New City Parish in Los Angeles

We continued our time in Los Angeles finding our way with Leigh's mom's GPS and several maps, learning when and when not to take the highways, and enjoying being curious about the many different areas of L.A.  Here are a few snapshots of our experiences with the congregations of New City Parish and partner social service organizations in L.A.

We visited seven of the nine New City Parish ELCA congregations.  Pastor Matt Keadle took us on a walking tour of the neighborhood around the church he serves -- St. Mark's Lutheran Church on the edge of the USC campus downtown L.A.  The mostly African Caribbean congregation has faced the challenge of serving a changing neighborhood with an increase in students in neighborhood housing.

Pastor Matt at St. Mark's Lutheran Church across the street from USC

The cooks for a free lunch program two times a week at St. Mark's -- reminded us of the Community Meals program at Peace.  The big difference is, the people coming to eat are served outside in the courtyard -- ah, the sunny weather of L.A.!

We visited Ascension Lutheran Church under the leadership of Rev. Reggie Hansome, friend of Malcolm from his early years!  Sunday morning we worshiped with the congregation and experienced a good Gospel choir -- reminded us of Peace!  We went to a special healthy cooking class called Kitchen Divas and I (Pastor John) was the only male present for the class!  Never thought of myself as a Kitchen Diva before!

Pastor Reggie Hansome and his wife Cheryl at Ascension Lutheran Church

The Gospel Choir singing in worship at Ascension Lutheran Church

One of five sessions at Kitchen Divas (Pastor John loved this!)

We spent some more time with Pastor Jim Lobdell from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church -- he took us to a great soul food joint and shared reflections from his many years of ministry in L.A.  We also attended a few of his Bible studies and choir practice.  Holy Trinity has a very reputable Lutheran preschool.

At Roscoe's -- chicken and waffles with Pastor Jim from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

We visited Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church in Compton -- a Spanish-speaking congregation with mostly recent immigrants from Mexico and Central America.  Pastor Samuel Nieva has served there 10 years.  We worshiped with them on Sunday in an all-Spanish worship service!  Leigh was a great help with her fluent Spanish.  Pueblo de Dios has a weekly food distribution program run by congregation members to help the neighborhood.  They started a sewing cooperative, a catering group, and they are working on a florist cooperative -- all to come alongside folks in economic development.

Pastor Samuel Nieva leads Spanish worship at Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church

Hermano Rudolfo with the food volunteers for their once a week program at Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church

Martha is a member of Pueblo de Dios and leader of the sewing cooperative.  She's standing by the sewing machines at the church where she teaches women of the neighborhood to sew.  They make garments and sell them to support their families.

After John's question, "Does anyone know where we can buy some tacos?" we find ourselves at Edith's after church for some yummy homemade quesadillas.  She has started her own catering business.

Our host, Pastor Brian Eklund, took us on several special tours and introduced us to some amazing people doing good work on behalf of the vulnerable in L.A.  We spent more time at the Mercado la Paloma, the building that acts as a job incubator for first-time restaurants, and learned a lot about a program to train health promoters to connect with people in the community around health education and resources.  We walked around an urban neighborhood that Esperanza Housing has impacted in a positive way, purchasing blighted apartments and converting them to affordable housing units for families and developing local parks together with neighbors.  Pastor Brian has had a major role with Esperanza Housing since its start.  It is a faith-based organization for community development and advocacy for affordable housing -- he serves on their board.

Lunch at the Mercado with Pastor Brian and Juanita, who works for Esperanza Housing as a health promoter

An apartment complex fixed up and owned by Esperanza Housing

A park initiated by Esperanza Housing across the street from former gang apartments

We visited Homeboy Industries, founded by Father Greg Boyle (Episcopalian) to provide hope, training, and support to formerly gang-involved and recently incarcerated men and women, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of the community.  We took a tour of their programs and ministries and saw job training, internships, counseling, case workers, a bakery, a cafe, silk screening, an organic garden -- Wow!

Homeboy Industries in gang-neutral area of downtown Los Angeles

The amazing bakers for Homeboy Bakery who sell also at 22 Farmers' Markets

We had fun checking out the city, eating pupusas and tamales and tacos from authentic restaurants, visiting the Tolerance Museum (with an excellent Holocaust section) and the Getty Center, going on a sailing trip on the ocean and a bike ride along the seashore.

Out sailing with Pastor Brian and his wife Ruth!

Looking nervous trying to steer between some buoys and rocks!

Some of the pastors with New City Parish bike the boardwalk on Tuesday mornings together.  We joined them!

What an experience in L.A.!  We've reflected on our own ministry at Peace in Tacoma and give thanks to be rooted ourselves in a vibrant Christian community serving our neighborhood!  We're praying daily for our sisters and brothers at Peace, working through the Lenten spiritual growth group materials, and gathering insights and reflections to share when we return.  We continue to live with the question:  How can we at Peace Lutheran Church come alongside our sisters and brothers in the diverse Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma to work for spiritual growth and community development?