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Psalm 84:1-7 (Common English Bible)
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord of heavenly forces!
2 My very being longs, even yearns, for the Lord’s courtyards. My heart and my body will rejoice out loud to the living God!
3 Yes, the sparrow too has found a home there; the swallow has found herself a nest where she can lay her young beside your altars, Lord of heavenly forces, my king, my God!
4 Those who live in your house are truly happy; they praise you constantly. Selah
5 Those who put their strength in you are truly happy; pilgrimage is in their hearts.
6 As they pass through the Baca Valley, they make it a spring of water. Yes, the early rain covers it with blessings.7 They go from strength to strength, until they see the supreme God in Zion.
Summary:
Today, we celebrate the 114th Anniversary of Inglewood First United Methodist Church! We have come this far by faith! We welcome guest preacher, Rev. Mark Nakagawa, who serves as the West District Superintendent of the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church. We also welcome home one of our former pastors, Bishop Beverly J. Shamana.
For 114 years, the First United Methodist Church of Inglewood has been a “dwelling place” for souls going from strength to strength, seeking the supreme God of Zion. We praise God for strength and new vision the ministry ahead!
Reflection Questions:
- How has Inglewood First UMC been God’s dwelling place for the past 114 years?
- How has Inglewood First UMC been God’s dwelling place in your life?
- How can Inglewood First UMC continue to be God’s dwelling place for new people for years to come?
Guest Preacher: Rev. Mark Nakagawa
Rev. Mark Nakagawa is the West District Superintendent of the California-Pacific Conference. He previously served as Senior Pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church (Los Angeles, CA), West Los Angeles UMC and Sacramento Japanese UMC.
Rev. Nakagawa has served extensively throughout the United Methodist connection. He was the first Chair of the Asian American Language Ministry Task Force (AALM) established in 2000. He has experienced and influenced four General Conferences through his work with the Inter-Ethnic Strategy and Development Group (IESDG). Over the past 25 years he has served on the Board of Directors of the United Methodist Federal Credit Union distinguishing himself as both Vice-Chair and Chair of this board.
Rev. Mark is an active community and interfaith leader in the city of Los Angeles and in southern California. He is a past President of the Nisei Week Foundation and currently serves on the Little Tokyo Community Council, the Nikkei Interfaith Group, and the Christian-Muslim Consultative Group of Southern California.
Rev. Nakagawa earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Master of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion (Berkeley, CA).