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. 80 February 8, 2017

Page � February 8, �017 First Christian news

I was always told, as I was growing up, that as you got older time goes more slowly. I remember specifi-cally my Grandfather telling me that as we worked in his garden. He had retired and spent his days working the plot of land that produced food for our family and half the neighborhood. “Sometimes the days seem to go forever,” he once said.

I don’t think he was lying to me. His statement was probably true for him. But it has never been true for me and as I get older the time seems to go even faster. Part of that might be living in Los Angeles, one of the fastest paced cities in the world. And part might be that I am in charge of the program on this Incredible Corner, an extremely busy place where amazing ministry happens 24x7x365. Another part, which is probably the major contributing factor, is that I love what I do and when you love what you do you don’t think about time….and it just goes by too quickly.

For example, yesterday someone said, “Sunday is the Valentine’s Day bake sale for the youth schol-arship fund”… and my jaw dropped and I replied… “Valentine’s Day, mid-February already, you’ve got to be kidding,” I said with a big smile. But she wasn’t kid-ding. “And what will you be bringing for the bake sale, Pastor Bob?”

Now that is a very interesting question. We need lots and lots of freshly baked cookies, brownies, cup-cakes, pies, cakes (Angel food please), scones, etc. etc. I love to cook but frankly I’ve never been very good at it and baking is way beyond my ability. So I was tempt-

ed to tell my questioner that I’d bring gluten free Girl Scout cookies. Don’t laugh. They have them this year, but it takes some of the enjoyment out of eating them if you look at the calories.

So, in answer to her question, Peggy and I will be whipping something up in the kitchen Saturday after-noon to sell at the bake sale. Sunday School families and all supporters of our children and youth ministry are welcome to join us and bake some goodies for the big bake sale during the Meet and Greet on Sunday.

Here are just a couple of thoughts to share with you:You may not realize that the Sunday morning ser-

mon is posted on the church website (www.fccnh.org) every week. Greg Kirkland, our Director of Media, tells me that they are usually up and ready for people to listen to by Monday. Greg is also working on record-ing the special music and making it available as well as recording and making the homily at the SpiritSong service available on line.

I got a call last week from an old colleague from seminary days who is retired and lives in Rhode Island. He said he used to listen every week and was disap-pointed when we stopped posting them. But now he is delighted that they are back up and he can listen. So for my friend Hoppy, a retired Disciple minister, I thank Greg, Diane (our web master) and the entire Media Crew.

Our Lenten observance begins on Ash Wednesday, the 1st of March, with our traditional soup, salad, bread and dessert meal in the Social Hall. Worship will follow in the Sanctuary. We invite you to bring various kinds of salads, desserts and bread to the meal. If you would like to contribute soup for twelve or more please con-tact Rev. Louise at louise@fccnh.org.

First Christian news February 8, �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.

Our Lenten theme this year is “By the Grace of God” and the Elder’s Meditation Booklets will be avail-able on February 26th, the Sunday before the Holy Season of Lent begins. The Pastor’s Church Membership Class will begin on the first Sunday of Lent, March 5th and run through the Sunday after Easter. And please remember that on Maundy Thursday we will have a “pitch-in-dinner” in the Social Hall followed by wor-ship and communion around the dinner tables. Food assignments will be forthcoming as we get closer to Holy Week.

I look forward to seeing you in church Sunday. I will be bringing the second part of last week’s homily on “Making a U-turn”. I hope you will be there to share in worship.

And remember that we have four services of wor-ship every Sunday. 10:00 AM morning worship in the Sanctuary with our marvelous choir, 4:00 PM Spanish service in the Sanctuary with Rev. Alfredo, 5:30 PM SpiritSong contemporary worship in the Social Hall with Praise Band and Singers, and 7:00 PM Evenlight service of meditation and prayer in the Chapel. If you cannot make one of those then try to join us on Wednesday evening for quiet meditation and prayer in the Chapel at 7:00 PM.

I would also remind you that the music at both morning and SpiritSong is outstanding with some of the Region’s best musicians leading us in praise and worship.

This week I will be preaching at the morning service and Rev. Louise will be preaching at the SpiritSong service.

So – I’ll see you in church. Pergé!

Pastor Bob

to Meet in the Chapel

sunday 7pM

Our contemplative, meditative Evenlight gathering will move to the Chapel beginning March 5th. The Chapel will be a wonderful, sa-cred space for this intimate gathering for those wishing to experience the Spirit in this particular way as we close out the day and prepare for the week ahead.

By March 5th the Lenten Season will be upon us and it will be an apt time to switch to our new location. Until then the Evenlight Service will continue to meet in the Sanctuary.

Page � February 8, �017 First Christian news

…Jesus told them many things in parables, saying “Listen!’ —Matthew 12:3

Last Sunday evening at the SpiritSong service I mentioned that my grandmother used to read aloud to me every day. I would sit on her lap as we waited for the school bus to pick me up in the mornings. My fa-vorite book was Heidi, and as she read I could picture in my minds-eye the Alps and the old-alm-uncle, the forests that surrounded their home and the smell of the pine trees and fresh milk. There is something wonderful about using one’s imagination, and of becoming part of the story itself!

Jesus taught using stories. They are called parables —stories with open ends so that the listener can put themselves into the storyline and resolve the questions asked for themselves. There is a great difference between parables and other kinds of story-telling. Aesop was a master story-teller, and many of the fables end with a pulling together for the hearer what the message of the story is for us to receive. “The moral of the story is…” Not so with parables. The endings are largely left up to those who are listening.

Am I the stranger left beaten and half-dead by the side of the road?

Or could I be the nice Samaritan who chooses to do the right thing and help one who is in need?

I could even be the one who passes by on the other side of the road, because it is the safest thing to do—after all, the guy is a stranger! Maybe it is all a set-up and I could get mugged.

The parables invite us to hear, and to ask ourselves not, “What would Jesus do?”

They challenge us to ask, “What will I do? How will I respond? How do I hear God’s challenge for my living and acting in the world as a disciple of Christ?”

And the listening, the hearing of the questions is not a one-time thing. It is an ongoing characteristic of being a disciple. When we allow ourselves to hear the stories of Jesus we also need to notice what, in the hear-ing is growing in us—to notice what is claiming us in Jesus’ teaching.

Just imagine what we can hear if we were also to listen to one another’s stories.

Pastor Louise

Did you know a percentage of your online purchases can be a

donation to FCCNH?

Check out our website (www.fccnh.org), and click on the Donate or Vendor button at the top of the page and select “First Christian Church of North Hollywood” as your designated charity.

Shop & Donate

First Christian news February 8, �017 Page �

I need a favor! I let Valentine’s sneak up on me so please help support our youth with a bake sale in place of the bake-off this year! To raise money for the youth missions etc., could folks bring items for a bake sale this coming Sunday? Still Valentine’s Day themed and good fun. I will coordinate all layout, coffee, etc., but I need some cashiers and helpers, and most importantly baked stuff ready to sell!!! Please let me know! Matt Hunt at 818.404.1520 or matthewhunt@gmail.com.

Bring your items before church this Sunday.

VALENTINE’S DAY BAKE SALE!

HELP NEEDED!

Yes, it’s only the beginning of February, but camp planning is in full force! Camp dates are coming soon! Our incredible corner is bustling at the seams. Our Social Hall is an endless river of activity... from worship, to Meet & Greet, to lunch room for production crews, to the set of popular TV shows, to wedding receptions, to Camp (over 300 children go to Camp in our Social Hall each summer)... it’s phenomenal to think of the lives that have been touched and changed in our Social Hall.

As I sat in the Sanctuary on Sunday morning and watched Vlado Resta being dedicated (he is 5-weeks-old and the youngest of three children), I was particularly struck by the impact our corner has on the lives of our church family. Vlado’s Godmother is an announcer for a major sports radio network... Sunday was the “big game”... where was the Godmother? She arrived at LAX at midnight, after leaving Houston, the site of the big game, in order to be present for the dedication of her Godchild. Wow, talk about dedication. Dedication that was fostered right in our Social Hall during Meet & Greet and our Sunday School family dinners.

If you haven’t already done so, I hope you will find a way to really make this church family your own... we have every walk of life represented on our corner and I know God is eager to lead you to the connections that will truly help you flourish and make your life more beautiful!

Christi AndersonDirector of Children’s Ministries

Page � February 8, �017 First Christian news

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

I want to give a special thank you to my parent vol-unteers Mike Dobbin and Ellen Dobbin as they helped make the BBQ and pre-game Super Bowl celebration a success.

There were many highlights of the day but one that resonated most with me, was the fellowship between my high school youth and middle school youth. I truly love seeing the bonding between the two groups. Not to mention, new relationships were formed on this night and old relationships were rekindled. As Youth Director, it is very important that the environment created for our youth help them feel safe, comfortable, encour-aged, and without judgement. I envision our kids creat-ing friendships within our Youth Hut that will last a lifetime. As adults, we can recall how important having friends at this age was to our development as youth.

Parents, if your children want to join the youth group regularly but are a bit hesitant because their friends won’t be there or they don’t know any of the kids, do not allow that to be the reason your child does not experience our youth group. I know they will develop new friendships within our group that will be equally important to their current friendships or life experiences outside of church. I assure all parents, your child will be treated great while under my direction.

Finally, please support the Youth Bake Sale this Sunday in the Social Hall! All proceeds will fund youth scholar-ships, mission trips, and regular youth activities.

As always I ask that you pray for our youth as we are praying for you.

Jeremy GillettDirector of Youth Ministries

MaRCH 1 — ash WednesdayThe Lenten Season is fast approaching

and on Ash Wednesday, March 1st, we will host our meagre (or not so meagre) meal in the Social Hall followed by a 7:00 pm service. We do have our “Soup Angels” assigned, but would love folks to bring a salad or bread or, if the Spirit moves you, maybe a dessert.

apRil 18 — Maundy ThursdayWe will have a Maundy Thursday gather-

ing and sharie a meal as we worship. A break-down for this potluck will be in next week’s newsletter.

Thank you,The Worship Team

First Christian news February 8, �017 Page 7

Chapman University will hold the 33nd Annual Founders Day, March 10-11, 2017. The two day event held on the Orange, CA campus has many strong op-tions for participants to enjoy:

• The featured speaker is Dr. Michael Kinnamon, former head of the National Council of Churches, ecumenical leader and educator. He will do lec-tures on Friday, March 10 addressing the climate of fear that pervades American culture and how Christianity and all of the major world’s religions call us to resist the power of fear in our lives.

• The featured preacher on Saturday morning, March 11 is Dr. Frank Thomas, professor of homiletics at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. He will also do a preaching workshop for ministers that same day.

• We will honor the Rev. Nora Jacob as Disciples Church Leader of the Year and Matt Balin and

Tracy Halter-Balin as the United Church of Christ Church Leaders of the Year.

• A Saturday afternoon panel, March 11, of leaders of various world religions to dialogue with Dr. Kinnamon on his topic.

• Workshops on Saturday morning for prospective students and their parents.

• A big reunion event—a Saturday late afternoon Chappy Hour for all alumni, Disciples on Campus parents and prospective parents and friends.

Online registration @ www.chapman.edu/founders-day. You are invited to come for both days, but you may also elect only a single option. Questions or needing assis-tance with online registration? Please call the Office of Church Relations at 714.997.6760. And we are seri-ous—do not let the cost of registration keep you away. If you need a scholarship, please ask for it!

Founders dayMarch 10 -11, 2017

Page 8 February 8, �017 First Christian news

February 13th & 27th

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm - in the Social Hall

First Christian Church of North Hollywood is 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 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

Left to right: Claire Dobbin, Amelia Dobbin, Jeremy Gillett, Garrett Brooks, Charlie Harris, & Connie Isa.

Pictured left to right: Lila Hiatt, Jack Harris, Ian Hallada, & Alex Miller.

Phot

os b

y Jen

ny H

arris

Pictures!Pictures!

The youth collected $387.50 that will go to the Food Pantry.

First Christian news February 8, �017 Page �

The Human Needs Ministry is looking for a few good people with a heart for service to help with the clothing, blanket and toiletries distribu-tion at our once-monthly feeding of the home-less in North Hollywood Park. We serve on the second Sunday of each month from 12:00 pm to 1:30/2:00 pm. If we get enough people we can alternate months. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Deborah Luster at diluster@yahoo.com or 323.854.6707.

We still need donations of blankets, gently-worn warm clothing like jeans, coats and jack-ets, hats and gloves. Items can be dropped off at the office during business hours.

Thank you all for supporting this ministry.

a note from theHuman Needs Ministry

We designed “Understanding Grief ” to help those who have experienced the loss of a family member or friend.

In addition to a renewed sense of hope, it is our aim that you walk away with an in-depth perspective of grief, an understanding that you are not alone, and coping skills

to help you grow through your grieving process.

jThursday, February 16, 2017

7:00 — 9:00 pmForest Lawn — Hollywood Hills

Faith Chapel6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068

134 Freeway at Forest Lawn Drive Exit

jFor reservations or more information,

contact Galen Goben, at800-204-3131, ext. 4662

or visitForestLawn.com

Sponsored by:

Forest Lawnfunerals • cremations • cemeteries

understanding Grief

Did you know First Christian Church of North Hollywood has a Facebook page? Please check it out and Like us on Facebook. It is a great way to keep up with what is going on in the life of the church.

www.facebook.com/pages/First-Christian-Church-of-North-Hollywood/111570318857728

Page 10 February 8, �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!

Thursday February 9#5 Rosey Tamkin Heather Hatch Barbara Erdahl Derek Reisinger

Sunday, February 12#4 Luis Oliart Ken Wilson Barbara Erdahl Hans Christoph

Wednesday, February 15 Studio City Team

Sunday, February 19#6 Kevin Kenney Heather Hatch Barbara Erdahl

Thursday, February 23#1 Barry Dantagnan Terri Hall Jackie Fecske

Sunday, February 26#8 Sally Hallada Jill Groswirth Joe Beam Jacob Beam

* *

Tickets at the door

Friday, Feb 24th 7:00 pm Saturday, Feb 25th 2:00 pm

4390 Colfax Ave, Studio City, Ca. 91604

Suggested Donation: $20

Proudly Presents

Written by Directed by

First Christian news February 8, �017 Page 11

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 rEPort

PLEASE SUBMIT ARTICLES VIA EMAIL TOterrib@fccnh.com

or in the office M-F from 9am to 5 pm.

is midnight sunday!

n e w s l e t t e r

February 5, 2017_________________________

10:00 AM Worship 190 5:30 SpiritSong Service 40 7:00 PM Evenlight Service 4 7:00 PM Wednesday Worship 3 Sunday School Children 45 Sunday School Youth 32 Evening Youth Groups 17

10:00 AM Worship $9,011.00 4:00 PM Service en Español $280.00 5:30 PM SpiritSong Service $1,242.00 7:00 PM Evenlight Service $65.00 7:00 PM Wednesday Worship $13.00 Sunday School Children $4.75

ToTal General oFFerinG $10,615.75

Food Pantry $65.00 Souper Bowl of Caring $387.50 (for the Food Pantry)

January 2017 CrediT Card donaTions_________

Regular Donations $4,244.67 Food Pantry $20.00 Week of Compassion $20.00 Elder’s Fund $35.00

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

on printing/mailing costs and is better for the environment, please contact us. Annual subscription cost for first class mail version is $24.

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

February 12, 201710:00 am Jay Aldrich (O) Erica Christensen (C)5:30 pm Gaye Coffman7:00 pm Aliza Ramos

Diaconate: Ken Campbell Maura Ross Loretta Rodriguez Joey Vallero Sophia McIntosh Debbie Geraci Cindy Caryl Angel Burgess Ann Jones Deborah Currin

upcoming Diaconate: Feb. 19 Dean Williams & Sue Williams Feb. 26 Mike Dobbin & Ellen Dobbin