ten months later, there were no legal questions about my making decisions about his health care, and there were no legal impediments to my being in charge of his assets when he died. These kind of stories play out again and again for MCC members and friends who choose to be legally married.

For most members of the LGBTQ+ community, there is little need to explain about the legal and financial advantages that marriage equality affords. But the issue is actuallly much, much greater than just "marriage." It is about extending basic human rights to the queer community.

If they take away marriage equality, then they take away our dignity. There is nothing to stop them from stripping us of all human rights. We become forever "other" - which translates as "less than."

I thank God that the Supreme Court declined to take up Kim Davis' bogus lawsuit, which she has repeatedly lost in the lower courts.But we know this is not the end of our fight. We must be vigilant in asserting and protecting our hard-fought right to marriage equality, and to full equality of all rights for LGBTQ+ people world wide.

We will not go back into the closet.

Submitted with love:

Rev. Elder Rich Hendricks

On behalf of the Council of Elders:

Elder Hattie Alexander-Key

Rev. Elder Mark Byrd

Rev. Elder Nokuthula Dhladhla

Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston

Elder Velma Garcia

Rev. Elder Aaron Miller

Rev. Elder Elaine Saralegui Caraballo

Rev. Elder Stuart Sutherland