Join us at noon PT today for our virtual Ash Wednesday Service on Facebook Live and YouTube.

We are so happy that our labyrinth offers a place of peace and contemplation in the midst of our busy city.

May you remember that you are not alone. We, as a city, are stronger together. It is God who created the foundation of the earth, and God who has promied to be faithful to us. May you find peace in the midst of this storm.

If you're able to stay indoors, do so, especially if you can run an air purifier or have filters on your HVAC system.

Please be sure to wear a mask if you’re outdoors. While N95 masks are great for capturing particles, they do not capture gas-phase toxics in wildfires (urban wildfires have higher toxicity.) If you can, look for snug fitting "P100+ organic vapor" masks for the best protection.

In Altadena, the Eaton Fire has consumed 10,590 acres and an entire community. The devastation is gutwrenching. Altadena United Methodist Church is totally gone, as are most of the houses of worship. Our prayers are with Rev. Andre Wilson and his congregation and community.

As I write, the Palisades Fire has consumed 17,234 acres and destroyed hundreds of homes, businesses, and schools. Both the parsonage and physical building of Pacific Palisades Community United Methodist Church have been totally destroyed.

Due to the weather conditions, high winds, & unhealthy air quality, worship at @lafirstumc.bsky.social will be held ONLINE ONLY on Sunday, January 12. We will be offering breakfast as a grab-and-go sandwich so that exposure to the air can be minimized. www.lafirstumc.org/blog/Los%20A...

"Hope gives us the capacity to interrogate the present, to raise questions, to probe for possibility. Hope isn't invulnerable. It is capacious enough to encompass the disappointments & sufferings of the present. Hope does not know the answer as much as it enables us to live amidst the unanswerable."

This framed hope for me in a new way. David posits that despair and optimism are two sides of the same coin. Despair clings to the past while optimism glorifies the future. Hope sits squarely in the present: www.lakenokomispc.org/notes-from-l...

It’s always a gift to meet our neighbors, especially when our neighbors are this creative and thoughtful. One Sunday, we noticed a group of people walking our labyrinth. We learned their story and intent to hike the urban core. Wonders are found wherever we look, and I’m grateful for that reminder.

Due to the high winds and cool temperatures, worship at @lafirstumc.bsky.social will be held ONLINE only at 10:00am PT via Facebook and YouTube. www.youtube.com/c/LosAngeles...

Due to the high winds and cool temperatures, worship at @lafirstumc.bsky.social will be held ONLINE only at 10:00 am PT via Facebook and YouTube. www.youtube.com/c/LosAngeles...

In the era of diminishing congregations and dying denominations, I have the opportunity to pastor a church in a way that lives out Jesus’ teachings in the most authentic way imaginable. Thank you to @sojo.net for sharing our story. bit.ly/ChurchParkin...