A Publication of First Christian Church of North HollywoodA Congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Robert M. Bock, Senior PastorLouise Sloan Goben, Associate PastorChristi Anderson, Director of Children’s MinistriesJeremy Gillett, Director of Youth MinistriesAlfredo Gomez & Loydi Rivas Gomez, Pastor, Spanish Speaking CongregationYoung Lan Kim & Young Jun Yang, Korean Pastors

Volume LXI No. 76 January 11, 2017

Page � January 11, �017 First Christian news

Pastor Bob’s Letter to the Family is on hiatus this week while he is in Claremont going to school. It will return next week.

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, My chosen in whom my soul delights; …a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench. (Isaiah 42:1 & 3)

I have been reading about Mahatma Gandhi’s life recently as part of my study of Hinduism. You may recall that Gandhi was a leader of anti-apartheid in So. Africa before he returned to India to work toward justice among his own people. Reading “The World’s Religions” by Huston Smith I was able to put together in my own mind how the non-violent work of Gandhi was such a counter-point to the age of violence in which he lived. He was a contemporary of Joseph Stalin and Adolph Hitler! Using non-violence as the method by which he sought to create change in the world, Gandhi led India though the peaceful withdrawal from British colonialism. (The United States fought a war to achieve the same end.)

And according to Smith, “In an even more amazing shift, Gandhi lowered another barrier more formidable than that of race in America.” India has been known for its strict caste system – a stratification of the classes into which one is born. The lowest stratum was referred to as the “dalit,” or the “Untouchables.” This was a class not unlike the slavery of Africans in the United States. One could never hope to escape this designation, could never rise above this caste in their lifetime. A direct

translation into English of the word “dalit” would be “broken people.”

Gandhi worked toward the changing of this system and this designation and renamed India’s untouchables “harijin,” which means “God’s people.” That is pretty remarkable to lift an entire segment of people from be-ing “broken people” to being “God’s people.” Gandhi’s non-violent strategy also influenced the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. and his work in the Civil Rights Movement in our own time. Gandhi said he learned non-violence from studying the Bible and the teachings of Jesus.

Isaiah 42:1-4 is the first of four “Servant Songs” in the book of Isaiah. Together, these four pieces helped the Church of the 1st century and the Gospel writers understand the life and work of Jesus. We learn that the task of being a servant of God is not always easy, nor is it painless. The servant suffers, as Jesus did – as Gandhi did, as King did… But the servant also continues on the chosen path toward hope for all people, and is un-dergirded by the deep conviction that this pleases God. Justice is the work of all of us, as we are the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.

And Jesus reminds us, As much as you have done this for the least of these, my brothers and my sisters, you have done this for me. (Matthew 25)

Pastor Louise

First Christian news January 11, �017 Page �

For those of you who know someone serving in the armed forces, as well as people serving in other capacities, we want to lift them up in prayer... please let us know when they come home!

Brian JohnsonJoshua Bigbee

Christopher A. Bernstein1st Battalion at PendletonChris Diaz

We also want to continue to pray for peace, for wisdom for the world’s leaders, and for the people of all war-torn areas of our world.

Covering a basic introduction to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Wednesday • January 25 7:00 - 8:30 pm • in the Social Hall

XPLOR Resident Tim Campbell created Relation Media (Canada), a social media consulting agen-cy specializing in small businesses, nonprofits and churches.

Save the DateSunday, January 22nd

Following the Meet & Greet join Dr. Jon Berquist for Disciple History and Fascinating Facts!

Stay tuned for more details.

A New Baby Girl!Behold an amazing blessing has been bestowed upon our family with the birth of our first baby—Magnolia Sofia Lajoie was born January 5th, 2017 and was 7 lbs.

14 oz. and 20 ¼ inches at birth.

Mom, Dad and Magnolia are all doing great and Magnolia could not be more beautiful. Thank you for

all the love and support from our church family.

Brianna & Jason Lajoie

Page � January 11, �017 First Christian news

At some point, most of the parents of the children in our Sunday School program have packed their bags, said goodbye to their families and ended up in Los Angeles to chase their dreams... to fulfill the potential of the talent given to them by God. In doing so, most of us have ended up raising our children in a city without bi-ological family nearby. And, as God always does, he has led us to this incredible corner where we have formed a new family. Pastor Bob welcomed everyone to church on Christmas Eve by saying it was like a gigantic family reunion. Many people at the services on Christmas Eve only come once a year. Many travel from great distances to be in attendance at one of our services.

This year, my children and I attended the 5:30 pm Family Christmas Eve service, as is our tradition. Then, Charlette, my youngest daughter wanted to join me for the 11:00 pm Candlelight Service. She and I were sitting in the congregation waiting for the service to begin when Sarah Cookson came bouncing over and greeted us both with a big hug! I had the pleasure of being Sarah’s mentor when she was in the Pastor’s class in 2011. She went away to college in the fall and I’ve missed her beaming smile (and her tickling me every Sunday) while she has been away. But, in that moment in the sanctuary, we had a family reunion. We were quickly joined by Gage Kirkland who was also home from college for Christmas. Then Katie O’Brien joined the little party in the aisle. There was a lot of hugging, squealing and laughter (it’s ok because church hadn’t started yet). Then the little trio sat right behind me and my daughter during the service. I had such a feeling of being at home… I was so honored that I’ve been able to be a part of their lives for the last eight years and have been able to watch them grow into amazing young adults. Then I looked at my daughter sitting next to me and felt proud and excited to have this family sur-rounding my children as they grow up without biologi-

cal family around. My children are surrounded with love, encouragement and guidance from their church family… the only family they really know.

We are a family here… we are a family through Christ. I hope that we will all hold each other in prayer and remember that we are all part of the same body, the same foundation..this little corner is always home to all of us!

Have a great week!Christi Anderson,

Director of Children’s Ministries

Xplor residents

Save the DateCWF Luncheon

January 29th

12:00 noon in the Annex. Special Program

(Bring your blessing box).

Thank you!!

First Christian news January 11, �017 Page �

Xplor residents

I greet you in the Wonderful and Magnificent name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

FCCNH resumed all youth activities January 8, 2017. We are very excited that JanCamp will take place this Friday! I will be driving the church van to Loch Leven to transport some of our middle school students. We ask for your prayers for a safe journey to the camp site and back to our respective homes. If you have not done so, please remember to complete the transporta-tion waiver to ride the church van.

This past Saturday our very own Erzhan Smith hosted his “Foster the Future” event which benefits emancipated fostered youth. Erzhan, created this event one year ago and this year he added on a 10k run. Erzhan is a senior at Crespi High School in Encino, CA and the inception of this event started as a school project. Many of his peers from the youth group arrived early Saturday morning, despite the heavy rain, as vol-unteers to help make Erzhan’s event a success. All vol-unteers and race participants were entered into a raffle to win prizes such as; Lakers tickets, a $250 gift card to Studio City Jewelry Exchange, a month of yoga at YogaWorks of Studio City and many other gift certifi-cates. Finally, during Sunday School yesterday, many of the youth began telling stories recounting their experi-ences from the “Foster the Future” event. This event in-spired several of our youth to desire creating their own event to help others.

I share this story because this is one of the many successes that take place in and within our youth group. “Onward we march and Forward we go!” Team work makes the Dreamwork!

With LoveJeremy Gillett

Director of Children’s Ministries

Erzhan Smith, pictured above, is the creator of Foster the Future.

Some of our Youth at Foster the Future, pic-tured left to right are Ellen Dobbin, Amelia Dobbin, Eliza Beam, and Claire Dobbin.

Page � January 11, �017 First Christian news

Food Pantry VoLUntEEr ContaCtTransportation Teams:

Heather Hatch 508.667.1609

another way to donateYou can now make recurring donations to the

Interfaith Food Pantry through the FCCNH web page (https://fccnh.charityfinders.com/Donate%20Cash).

THE FOOD PANTRY IS IN NEED OF:Canned tuna, canned chicken, rice, canned beans

(pinto, navy etc.), boxed cereal, diapers, powderd milk, baby food, peanut butter and tomato products!

The Pantry Pickup Schedule was not avail-able at the time of print—please contact the

Transportation Team Leader for this week’s details and check back next week for further information.

atteNtION: PaNtry BOarD, PaNtry CLergy, CONgregatIONaL MeMBerS:

Some type of tomato sauce is included in every bag distributed by the Pantry. Because we have been unable to get free sauce through Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, we request that at this time our congregations urge their members to concentrate on donating canned tomato sauce—no glass, please!

You may bring your food contributions to the church office any day of the week and to church on Sunday. If you bring contributions on Sunday ask that they be placed in front of the Communion Table.

Thank you,Lynn Yoshizumi, Pantry Communications

February 6th, 13th & 27th, 20177:00 pm – 8:30 pm-in the Social hall

First Christian Church of North Hollywood will be hosting an important opportunity to raise our awareness about substantive issues that have arisen in the recent political conversation of our coun-try. There is little new about racism in our cultur-al context. We would choose to keep an alternate vision before us of wholeness and reconciliation, and we begin this work by examining our past, discussing our present reality, and looking toward the future and the work of reconciliation.

FEbRuARY 6How Do We Understand Racism?

With Rev. Sandhya Jha, Director of the Oakland Peace Center

Author of Pre-Post Racial America: Spiritual Stories from the Front Lines.

FEbRuARY 1313TH Documentary, a showing

With a panel conversation - (Guests TBD)

FEbRuARY 20-Holiday NO MEETING

FEbRuARY 27Restorative/Transformative Justice

With Rev. Nora Jacob, Restorative Justice Minister, Urban MissionBlogger for NBA Prison and Jail Ministries

First Christian news January 11, �017 Page 7

ChUrCh StaFF

Robert M. Bock Senior PastorLouise Sloan Goben Associate PastorAlfredo Gomez Pastor, Spanish Speaking CongregationChristi Anderson Director of Children’s MinistriesJeremy Gillett Director of Youth MinistriesTyana Parr Director of Children’s ChoirJoshua Elson Music DirectorDavid Rigsby OrganistChristine Karasseferian Director of FinanceGillian BonacciChurch AdministratorDiane Hirsch Administrative Assistant/Web Master/Publicity CoordinatorTerri Burton Church PublicationsMichele Amundsen Wedding Director Elmer Maldonado Building & Grounds SuperintendentMiriam MancillaDirector of Christian Nursery SchoolGreg Kirkland Media Director

VoLUntEEr StaFFJosé Pretlow, Susan Marble, John Henry Kreitler, Jeff McFadden, Denise Ovaldson, Tom Louie, Richard Johnson, Martin Smith, Sound Technicians

Luis Oliart Security

In MEMorIaMEarle Immel Minister of Music Emeritus

Merle E. Fish, Jr. Minister Emeritus

By Way oF rEPortJanuary 8, 2017—Cable Sunday______________

10:00 AM Worship 183 5:30 SpiritSong Worship 34 7:00 PM Evenlight Worship 6 7:00 PM Wednesday Worship 8 Sunday School Children 35 Sunday School Youth 34 Evening Youth Groups 17

10:00 AM Worship $11,989.38 4:00 PM Service En Espanol $49.00 5:30 PM SpiritSong Worship $1,488.00 7:00 PM Evenlight Worship $3.00 7:00 PM Wednesday Worship $15.00 Sunday School Children $20.00

Human Needs $50.00 Escript $292.81

ToTal General offerinG $13,564.38

deCember CrediT Card offerinGS

General Fund $5,231.34 Bock Scholarship Fund $2,000.00 Church Van Fund $2,000.00 Disciples Mission Fund—Christmas $20.00 Food Pantry $70.00

PLEASE SUBMIT ARTICLES VIA EMAIL TOterriburton@gmail.com

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n e w s l e t t e r

First Christian News First Christian ChurCh oF north hollywood

a Congregation oF the Christian ChurCh

(disCiples oF Christ) 4390 ColFax avenue

north hollywood, CA 91604 - 2898

thINK greeN! PLeaSe reCyCLe!NOte: If you would like to receive this newsletter via email, which saves

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First Christian Church of North Hollywood818/763-8218 • FAX 818/763-8457Web Site: www.fccnh.orgemail: fccnh@earthlink.net

Pastor & senior editor Robert M. Bockart direction Terri BurtonWeb Master Diane Hirsch

Production services

Mary Ann Steuterman Byron Armantrout

eMeritus

Billie Kline Lillian Carlson Heather Kenney Margaret Defibaugh Cathy Melendez Fern Donald Chuck Mont Jean Johnson Wanda Kanoy Helen Scarna Kay Smith Betty Van Zanten Shirley McClure Deborah Wheeler Virginia Stebbins Cindy Kaller

January 15, 201710:00 am Erica Christensen (O) Gaye Coffman (C)5:30 pm Richard Follett7:00 pm Rodney Gould

Diaconate:

Stacey Constantine Connie Cross Dean Williams Sue Williams Joan Norland Toni Rossi Chris Carson Deb Carson Larry Brown

upcoming Diaconate: Jan. 22 Kathy Dantagnan & Barry Dantagnan Jan. 29 YOUTH SUNDAY