Heritage UMC Los Angeles

The Black Family: Representation, Identify and Diversity Black History celebrations were established in 1926 by Carter G. Woodsen. It is the opportunity to recognize and honor the accomplishments of Black Americans in their varied endeavors. Many of these events are not included in the American History curriculum. In light of the 2020 global health pandemic, this year’s focus on the Black Family is timely. The Black family like others is a group of people who love and care... for each other. COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted the Black family through illnesses and deaths. Many other groups of people of color are similarly affected. COVID-19 has spotlighted the vast inequalities in quality-of-life issues such as: lack of medical insurance, low paying jobs and housing insecurities. These conditions render our families highly vulnerable. The 2020 national elections demonstrate that Blacks can be a powerful force for political change. Organizations and institutions such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Blacks Lives Matter (BLM), Stacy Abrams and the Fair Fight movement are some of the major players. Political action groups give us an opportunity to press forward for improved equality and higher living standards. Uncovering the roots and identity of the Black family is a multi-dimensional venture. Most discoveries begin in the home. Unraveling who we are and what we are doing is a common feature at Sunday family dinners and family reunions. This is a time to celebrate, a time to share old stories and make new memories. In days past, this was an important role of the family storyteller. In recent years, genealogy and family historians help us strengthen the bond of family and reminds us of the gift of belonging. Many aspects of Black lives are depicted or discussed via television, videos, social media, theaters and in museums. More and more we are seeing Black directors producing some of these events. We must always remember the power of reading books by Blacks and about us. In 2020, we saw an increasing number of Black professional athletes becoming involved with voting and racial justice issues. What is your family’s story? Our challenge as a Black family is to embrace our celebrations and traditions. Our history is rich and we must continue to connect the past with the present. The umbrella for support of Black lives civil rights now includes a diverse group of Americans. Recently publicized violations of Black people’s civil rights resulting in their death have mobilized people of all races and creeds to become advocates for social and civil rights justice. This advocacy has grown for Blacks and other people of color. Family are like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one. Author unknown Written by: Shirley Gideon

Welcome to Heritage UMC Worship Service January 17, 2021 Second Sunday after the Epiphany

https://www.brainpop.com//famoushistor/martinlutherkingjr/

Necesitamos lideres que no estén enamorados del dinero pero enamorados de la justicia Necesitamos lideres que no estén enamorados de la publicidad sino de la humanidad. Martin Luther King Jr.

Welcome!! to Heritage UMC Worship Service January 10, 2021

Bishop Hagiya’s Briefing (11/2/2020) Bishop Hagiya’s Briefing (11/2/2020) BISHOP HAGIYA NOVEMBER 2, 2020 COMMUNICATIONS With the recent COVID-19 spikes throughout the nation and world, and no decrease in cases and hospitalizations in our own area, it looks like we are in for another season of limited in-person worship and church. Many of us were optimistic that we would see a decrease in COVID-19 cases, and a gradual return to normalcy. However, it looks like we are in thi...Continue reading

Heritage the Church Right at the Heart of South Los Angeles

The Church Right at the Heart of South Los Angeles

Father protect our children

Welcome to Heritage UMC The Church Right at the Heart of South Los Angeles

In this Columbus Day, there is nothing to celebrate. America wasn’t discovered it was invaded and ransacked

Giving thanks to God for my brothers and sisters who have defeated breast cancer and praying for those who are still in the fight

Hispanic Month Celebration

Welcome to Heritage UMC The Church right at the heart of South Los Angeles

THE WORD Water for the Spirit OCTOBER 8, 2020 Luke 11; 5-13 The majority of us are very familiar with the meaning of temptation, and we know when we have impure temptations, envy or even greed. But the biggest temptation we have is to doubt the goodness of God. Let me ask you this, have you ever doubt that God has forgiven your sins? Or that God has a plan for your life? Have you ever doubt that He wants to bless you? Although we do not think like this every day, it is va...lid to say that we have thought like that once in a while. Jesus challenged his disciples with these same words and to each one of us, as he cleared up the doubts that we might have about the Father protecting us. Jesus knows the fragility of trust, since Satan questioned Eva saying, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (Genesis 3: 1), humanity has become inclined to mistrust our Heavenly Father. We think we must look for our own solutions but Jesus wants us to know that God our Father is pure love. If we pay attention, we almost can feel the urgency of Jesus’ words. Go forth! Seek and you will find, knock the door and it shall be open! Ask my Father and He will answer you. Jesus trust if we get to know the Father as He knows Him our joy will be completed. After all this is the reason why He gave His life for us, Jesus wants to free us from sin, so we one day might enjoy God’s glorious goodness. Brothers and sisters next time you need something try to ask for it looking forward with faith to receive it. Our Heavenly Father listens to our prayers, He wants the best for us. Jesus shed His blood for us at the cross, so we can get closer to the throne. The truth is this; nothing is impossible for God! Galatians 3: 1-5 Luke 1: 69-75

THE WORD Water for the Spirit October 7, 2020. Luke 11: 1-4 In uncertain times of a worldwide pandemic, like the one we are living, the petition made by the apostles seems to be on target for us. They saw Jesus praying in numerous occasions. They saw Jesus performing amazing miracles as well, showing God’s mercy to people. Therefore, it had been possible for the disciples to think that it was something important going on between praying and performing miracles. Perhaps ...they thought if they could learn to pray they might become like Jesus. If this is what they were thinking, they were right! What other thing can be more efficient to change and look more like Jesus than to open our hearts and allow the Lord to mold you. Now, we all know how difficult is to imitate the Lord. As much as we try, the temptations that come before us are stronger than our will. We think we are following his examples, but later on we realized that our pride or our fears, or our human ways of thinking distracts and distance us from Him. I would love to have more capacity to forgive, and to be more resilient, or less distrustful. The only person I can turn to is God, whom is always ready to help us, and that is what Jesus did for us. When you pray say: Our Father which art in Heaven (Luke 11:2-3) The first word of the Lords’ prayer is, an intimate way to relate to God Father and that relation between the Son and the Father teaches us that God is accessible, that God love and care for us. God is our good and loving father who desires to give his grace to us, and attempt to help us to be like his begotten son. To imitate Jesus when he prays is the key to follow him with our thoughts and actions. When you use Jesus’ prayers as models for your prayers you will begin thinking like Him. His desires will be your desires and his priorities will be your priorities as well. So try to use the Lord’s Prayer as your guidance, to elaborate your own prayers. Remember as you pray to God engage yourself to do God’s will and try to forgive more so you can find more easily his mercy, be part of the table of the Lord so you can be fed and protected against evil. If these are your priorities as you pray, soon you will find yourself thinking and acting like Jesus. Thank you Jesus for showing us the way throughout our present times. Galatians 2: 1-2, 7-14 Psalm 117: (116) 1. 2

THE WORD Water for the Spirit. October 6, 2020. Luke 10:25-37 In this time of social unrest it is good to ask us again, as the Scribe raised the question, and who is my neighbor? What do this Scribe wanted to accomplish? Was he trying to minimize his responsibility toward others? Was he trying to see if Jesus will exclude the Roman army and others gentiles from his definition of ‘neighbors’? But Jesus instead of responding directly to the question he shares a parable, t...he parable of the Good Samaritan and concluded it by asking which of the bystanders was a neighbor for the victim? I want to suggest that what Jesus was telling people, was not to worry about who is your neighbor, but instead to worry about to be a good neighbor for those you will encounter in your journey. Jesus is suggesting changing our perspective and we will end up loving our neighbor as ourselves. A good way to put in practice this parable is to observe to the persons around us, maybe in the park, in a street in South Los Angeles or by the door of your house. You also can love your neighbor as you pray in the church or when you talk to your coworkers, or to another customer in the market. When you observe others tell to yourself this is my neighbor. Look around the great city of Los Angeles there are thousands of homeless, they are our neighbors as the businesswomen who uses expensive shoes and work at downtown she is my neighbor. The young folks with their skateboards that disturb us, are our neighbors as well, so bless them all! In blessing them all, you will find a new understanding of what Jesus is requesting from the Scribes. Your neighbor is anybody who needs to know and experience God’s love and mercy, and lots of people out there have that need in the World. It is clear that the teaching of this parable bring us beyond of what it means to have a neighbor it show us the reality that we are just one large family. Everyone out there are the brothers and sisters God had provided them for you and me to love, respect and bless them as we expect others to do the same with us. In Galatians 1:6-12 and Psalm 111 says Lord Jesus open my eyes to see my neighbor. Grant me love and mercy so I become more like you Pastor Ivan