Programs & Ministries
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Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on Earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which He looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which He blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes.You are His body.~ Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)We believe strongly in the saying “We are the hands, feet and heart of Christ in this world.” To bring that into reality, we not only offer dynamic Sunday worship, but a whole host of opportunities to connect and to serve. |
See Also: |
Here are the areas in which we serve this church and our community:
Administration
- Archives
Recording the history of our church in photo and printed media. (archives AT mccla DOT org) - Board of Directors
Serves as the local church administrative body. Meets 3rd Thursday, 7:00 pm. (revneil AT mccla DOT org) - Lay Delegates
Represent the congregation at conferences and communicates info regarding the denomination’s concerns and policies. (laydelgates AT mccla DOT org) - Office Volunteering
Welcomes our visitors, answer phones, receptionist work, bulletin making. (admin AT mccla DOT org) - Pride Participation
Represents MCCLA’s Pride participation in the Christopher Street West Pride Celebration. (revpat AT mccla DOT org) - Web Ministry
A phenomenal way for our ministry to reach the world! This ministry ensures that we have all of our information updated on our website so that an individual can connect with us any time of the day to find out what is happening and/or to hear an inspiring message of love and hope. (sebastian AT mccla DOT org)
Growing Spiritually
- Home Groups
MCCLA has faith and fellowship groups that meet in homes around the Los Angeles and Long Beach areas, both in English and in Spanish (that means there is an opportunity to delve more deeply into issues of faith, and there is a time to connect with others from our congregation in a small group setting). Contact the office to find one in your area or visit our google calendar. (Rev. Dr. Pat Langlois, revpat AT mccla DOT org) - BAYANIHAN: Tuesday Night Bible Study in Tagalog and English. Group meets at 6:30 PM for Filipino snacks and Study begins at 7:15 PM at our church in the Hunter Room (4607 Prospect Avenue, Los Feliz (Los Angeles) 90027) Contact Rev. Stedney Phillips for more information: bayanihan AT mccla DOT org
- Wednesday Night English Bible Study
Join us at 7:30 pm for lively praise and worship with our Wednesday Night Band as we prepare the space for great teachings that cover a wide variety of topics. Bring yourself, your Bible and if you would like, some food to share. The first Wednesday of the month there is a potluck at 7:00 pm. Can’t make it? Contact sebastian AT mccla DOT org to tune you in with SKYPE.
Opportunities to Connect / Creating Community
- Azania: Monthly gatherings of people of African descent. All people are welcome. Meets 2nd Sunday of the month after 11:00 am service in the Ryland Room (azania AT mccla DOT org)
- Deaf Ministry: Providing an outreach to the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment here at MCCLA, currently providing sign language interpretation at our 11:00 am worship. (deafministry AT mccla DOT org)
- Home Groups: MCCLA has fellowship groups that meet in homes, find one in your area
- Latino Ministry (Iglesia Comunidad Metropoiltana): Provides a spiritual presence in which God’s unconditional and all-inclusive love is celebrated and identified for all people within the Latino Community. Sunday,1:30 pm Service in Spanish. (Rev. Alejandro, revalejandro AT mccla DOT org)
- Men’s Spirituality Group: This active group meets after the 11am service on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of every month. Contact Michael Southerland at (mensgroup AT mccla DOT org)
- POZ Spirit: a group for MEN HIV/AIDS Diagnosed – Meets the Last Saturday of each Month, providing opportunities to share information, network, and find spiritual and general support from one another, discussing ‘hot topics as well as bring in outside resources to speak with the group regarding issues such as medication and how it affects our bodies, benefits, etc.POZ Spirit also:
- We sponsor Quarterly workshops/events which are open to everyone dealing with HIV/AIDS issues.
- Annually, we have an AIDS LifeCycle team;
- We have a medication recycling program, (you can drop off unused medications to a box located by the Rose Parks Room.) where these medications are redistributed by an agency authorized to do so;
- We host an annual World AIDS Day service;
- Additionally our staff has participated in Los Angeles’ HIV Commission, Hispanic Task Force on HIV/AIDS, as well as speaks as necessary to HIV/AIDS related issues.
For more information contact pozspirit AT mccla DOT org
- Social Butterflies (Transgender): A social group for the Transmen, Transwomen, their partners and allies. (see Amy, amymariela AT yahoo DOT com)
- The Tribe (Emerging/Young Adult Ministry): Provides a safe place for younger GLBTQI people to explore personal and spiritual issues and experience Christ’s love for us all. The group offers speakers, discussion time, worship & events throughout their calendar. Check bulletin or calendar for schedule. (thetribe AT mccla DOT org)
- Women’s Spirituality Group: An opportunity for social interaction and spiritual growth of women of our congregation and community. (First Saturday of month. This is an off-site meeting, please call office for location. You can also contact Amy LaCoe, womensgroup AT mccla DOT org)
- Young Professionals Group: The goal of the young professional ministry at MCCLA would be to combine social and service events for fellowship, outreach, and service to MCCLA and the LA community for those that define themselves as “Young Professional”. No age-limit or gender limitation. Participants will have to be cognizant of the type of activity scheduled if they are going to attend (e.g. hiking), to judge their ability to participate physically or monetarily. There will be a minimum of two events per month, one service-oriented (primarily directed toward the LA community at large, to assist with novel experiences and outreach/exposure of MCCLA) and one social-oriented to create friendships and explore the cultural side of Los Angeles. Phoebe Scott-Wyard or Matt Sweeney (youngpro AT mccla DOT org)
Serving Others
- Lay Pastoral Assistants: This trained and dedicated group of individuals are a part of the Pastoral Care Team working alongside the Senior Pastor. They reach out to the sick, shut-in, dying and the needy, both within our congregation and the community at large. Reverend Melissa Smithee (revmelissa AT mccla DOT org)
- Game Night at Triangle Square (GLBT Senior Citizens Apartment Complex): The fourth Thursday of the month, join with others from MCCLA, Gay Men’s Chorus and Kol Ami to play games with and socialize with our GLBT Elders who live at Triangle Square (Gay, Lesbian Elder Housing). Tory Topjian (info AT mccla DOT org)
Social Justice / Social Action
- Brown Bag Lunches: Providing meals to the homeless in our community and the greater Los Angeles area. (2nd Sunday of month, Ron Birchard at brownbag AT mccla DOT org)
- Emergency Food Pantry (aka “Deacon’s Food Pantry”): Provides food, clothing and hygiene products to those in need. Available during Sunday services. Also available during the week by appointment. Donations always welcomed. (Garret Klindt, brownbag AT mccla DOT org)
- HopeNet Food Pantry: Contributes food and money goods to food pantries and thrift stores to eliminate hunger in our area. We also staff a pantry in conjunction with Mt. Hollywood Congregational Church, Saturday mornings, 9:00 am. (please contact hopenet AT mccla DOT org)
- Marriage Equality: Bringing justice to our community through activism around important issues. (Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas, revneil AT mccla DOT org)
- Military Ministry: A support, social and educational group of GLBTQI personnel, veterans and their families. (Jonathan Carlisle, military AT mccla DOT org)
Annual Community Outreach / Reaching Out to our Neighbors
- Back to School Back Pack Drive: (Rev. Dr. Pat Langlois, revpat AT mccla DOT org)
- Christmas Toy Drive: Opportunity to help children in need for Christmas. (Rev. Alejandro Escoto, revalejandro AT mccla DOT org)
- Christine Daniels Scholarship: (Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas, revneil AT mccla DOT org)
- Thanksgiving Feast for our GLBT Elders: (Rev. Dr. Pat Langlois, thanksgiving AT mccla DOT org)
Worship
- Flowers: Celebrates the beauty of God through flowers at our weekly worship. (Loui Sagastume, admin AT mccla DOT org)
- Hospitality Time: Provides coffee and snacks to members and friends. (Greg Millsap and Pertty Vinton, hospitality AT mccla DOT org)
- Kids’ Club: Weekly gathering of our children (ages 4 – 11 yrs old) for a special time of learning and fun during our 11:00 am service. First Sunday of month, watch for our Kids’ Message in the 11:00 am service, too! (Sundays, kidsclub AT mccla DOT org)
- Music Ministry: Make a joyful noise! Opportunities for singing, playing instruments, solos, special music, weekly praise team, choir. (For Sunday 9 & 11am, Jane Syftestad - music AT mccla DOT org, for Sunday 1:30pm Peter Kirkpatrick peter AT mccla DOT org for Wednesday Night band, JD Sebastian sebastian AT mccla DOT org)
- Welcome Team: Provides our congregation and guests a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. (Every Sunday, Manuel Benevides, welcome AT mccla DOT org)
- Worship Team: Provides excellence in worship, providing an experience that helps people to touch the Divine. Would you like to participate? (Rev. Sandy Williams, revsandy AT mccla DOT org)
- Worship Technology Team: Everything from our website to the multimedia we experience on Sunday mornings, our technology team is always looking for new volunteers to run the PowerPoint, Tricaster (video camera switcher in the Sanctuary), Sound system, web site and recording studio volunteers and participants. (JD Sebastian, sebastian AT mccla DOT org and Chuck Phelan, chuck AT mccla DOT org)
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