#LetUsWorship Read the scripture and download the bulletin to prepare for 10:00 am Sunday worship, Holy Communion and Weekly Bible studies!
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After-Worship Zoom Fellowship instructions @ https://inglewoodfirst.org/worship!
Laity Sunday Preacher: Min. Ainise Isama’u
The life of ministry has been anything, but a friendly memory growing up as a child of a pastor. Ainise Isama’u’s ministry was tested but unwavering when she was contested through different paths and avenues. Along this journey she found her husband, Henry Webb Isama’u and has been blessed with a beautiful daughter, Polyana Moira ‘Ofa Isama’u. She began her scholastic career at El Camino Community College where she received an associate degree in General Studies that eventually led to her receiving a Bachelor’s in Computer Information Systems and Master’s in Human Resources Management. Through the guidance of heavily involvement within the church, her decision for the continuation of her education and spiritual growth at the Claremont School of Theology where she would receive a Master of Divinity with an emphasis on Ministerial Leadership graduating among the Class of 2021. These various drifted career paths led her to begin her ministry to inspire, educate, and console by those that walk a parallel paths.
As a deeply profound feeling to help others, Ainise has worked as an Academic Advisor at various universities, where she aided students that were completing their education credentials. Ainise is also a lay member at United With Hope UMC in Long Beach, CA; she is known for using her charismatic charm to serve different capacities within the church. This has allowed her platform to further emerge into the Methodist denomination as she serves as the Communications Coordinator for the Cal-Pac Conference United Methodist Women. She has been fortunate enough to become a liaison for Limitless of the West District United Methodist Women, which is a bridge-program that includes life mentoring to young women. As the combination of both committees may seem challenging, she used it as an inspiration to commence a direction into young people’s ministry within the Pacific Islanders. Ainise Isamau, with others of the SoCal Pacific Islanders leaders, inclusively created an eccentric group called the Pacific Islander Youth & Young Adult (PIYYA) ministry.
In October of 2020, Ainise was just installed into the position of the United Methodist Women National Board President. This role will take one of her passions, women’s ministry, and have it be applied on a national scale in the same ways it does on a local unit at Faith Torrance UMC. From the countless positions that she has acquired along the years, her main goal within this specific church is to work alongside young adult leaders that have a calling towards ministry in creative ways that better equip the resources being used for the second and third generations to “be the church.”
Psalm 104:1-5 (Common English Bible)
1 Let my whole being bless the Lord! Lord my God, how fantastic you are! You are clothed in glory and grandeur! 2 You wear light like a robe; you open the skies like a curtain. 3 You build your lofty house on the waters; you make the clouds your chariot, going around on the wings of the wind. 4 You make the winds your messengers; you make fire and flame your ministers. 5 You established the earth on its foundations so that it will never ever fall.
Summary:
For the month of October, we will journey through the scriptures and be reminded that in the midst of challenging and trying times, we can “sing the Lord’s song in a strange land.” It may take time to learn some new lyrics, sing in a new key or build the confidence to sing at all, but the Psalms show us there that we are able to discover trust, love, hope and peace when we are able to sing the Lord’s Song!
The King James Version of Psalm 104:1 reads in a familiar way: “Bless the Lord, O My Soul!” The New Revised Standard Version says, “Let my whole being bless the Lord.” How can we be a blessing to God? What valuable gifts do we possess that we can give to God?
Reflection Questions:
- What is a word, phrase or image that comes to mind when you read or hear the text?
- What does this scripture teach you about blessing?
- What does God invite you to do, change or be through this passage?