The Verdugo Community Church’s Podcast

Pastor Gail Whitcome Linstrom – “Up a Tree, Waiting for God” – Verdugo Community Church June 11, 2023

In her sermon, “Up a Tree, Waiting for God,” Pastor Gail looks at the stories of Zacchaeus and the rich young ruler found in Luke 19 and 18. Both are wealthy when they encounter Jesus. The rich young ruler seeks Jesus out to ask how to gain eternal life. Jesus challenges him to give away his fortune to the poor, and follow Jesus. The ruler rejects this because of his love of wealth. Zacchaeus is a tax collector and ostracized by his community. He hides up in a tree to see Jesus, who stops and calls him by name and says he must have a meal at Zacchaeus’ house, even though the crowd then condemns both Zacchaeus and Jesus. Zacchaeus joyfully complies, and publicly repents of his sinful actions, voluntarily gives up half his fortune to the poor, and agrees to make restitution to those he has cheated. Jesus sought out Zacchaeus, just as God seeks us out to offer salvation with what John Wesley called prevenient grace. We need to avoid the reaction of the crowd and willing to work with God to show his love to our neighbors.

 

Verdugo makes its Sunday sermons available to you on Facebook and posts audio copies of the service and sermon at https://verdugochurch.podbean.com.

 

Verdugo Community Church is a Free Methodist congregation serving the Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, and Glendale areas in Los Angeles. It is located at 4300 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Our email address is verdugofmc@gmail.com. Contact Pastor Gail at (323) 500-3343.

 

Verdugo is online at www.facebook.com/verdugochurch and www.verdugochurch.org.

Sermon copyright 2023 by Gail Whitcome Linstrom and Verdugo Community Church.

VERDUGO COMMUNITY CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE JUNE 11, 2023

We open our service with song. Pastor Gail Linstrom welcomes all to worship and to participate in the life of our church family, and Albert Ramseyer calls us to worship with a reading of Psalm 32 and Luisa Fernandez opens us in prayer. Nick Baltazar, Mike Minasyan, and Ed Manacop lead us in our praise singing. Greg Hart takes up the praises and concerns of the church and our world in the Prayers of the People.

 

In her sermon, “Up a Tree, Waiting for God,” Pastor Gail looks at the stories of Zacchaeus and the rich young ruler found in Luke 19 and 18. Both are wealthy when they encounter Jesus. The rich young ruler seeks Jesus out to ask how to gain eternal life. Jesus challenges him to give away his fortune to the poor, and follow Jesus. The ruler rejects this because of his love of wealth. Zacchaeus is a tax collector and ostracized by his community. He hides up in a tree to see Jesus, who stops and calls him by name and says he must have a meal at Zacchaeus’ house, even though the crowd then condemns both Zacchaeus and Jesus. Zacchaeus joyfully complies, and publicly repents of his sinful actions, voluntarily gives up half his fortune to the poor, and agrees to make restitution to those he has cheated. Jesus sought out Zacchaeus, just as God seeks us out to offer salvation with what John Wesley called prevenient grace. We need to avoid the reaction of the crowd and willing to work with God to show his love to our neighbors.

 

Pastor Gail then leads us in the sacrament of communion, and you are invited to participate as well.

 

Verdugo makes its Sunday sermons available to you on Facebook and posts audio copies of the service and sermon at https://verdugochurch.podbean.com.

 

Prayers of the People has been edited to respect the privacy and confidentiality of individual prayer requests. All CCLI songs are performed under Verdugo Community Church’s license with CCLI.

 

Verdugo Community Church is a Free Methodist congregation serving the Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, and Glendale areas in Los Angeles. It is located at 4300 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Our email address is verdugofmc@gmail.com. Contact Pastor Gail at (323) 500-3343.

 

Sermon copyright 2023 by Gail Whitcome Linstrom and Verdugo Community Church.

 

Pastor Gail Whitcome Linstrom – “A Voice for All” – Verdugo Community Church May 28, 2023

In her sermon, “A Voice for All,” Pastor Gail focuses on the meaning of Pentecost. She reminds us that as set out in John 14, Jesus promised during the Last Supper that the Holy Spirit would come, When Pentecost came, as related in Acts 2, it fell upon everyone there, regardless of age, gender, or background. Through the Holy Spirit, God empowers each of us to follow him and spread the Good News to others.

 

Verdugo makes its Sunday sermons available to you on Facebook and posts audio copies of the service and sermon at https://verdugochurch.podbean.com.

 

Verdugo Community Church is a Free Methodist congregation serving the Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, and Glendale areas in Los Angeles. It is located at 4300 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Our email address is verdugofmc@gmail.com. Contact Pastor Gail at (323) 500-3343.

 

Verdugo is online at www.facebook.com/verdugochurch and www.verdugochurch.org.

Sermon copyright 2023 by Gail Whitcome Linstrom and Verdugo Community Church.

VERDUGO COMMUNITY CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE MAY 28, 2023

We open our service with song. Pastor Gail Linstrom welcomes all to worship and to participate in the life of our church family. Albert Ramseyer opens our worship with a reading from Psalm 104 and then leads us in the Lord’s Prayer. Kim Cox and Ed Manacop lead us in our praise singing. Greg Hart takes up the praises and concerns of the church and our world in the Prayers of the People. As part of that we celebrate Greg’s retirement after 44 years of teaching, and, send Kim out to her new ministry with our blessings and thanks for all she has done with us.

 

In her sermon, “A Voice for All,” Pastor Gail focuses on the meaning of Pentecost. She reminds us that as set out in John 14, Jesus promised during the Last Supper that the Holy Spirit would come, When Pentecost came, as related in Acts 2, it fell upon everyone there, regardless of age, gender, or background. Through the Holy Spirit, God empowers each of us to follow him and spread the Good News to others.

 

Pastor Gail then leads us in the sacrament of communion, and you are invited to participate as well.

 

Verdugo makes its Sunday sermons available to you on Facebook and posts audio copies of the service and sermon at https://verdugochurch.podbean.com.

 

Prayers of the People has been edited to respect the privacy and confidentiality of individual prayer requests. All CCLI songs are performed under Verdugo Community Church’s license with CCLI.

 

Verdugo Community Church is a Free Methodist congregation serving the Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, and Glendale areas in Los Angeles. It is located at 4300 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Our email address is verdugofmc@gmail.com. Contact Pastor Gail at (323) 500-3343.

 

Sermon copyright 2023 by Gail Whitcome Linstrom and Verdugo Community Church.

Andrew Mumm – “Being Who G*d Made You To Be” – Verdugo Community Church May 21, 2023

In his sermon, “Being Who G*d Made You To Be,” Andrew Mumm looks at John 17:9 – 14 where Jesus is praying for his disciples, and, for us. Andrew reminds that just as Jesus knew the strengths and faults of his immediate disciples, he knows ours as well, but his love for us is not diminished by that knowledge. God wants us to be who we are as we follow him and spread his Good News to others.

 

Verdugo makes its Sunday sermons available to you on Facebook and posts audio copies of the service and sermon at https://verdugochurch.podbean.com.

 

Verdugo Community Church is a Free Methodist congregation serving the Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, and Glendale areas in Los Angeles. It is located at 4300 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Our email address is verdugofmc@gmail.com. Contact Pastor Gail at (323) 500-3343.

 

Verdugo is online at www.facebook.com/verdugochurch and www.verdugochurch.org.

Sermon copyright 2023 by Andrew Mumm and Verdugo Community Church.

VERDUGO COMMUNITY CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE MAY 21, 2023

We open our service with song. Pastor Gail Linstrom welcomes all to worship and to participate in the life of our church family. Michelle Hensley opens our worship with a reading from Psalm 62. Luisa Fernandez centers us in prayer. Kim Cox, Jessica Jimenez, Mike Minasyan, and Ed Manacop lead us in our praise singing. Albert Ramseyer takes up the praises and concerns of the church and our world in the Prayers of the People.

 

In his sermon, “Being Who G*d Made You To Be,” Andrew Mumm looks at John 17:9 – 14 where Jesus is praying for his disciples, and, for us. Andrew reminds that just as Jesus knew the strengths and faults of his immediate disciples, he knows ours as well, but his love for us is not diminished by that knowledge. God wants us to be who we are as we follow him and spread his Good News to others.

 

Pastor Gail then leads us in the sacrament of communion, and you are invited to participate as well.

 

Verdugo makes its Sunday sermons available to you on Facebook and posts audio copies of the service and sermon at https://verdugochurch.podbean.com.

 

Prayers of the People has been edited to respect the privacy and confidentiality of individual prayer requests. All CCLI songs are performed under Verdugo Community Church’s license with CCLI.

 

Verdugo Community Church is a Free Methodist congregation serving the Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, and Glendale areas in Los Angeles. It is located at 4300 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Our email address is verdugofmc@gmail.com. Contact Pastor Gail at (323) 500-3343.

 

Sermon copyright 2023 by Andrew Mumm and Verdugo Community Church.

Pastor Gail Whitcome Linstrom – “Living Mary’s Song” – Verdugo Community Church May 14, 2023

In her sermon, “Living Mary’s Song,” pastor Gail reminds us of the response by Mary to being told she would become the mother of Jesus, found in Luke 1. While questioning the Angel Gabriel about how this would be, she accepts the path that God has chosen, even though it is outside the customs and expectations of her society. Her cousin Elizabeth, herself pregnant with John the Baptist, affirms Mary’s choice when they meet. Mary is moved by the Spirit to praise God for his choosing her and for his actions to raise up the lowly and bring justice to the world. When God calls us to do something, we need to remember Mary’s willingness to trust and follow God’s lead.

 

Verdugo makes its Sunday sermons available to you on Facebook and posts audio copies of the service and sermon at https://verdugochurch.podbean.com.

 

Verdugo Community Church is a Free Methodist congregation serving the Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, and Glendale areas in Los Angeles. It is located at 4300 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Our email address is verdugofmc@gmail.com. Contact Pastor Gail at (323) 500-3343.

 

Verdugo is online at www.facebook.com/verdugochurch and www.verdugochurch.org.

Sermon copyright 2023 by Gail Whitcome Linstrom and Verdugo Community Church.

VERDUGO COMMUNITY CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE MAY 14, 2023

We open our service with song. Pastor Gail Linstrom welcomes all to worship and to participate in the life of our church family. She opens our worship with a responsive call to worship and Mike Minasyan calls us to worship with a reading from Psalm 89. Albert Ramseyer centers us in prayer. Jessica Jimenez, Mike Minasyan, and Ed Manacop lead us in our praise singing. Greg Hart takes up the praises and concerns of the church and our world in the Prayers of the People.

 

In her sermon, “Living Mary’s Song,” pastor Gail reminds us of the response by Mary to being told she would become the mother of Jesus, found in Luke 1. While questioning the Angel Gabriel about how this would be, she accepts the path that God has chosen, even though it is outside the customs and expectations of her society. Her cousin Elizabeth, herself pregnant with John the Baptist, affirms Mary’s choice when they meet. Mary is moved by the Spirit to praise God for his choosing her and for his actions to raise up the lowly and bring justice to the world. When God calls us to do something, we need to remember Mary’s willingness to trust and follow God’s lead.

 

Pastor Gail then then leads us in the sacrament of communion, and you are invited to participate as well.

 

Verdugo makes its Sunday sermons available to you on Facebook and posts audio copies of the service and sermon at https://verdugochurch.podbean.com.

 

Prayers of the People has been edited to respect the privacy and confidentiality of individual prayer requests. All CCLI songs are performed under Verdugo Community Church’s license with CCLI.

 

Verdugo Community Church is a Free Methodist congregation serving the Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, and Glendale areas in Los Angeles. It is located at 4300 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Our email address is verdugofmc@gmail.com. Contact Pastor Gail at (323) 500-3343.

 

Sermon copyright 2023 by Gail Whitcome Linstrom and Verdugo Community Church.

Pastor Joe Alvarez – “The Transformed Life” – Verdugo Community Church April 30, 2023

In his sermon, “The Transformed Life,” Joe Alvarez co-pastor of the Avenue Church in Riverside, and a Relationship Builder for Empowering Lives International, looks to the teaching of Paul in Ephesians 4 on why and how Christians should behave. Pastor Joe contrasts the competitive and selfish values of society, values we are exposed to and encouraged to use with others, including fellow Christians. Instead we should constantly affirm the love and peace we are given through Jesus, and demonstrate the behavior that is Kingdom-based. This applies to every Christian, and Joe cites examples from his own life and from the work by Empowering Lives International.

 

Verdugo makes its Sunday sermons available to you on Facebook and posts audio copies of the service and sermon at https://verdugochurch.podbean.com.

 

Verdugo Community Church is a Free Methodist congregation serving the Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, and Glendale areas in Los Angeles. It is located at 4300 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Our email address is verdugofmc@gmail.com. Contact Pastor Gail at (323) 500-3343.

 

Verdugo is online at www.facebook.com/verdugochurch and www.verdugochurch.org.

Sermon copyright 2023 by Joe Alvarez and Verdugo Community Church.

VERDUGO COMMUNITY CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE APRIL 30, 2023

We open our service with song. Pastor Gail Linstrom welcomes all to worship and to participate in the life of our church family and leads a responsive call to worship. Dale Reynolds follows with a reading from Psalm 34. Justin Baker centers us in prayer. Kim Cox, Jessica Jimenez, Mike Minasyan, and Ed Manacop lead us in our praise singing. Albert Ramseyer takes up the praises and concerns of the church and our world in the Prayers of the People.

 

In his sermon, “The Transformed Life,” Joe Alvarez co-pastor of the Avenue Church in Riverside, and a Relationship Builder for Empowering Lives International, looks to the teaching of Paul in Ephesians 4 on why and how Christians should behave. Pastor Joe contrasts the competitive and selfish values of society, values we are exposed to and encouraged to use with others, including fellow Christians. Instead we should constantly affirm the love and peace we are given through Jesus, and demonstrate the behavior that is Kingdom-based. This applies to every Christian, and Joe cites examples from his own life and from the work by Empowering Lives International.

 

Pastor Gail then leads us in a service to send Dale Reynolds off with thanks and our blessings to his new residence in Encinitus.

 

Verdugo makes its Sunday sermons available to you on Facebook and posts audio copies of the service and sermon at https://verdugochurch.podbean.com.

 

Prayers of the People has been edited to respect the privacy and confidentiality of individual prayer requests. All CCLI songs are performed under Verdugo Community Church’s license with CCLI.

 

Verdugo Community Church is a Free Methodist congregation serving the Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, and Glendale areas in Los Angeles. It is located at 4300 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Our email address is verdugofmc@gmail.com. Contact Pastor Gail at (323) 500-3343.

 

Sermon copyright 2023 by Joe Alvarez and Verdugo Community Church.