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Call to Worship - Those of you joining us from home are invited to light a candle to welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit
My Song - Labi Saffrie - El Dorado
Welcome - Rev. Dr. Mandy McDow
This Little Light - Elizabeth Mitchell - El Dorado
Amen - Rita Springer - El Dorado
Passing of the Peace: Through the act of passing the peace of Christ, we offer our sincere desire to love our neighbor.
You are invited to greet one another in the live stream chat on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
Epiphany Book Study: The Imitation of Christ daily devotional
Wednesdays 10:00-11:00 am PT
29 Ways You Can Participate in Black History Month
No matter your heritage, culture, or racial background, Black history is EVERYONE’s story. Here are 29 ways you, your family, and your congregation can celebrate and participate in Black History Month.
Patronize a local or online Black-owned business.
Attend church, Bible study, or worship at a historically Black church and experience the Gospel from another vantage point.
Sing hymns or songs during worship by a composer from the African diaspora. Include the history of the song or hymn in the church bulletin or on your website.
Attend or co-host a Black history or Black culture event in your community, in partnership with a Black congregation.
Take a church family field trip to a Black history site or museum in your area.
Learn more about “Black Harry” Hosier (c. 1750-1806), an African-American Methodist preacher and evangelist.
Research other Black United Methodist leaders from our church’s heritage.
Fearlessly learn more about how racism has and still affects Black people around the world and start confronting racism.
Donate to a Black nonprofit or empowerment organization in your community.
Watch a film by and about the heritage and lives of Black people. Titles to consider: “Antwone Fisher,” “Malcolm X,” “If Beale Street Could Talk,” “Hidden Figures,” “The Hate U Give,” and “One Night in Miami.”
Watch and discuss documentaries about the Civil Rights movement and other series on the challenges and triumphs of Black people. Suggestions: “Eyes on the Prize,” and Henry Louis Gates’ recent series, “The Black Church: This Is Our Story. This Is Our Song.”
Visit a landmark about the lives of local Black heroes in your area.
Read a contemporary book by a Black author.
Read a story featuring a Black hero to your children, grandchildren, or to a local school class.
Seek out and talk with a Black elder (75 or older) about their experience in your community.
Study one of the 54 nations on the continent of Africa, including the language, culture, current events.
Donate to one of the 12 United Methodist-related historically Black colleges and universities in the United States and Zimbabwe.
Learn about an unsung hero of Black history.
Attend shows featuring local Black artists, actors, poets, local musicians, or dancers.
Explore the breadth of Black music, from jazz to hip-hop, and gospel to southern African folk songs.
Call out racism and prejudice aimed at Black people and other People of Color in your church and community.
Learn about “colorism” and how it plays out in our society.
Learn more about the Black UMC caucus, Black Methodists for Church Renewal.
Subscribe to and learn from Black media and the Black press.
Engage in positive, supportive conversations about Black history and culture on social media.
Learn the lyrics to “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”.
Read Dr. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” The letter can be found here: Letter from Birmingham Jail (csuchico.edu)
Read a biography of an influential Black figure, such as Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, Shirley Chisolm, Kobe Bryant, Michelle Obama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Justice Thurgood Marshall, the Rev. Joseph Lowery.
Register and vote.
Ways to Donate to Support our Breakfast Ministry:
VENMO: https://account.venmo.com/u/LAFirstUMC1
PAYPAL: https://paypal.me/LAFirstUMC
SQUARE:https://checkout.square.site/pay/be673aef7fcb424e98387016d184e57d
For more information: https://abc7.com/homeless-food-breakfast-church/14125358/
United Methodists are encouraged to attend in person, follow the event on social media (livestream details to follow), or hold simultaneous events in their own local communities on the same day.
The day will begin with worship, followed by a prayerful march to the U.S. Capitol. Members of Congress will join in lifting a faithful call for immigrant justice. The afternoon will include congressional visits for those who wish to participate. This is an opportunity to show solidarity for immigrants and call upon Christians everywhere to live out Christ’s call on all of us to “welcome the stranger.”
Faithful Resistance: A Public Witness for Immigrant Justice
Date: February 25, 2026
In Person: Washington, D.C.
Online: Livestream
9:30am – 10:00am | Gathering (Capitol Hill United Methodist Church)
10:00am – 11:00am | Opening Worship Service
11:00am – 11:30am | Peaceful Procession to the U.S. Capitol
11:30am – 12:30pm | Public Witness at the U.S. Capitol
12:30pm – 2:00pm | Lunch on Your Own
2:00pm – 5:00pm | Congressional Visits
For more information: www.faithfulresistance.org
California-Pacific Annual Conference Responds to ICE Arrest on Church Property
On Thursday, ICE agents disrupted a feeding program and children’s activities on the campus of our North Hills United Methodist Hispanic Mission. In front of families with children, ICE agents abducted Carlos, the owner/operator of the taco truck that was providing food for the event. The pastor and families are shaken up and afraid.
Our churches are not staging grounds for ICE patrols. Our churches are not open for ICE raids on vulnerable families. No church, synagogue, mosque or temple is a staging or hunting ground for ICE agents.
Bishop Escobedo-Frank sent letters to Mayor Karen Bass and Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez requesting their support and commitment to get ICE out of our City and to request law enforcement to intervene on behalf of places of worship, faith leaders, and the vulnerable people among us. The councilwoman’s office responded immediately, arriving at the church to meet with the families.
CalPac is coordinating with CLUE: Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice for support and will share updates as we have them. A press conference is being planned for Monday, February 2 at 10 am at North Hills United Methodist Church (15435 Rayen Street, North Hills, CA 91343). Further details are available at this link.
Initial statement from North Hills United Methodist Hispanic Mission:
“The leadership of the church has decided not to remain silent. We will raise our voices.
The church cannot and will not hide.
We are deeply wounded. Many members of our church have been traumatized. Our food ministry an expression of God’s love for the hungry was disrupted. One member of our church, who was serving by distributing food, was standing right next to where Carlos was detained, and she has been deeply affected. Mothers, children, and youth from our church have also been impacted.
Carlos is a member of our faith community. He has faithfully supported, participated in, attended our church’s events and worship.
It was deeply traumatizing to witness masked, armed men running through our parking lot, ground we consider sacred. A place meant for refuge became a place of fear. As the pastor of North Hills United Methodist Church Hispanic Mission, I’m devastated, I have been providing pastoral care to many people today, and will continue because people continue seeking for healing.
We are hurting. We are grieving. But we will not remain silent.
We will speak, because remaining silent is to participate in injustice.
We will raise our voices. We will stand because as a church we want to serve the Lord, to worship, and to proclaim the gospel with freedom.”
The Refugee Children’s Center, which is housed on the church campus, published a letter late Thursday, sharing about action steps for support and the rapid response in the moments following the arrest: “Trusted volunteers and partners from the Community Self-Defense Coalition, West LA Rapid Response, Brown Berets, and members of the United Methodist Church Immigration Task Force and several volunteers arrived to support in every way possible. This included patrolling the area for several hours, standing guard at the gates, providing transportation to families, and helping pick up children from school. Our inter-agency community truly came together in a powerful way.”
This is a developing story, and will be updated as information becomes available.
January 30 Statement from North Hills UM Hispanic Mission: Available at this link.
The following news articles are also available:
Know Your Rights:
You have constitutional rights:
• DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR if an immigration agent is knocking on the door.
• DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent.
• DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING without first speaking to a lawyer. You have the right to speak with a lawyer.
• If you are outside of your home, ask the agent if you are free to leave and if they say yes, leave calmly.
• GIVE THIS CARD TO THE AGENT. If you are inside of your home, show the card through the window or slide it under the door.
I do not wish to speak with you, answer your questions, or sign or hand you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution.
I do not give you permission to enter my home based on my 4th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution unless you have a warrant to enter, signed by a judge or magistrate with my name on it that you slide under the door.
I do not give you permission to search any of my belongings based on my 4th Amendment rights.
I choose to exercise my constitutional rights.
These cards are available to citizens and noncitizens alike.
The Winter Shelter Program is held annually to protect people experiencing homelessness during Los Angeles's colder months. Winter Shelters are located all across the County, and will be operating 24 hours a day.
People in need of transportation should go to 211la.org and use the chat feature to request a ride.
For any inquiries, please email wintershelter@lahsa.org
CALL TO PRAYER: You Are My Sunshine - Author Unknown- El Dorado
Joys and Concerns: Prayers of the People We believe that the best way to bear our burdens is to share them with one another. You welcome to share your joys and concerns so that our community can hold these things in our hearts as we lift them to God together.
You are invited to share your prayers in the Facebook Live Chat, or on the YouTube Live chat.
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5:13-20 NRSV
Salt and Light
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
The Law and the Prophets
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
One: This is the word of God for us, the People of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
SERMON: The Way of Justice: Fulfillment of the Law - Rev. Dr. Mandy McDow, preaching
HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation to the Table: As we understand the Body of Christ to be inclusive, we understand God’s table of grace and fellowship can extend into our homes. As you’re able, bring your own elements to this time.
Bread, Juice, Coffee, Muffins… the Body of Christ is comprised of wonder and mystery. Today, we celebrate that God can reach us where we are, even if we are not together.
The Great Mystery of our Faith
All: Christ has died
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
CLOSING: Say So - Michael Gungor - El Dorado
Benediction
And remember:
God is with you,
God is for you,
God refuses to be God without you.
And may all of God’s people say: Amen!
