Volume LXIII No. 15 September 11, 2019

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 PastorJennifer Le’au, Director of Children’s MinistriesJeremy Gillett, Director of Youth MinistriesAlfredo Gomez & Loydi Rivas Gomez, Pastors, Spanish Speaking Congregation

patriot day . september 11 . 2019

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It’s always exciting to go on vacation and visit plac-es you’ve never been. But it is also always good to get home. Our trip was eighteen days, the longest vacation we’ve taken since our honeymoon thirty-four years ago. We enjoyed every minute of it with the possible excep-tion of the thirteen hour plane flight and some very rude customs officers in Minneapolis where we changed planes. And thanks to a very marvelous and understand-ing physician, I was able to spend half the time without taking oral chemotherapy every night. Small blessings add up to great blessings.

However, it’s wonderful to be home and Celebration Sunday was everything I had hoped it would be. Many of our children and youth were back from vacation and were anxious to get into their new church school classes. The choir returned and blessed us with two magnifi-cent anthems with David Rigsby at the organ and John Dickson at the piano. That in itself is an awesome duo. Ben Bohren, a dear friend and colleague who drives from Palm Springs to worship with us at least once a month, gave a challenging and timely homily as we launched the Fall Season.

When September rolls around and we kick off the Fall Season it always feels like we are in a race for the Advent Season. There are so many things occurring during this Holy Season that scheduling becomes a major task. Our staff is working feverishly with the of-fice to get everything on the master calendar. Our Tree Lot chairs have already talked to our wholesaler and are busy making arrangements for another successful year. I’m asking you now – please look at your calendar for

December and schedule some days to work in the Lot. This is a ministry when we need “all hands on deck!”

We have a real treat this coming Sunday at the morning service of worship. The Rev. Dr. Larry Keene will be bringing our morning homily. Larry is one of my colleagues of longest standing. We met in the early 1960’s when he was an Associate Minister at Crenshaw Christian Church and I was an Associate Minister at Hollywood-Beverly Christian Church. In those days most of our churches had at least one Associate. It was an exciting time for all of us. Most of us, right out of seminary, were truly “wet behind the ears” and we learned a lot from each other and from the mentors in our lives. There were very few of us who became Senior Pastors in this Region. Larry and I were two of them and we have continued to be friends and colleagues for over fifty years.

Larry holds a PhD from USC and was a beloved professor at Pepperdine University for forty years. At the same time, he was a full time pastor. He worked with Rev. John Wells for many years at Little Brown Church at Moorpark and Coldwater Canyon. John was the founder for both Little Brown Church and Little While Chapel (now known simply as White Chapel Christian Church) in Burbank. Under Larry’s leadership Little Brown Church merged with Central Christian Church of Van Nuys and soon after became known as Church of the Valley. Larry pastored that church and its growing and exciting ministry for thirty-three years before retiring to follow his passion for writing. He and his wife Virginia have been very active members of FCCNH since his re-tirement and great supporters of our ministry.

The book Larry will make available for sale and au-tographing is entitled How Can I?: Perplexing Spiritual Questions and Suggestive Spiritual Answers. The book ex-

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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!

Chris Diaz • Joshua BigbeeWe 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.

plores twenty-three most often asked questions which people have asked Larry during his ministry. Next month Larry has a book of beautiful, heartfelt prayers which will be published.

Larry is an outstanding preacher and teacher. I am looking forward to hearing his homily Sunday, entitled “How Can I Avoid Judging Others?” I’m anxious for you to hear his message and have the opportunity to purchase his book and have it autographed at the Meet and Greet this Sunday.

It’s difficult to keep up with our very active and tal-ented church family. I’m always in awe of how much our people do and the honors they receive. I often miss hearing about these things until long after they occur and sincerely request that you notify me, or the church office, when honors, awards and highlights of life come your way.

I would want you to know that our Director of Youth Ministry, Jeremy Gillett, is at the University of Kentucky in Lexington as an Artist in Residence. He is living on campus for the week, teaching classes in drama and directing the presentation of one of his plays which will be presented for the University and com-munity over the weekend. Jeremy was honored earlier in the year by the Kennedy Center for his writing and served as Artist in Residence in Atlanta, GA. We will look forward to hearing about his experiences when he returns next week.

One of our talented choir members, DeOnzell Green, won a silver medal at the Karaoke World Championships USA in Las Vegas August 19th – 22nd. This is a great honor for DeOnzell and for us as her church family. She will be travelling to the Karaoke World Championships International competition in Tokyo in late November. The world competition will

be held at the Kanda Myoujin Hall in Tokyo. The Hall, part of the Edo Culture Complex, is one of the newest and most beautiful additions to the “Cool Japan” con-cept of art and culture.

If you would like to know more about the compe-tition and DeOnzell’s participation in it, I know she would be thrilled to hear from you and tell you more about it. It the meantime – Congratulations DeOnzell. Go for the World Championship!

I met with the Stewardship Council Monday eve-ning. We are still significantly in the red going into the last four months of 2019. I would encourage you to please catch up on your pledges and giving AND get back in the every-Sunday church habit. It’s not the same when you’re not in the pew to worship with your church family.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday. Have a great, peaceful and magnificent week. And be well.

Pergé!Pastor Bob

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I learned about Centering Prayer from Sister Suzanne, a remarkable woman I met while on retreat. There were a dozen or so of us on an intensive retreat some years ago. It was held just outside of Sacramento at a Catholic Retreat Center, and I knew no one there, except for one of the organizers – a man named Alexander Shaia. Suzanne had worked with Alexander in the Santa Barbara area, lead-ing retreats and workshops at La Casa de Maria. The sub-ject of these workshops was Centering Prayer.

When we were on retreat in Sacramento, Suzanne would invite the attendees to come have a “sit” for Centering Prayer. “We will meet at 4:00 in the Prayer Chapel,” Suzanne would invite. I had no idea what she was talking about, so I (and others) took her up on the offer. Fortunately for me, Suzanne was patient in ex-plaining CP, its purpose and how it is done. I have prac-ticed this form of prayer off and on since that retreat 12 years ago.

CP was developed by a Trappist Monk, Thomas Keating in the 1980’s. But the spiritual roots of CP reach back to the 14th century. The foundational principles of this practice of praying can be found in a book titled The Cloud of Unknowing, by an anony-mous author. It explains how the soul is united with God through the practice of contemplation. Not many

“Just A Thought ...” by rev. louise sloan goben

people have the time or the patience for contemplation and to others it may seem like “navel-gazing.” But this is a practice of prayer that is beyond thoughts, words and sensations. It is a discipline of intentional silence when we seek to empty the self to become vessels to be filled with the Spirit of God and God’s perfect love. And the good news is that one does not have to sit for hours on end in silence. It is recommended that one “sits” for 20 minutes. If you are able to do this twice a day, that is ideal.

I like the way this purpose and process is described by James Finley, a practitioner of CP:

“If we are sincere and quietly patient in our whole-hearted intention of simply sitting still, the noise of our customary preoccupations and concerns begin to fall away. In this quiet clearing… the present moment can begin to slowly appear and… as if falling backwards into the luminous depths of who we simply are (in God), we are born into a statured stillness beyond our own reckoning.”

In my own life and practice of CP I receive a sense of deep quietude and it seems to me that I am able to be more present and compassionate with others. I am slowed-down, not feeling rushed or anxious to “get things done.” The only thing one needs to do during CP is to give your sincere desire and heart to God.

Next week I will write about the “method” of Centering Prayer. It really is simple. And the thing to remember always is that, “God is closer to your soul than yourself.” (St. Augustine)

Pastor Louise

God is spirit and those who worship God must worship in spirit and truth. – John 4:24

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bible charactersin the

mon . sept 16 • 7pm in the annex

Three religions look to Abraham as the “father of faith”: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. And there are many other Bible figures that also appear in the Quran and in Islamic thinking. We will consider people from Adam & Eve to Jesus and John the

Baptist. Some of them may surprise you and hopefully all of them will enlighten you.

Visit www.disciplespswr.org/golf-tournament for information and registration for the September 16th Don Shelton Scholarship Drawing and the Don Shelton Annual Golf Tournament at San Dimas Canyon golf course.

The scholarship is for someone attending Disciples Seminary Foundation, and is in Don Shelton’s name, as a tribute to the many years he served in the PSWR, both as a pastor, and a regional minister.

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mark your calendar . fall study series

tuesday . september 17 . 10am in the annex

Instead of doing the Operation Christmas Child this year we are going to be fill-ing backpacks with school and art supplies and they will be donated to children in the greater Los Angeles area that are in need of them. We would like to ask for donations of the following items. I will get a tub and place it in the Narthex and donations can be left there or people can just write a check and I’ll buy what we need as donations come in:

new items needed Notebooks (wide-ruled

& college-ruled) Pens Pencils Pencil Pouches

Erasers Glue/Glue sticks Folders/Report Folders 3-Ring Binders Loose Leaf Paper

Crayons Markers Rulers Scissors Art supplies

school supplies donations

Thank you!Jason Peterson

petersonjason612@gmail.com

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With Love!Jeremy Gillett

Director of Youth Ministries

barbara Campbell, elder • 8 september 2019

Years ago, while on an Elders Retreat, I struck up a friendship with a fellow Elder, Doug Anderson. We had an unlikely but immediate connection. Doug was 30 years my senior but we hit it off right away. We began to sit together in church. Yes, my husband knew about us! Doug was my friend. I admired him for many reasons.

In his younger years, Doug was in Advertising. I imagine he was a dynamo. When we met, he was retired and constantly volunteering here at Church and sitting on the board of Wheelchairs for Humanity. I admired him for many reasons but mostly because he was some-one who didn’t just “Talk the Talk,” but really “Walked the Walk”. He was a man of grace with a wonderful sense of humor. I looked forward to seeing him each Sunday. As we would share communion, Doug would wink at me. At first, I was a little taken aback, being winked at in Church. But I understood that it was his way of telling me he was glad I was there sharing this special time with him.

When Doug became ill and too frail to come to church, I would take Communion to him at his home. And at the conclusion of our communion, Doug would wink at me. And that made me very happy. This is an

inclusive, special time in our service. We come together each week to share communion. We remember that first communion when Jesus gathered with his disciples. We celebrate that act of love and have the opportunity to center ourselves in that peace. All are welcome at this table. Be-cause, this is the Lord’s table of love.

Check out our website at the link below 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.

Did you know a percentage

of your online purchases can

be a donation to FCCNH?

www.fccnh.org

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Flowers for the ChancelTo order flowers for the chancel, fill out the

following form and place in the offering plate or drop at the church office with your check for $40.

Today’s Date: ______________________________

Name(s): __________________________________

__________________________________________

Daytime Phone: ____________________________

Email: ____________________________________

Available dates:

Floral Dedication:(Please check one of the following and write the specifics of your dedication in the space provide below)

In Honor of ... In Celebration of ... In Memory of ...

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

Check enclosed for arrangement ($40)Arrangements are supplied by Dee’s Flowers.Checks should be made payable to FCCNH.

9/22 9/29 10/6 10/20 11/3 11/10 11/24 12/1 12/8 12/15 12/22 12/29

RSVP required • Contact Jason Peterson at 818.426.0149 (call or text)

or petersonjason612@gmail.com.

save the datesfriday • october 18

all church fundraiser(stay tuned for more details)

Volunteers Neededcontact Jason Peterson at

petersonjason612@gmail.com

wed • october 2

back to school dinnerfor families

(details to follow)

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On this Celebration Sunday, we are surrounded by ex-amples of what tangible and intangible offerings can do:

Arriving today, you may have seen an Interfaith Food Pantry team unloading grocery bags for distribution tomorrow morning.

Behind me, our choir is again lifting us with their voic-es. We have missed you!

Dedicated Sunday School teachers are bringing faith to life with stories about Jesus. The Children and Youth Choirs are back. Fresh from Youth Sunday

8 september 2019janet bruce, elder

and summer mission trips, our older youth are look-ing toward next year.

Upstairs, Human Needs volunteers are preparing hot food for some of our city’s homeless population in North Hollywood Park.

The money we put into our offering plates under-writes what happens here. More importantly, it reaches beyond this corner. In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, the annual Week of Compassion Special Offerings we gave last February are now hard at work in the Baha-mas, along our east coast, and in Nova Scotia as people deal with devastated homes, communities – and lives.

Offerings mean something – here, and beyond this place. They cannot make lives whole, but they can help people go on. In time and energy, and in the money we contribute, our offerings are faith in action.

Dear God, we bring our offerings in grati-tude for all that You have given to us. We ask You to see that they are used where most needed – and that You will use us where we are most needed as well. Amen

Calling all men to join Jeremy Gillett and Ne’e Le’au in the Bride’s Room immediately after the Sunday’s service on September 22nd

for a Men’s Group meeting. For more info please email www.menoncorner@gmail.com.

Hey guys!!!youmen’s group meeting

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Food Pantry volunteer ContaCtsTransportation Teams:

Maggie Talton taltmaj0@gmail.comCongregation Representative:

Erin Zavala erinLzavala@gmail.com

another way to donate to the pantry

Make your 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 (dRy)

CeReal, diapers, powdered milk, baby food, peanut butter and tomato products!

Wednesday, September 11 Studio City Team

Thursday, September 12 #5 Rosey Tamkin Barbara Erdahl Derek Reisinger Cathy Reisinger

Sunday, September 15 #6 Barbara Erdahl Kevin Kenney Margaret Talton

Wednesday, September 18 Studio City Team

Sunday, September 22 #8 Sally Hallada Joe Beam Eliza Beam Jacob Beam

Thursday, September 26 #1 Art Dielhenn Terri Hall Jackie Fecske

Sunday, September 29 TEMPLE CLOSED

The North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry serves roughly 5,000 people each month, and we are in need of wholesome, health giving

food—high protein foods are especially needed. Our next Ingathering Sunday is next Sunday,

September 15th. Please bring your donations to the Narthex or the Church office.

in suPPort oF tHeinterFaitH Food Pantry

ingathering sundayis this week

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CHurCH staFF

Robert M. Bock Senior PastorLouise Sloan Goben Associate PastorAlfredo Gomez Pastor, Spanish Speaking CongregationJennifer Le’au Director of Children’s MinistriesJeremy Gillett Director of Youth MinistriesTyana Parr Director of Children’s/Youth ChoirsDavid Rigsby Music Director/OrganistChristine Karasseferian Director of FinanceChris CarsonChurch AdministratorGabriela Dorantes Administrative AssistantGlenda Morgan Brown Administrative AssistantTerri Burton Church PublicationsMichele Amundsen Wedding Director Elmer Maldonado Building & Grounds SuperintendentMiriam MancillaDirector of Christian Nursery SchoolGreg Kirkland Media Director

volunteer staFFJacob Beam Craig Brooks, Janette Jara, Tom Louie, Susan Marble, Jeff McFadden, Denise Ovaldson, Tiffany TappSound Technicians

Luis Oliart Security

in MeMoriaMEarle Immel Minister of Music Emeritus

Merle E. Fish, Jr. Minister Emeritus

by Way oF rePortWeek of Sunday, September 8, 2019___________

10:00 AM Worship Service 182 5:30 PM SpiritSong Service 26 7:00 PM Evenlight Service 8 7:00 PM Wednesday Service 3 Sunday School Children 47 Youth (morning) 19 Youth (evening) 9

10:00 AM Worship Service $8,921.61 5:30 PM SpiritSong Service $1,291.00 7:00 PM Evenlight Service $24.00 Wednesday Meditation Service $20.00 Sunday School Children $17.00

total General offerinG $10,273.61

Disciples Mission Fund $230.00 CPK Fundraiser $85.19

PLEASE SUBMIT ARTICLES VIA EMAIL TOterrib@fccnh.org or terriburton@gmail.com

Please indicate “newsletter” and/or “bulletin” in the subject line if articles are for publication. Articles can

also be delivered to the office M-F, 9am to 5pm.

is midnight sunday!

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

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

September 15 EldErs:

10:00 am Ann Jones (O) Diane O’Brien (C) 5:30 pm Jacqui Dixon 7:00 pm Jacqui Dixon

diaconatE: Chris Carson Deb Carson Joan Norland Toni Rossi Mike Dobbin Ellen Dobbin Terri Diaz Denise Bourne Larry Brown

Upcoming diaconatE: September 22 Ken Campbell & Kirsten Karlsrud

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

pastor & sEnior Editor Robert M. BockproofrEading Glenda Morgan Brownart dirEction Terri BurtonprodUction sErvicEs Byron Armantrout

EmEritUs

Mary Ann Steuterman Billie KlineLillian 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