No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks

Volume LXIII No. 74 November 25, 2020

A Publication of First Christian Church of North HollywoodA Congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Rev. Dr. 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

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP EACH SUNDAY AT 10AM - PLUS GROUPS, STUDIES, SPECIAL EVENTS, GAME NIGHTS AND MORE — WWW.FCCNH.ORG

No duty is more urgentthan that of returning

~- J A MES A L L EN

t hanks

Page 2 November 25, 2020 First ChristiaN News

Pastor Bob’s Letter to the Family is on hiatus.

Thanks to all you wonderful people who donated their time, effort, muscle, and food! You helped to make our Thanks-giving in the Park a great success! 125

boxes of food plus sodas were handed out along with clothes, tarps and tents.

The guys told me, it was a real gourmet feast! The best they have had! Thank you Thank you Thank you!

Deborah LusterHuman Needs Committee

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

I have decided to dedicate the month of November as a Christian fellowship youth fun month. Each Friday in the month of November the youth will meet on Zoom for some fun interactive activities starting at 4pm (PT).

The final fun Friday (11-27-20) event will be “Song Creation”. We are living in the midst of an historic time. Our current youths’ grandchildren will read about this moment and as a show of fortitude, love, and appreciation they will create a song together. I’ll start with a line and we’ll go around the Zoom call and each youth can add a line to the song until it is fully written. This will be our gift to FCCNH. This song can be performed once we open our doors and are operating at full capacity. It will be an original kids’ composition that will live in the Church. Our youth will live with the legacy of having written an original composition virtually for FCCNH. The story will live on. Parents, there is no right or wrong way to do this, we simply want our youths’ voices to be heard.

I am looking forward to all the greatness, laughs, smiles, and love that will be displayed within our youth group..

With Love,Jeremy Gillett

Director of Youth Ministries

First ChristiaN News November 25, 2020 Page 3

Continued on Page 4 —

I recently read an article about Martin Luther, the founder of the Lutheran Church and Protestant reformer. The article was somewhat tongue-in-cheek as the writer said that it has been awhile since words from Luther had gone viral – at least not since 1527…

You may recall that his most famous work, the 95-Theses, were made readily available to readers be-cause of the recent invention of moveable type and the printing press. This was cutting edge technology in 1517, and it helped propel Luther and his critique of the prevailing religious teachings of the day. The printing press launched a rather large movement away from the practices of indulgences and instead toward endorsing a teaching of salvation based on grace alone. Amazing what modern media can do to advance im-portant concepts!

These days there is another collection of writings of Luther that is making the rounds in certain circles. These are excerpts from letters written by him in 1527, during the height of the bubonic plague that was in-fecting and killing people by the millions in Europe. Some estimate that the plague may have killed as many as 25 million people, or about one-third of the population of Europe. (By comparison, as of this writ-ing the COVID virus has killed approximately 1.3 million people worldwide.)

While not many of us modern readers pay much attention to the writings of a 500+ year-old theologian and Bible scholar, what we may come to understand is that for those of us in 2020, it is helpful to under-stand that this is not the first time humanity has had to be cautious in the face of a deadly disease. There have been many comparisons to the 1919 Spanish Flu

pandemic, so it seems this is something that humanity will need to contend with as viruses continue to evolve and change in response to our attempts to erase them.

In Luther’s time, he and his wife were living in Wittenberg when the plague infected many in the city. A colleague wrote asking whether a Christian ought to leave the city and go someplace safer. Here is Luther’s response:

Therefore, I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute oth-ers, and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. … See, this is such a God-fearing faith because it is nei-ther brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.*

Luther and his wife, a nurse, not only remained in the city, they opened their home as a clinic. In Luther’s opinion, the duty of a Christian was to practice com-passion and do what one could to help ameliorate the suffering of others. However, they must also be careful not to make matters worse.

I am not sure what a “Christian” response to the pandemic should be. I do think that compassion is al-ways called for, and among the most compassionate things we might do is to do what our scientists ask of us – be smart, cautious, wear a mask, wash hands, practice physical distancing, and be aware of possible risks not only to you and your loved ones, but to any who may be vulnerable to this virus.

We come into the holiday season, and it is clear

“Just A Thought ...” by Rev. Louise Sloan Goben


that this will be a Thanksgiving and Christmas like nothing we have experienced in our lifetimes. It is new for us, but people have come through hardship before. We can also. And recalling a motto from the Second World War…

Pastor Louise

*Religion News Service. 11.23.2020

“Just A Thought ...”continued

Did you know FCCNH 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

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.

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 Bigbee • Steven Zaun

CNS is starting a See’s Candy Fundraiser! Please visit the link below to order some treats! If you can

also share this link with family and friends, and social media we would greatly appreciate it. They can order

chocolates and treats from anywhere in the United States and have it sent directly to them.

Our fundraiser ends on December 4th so you have two weeks. We appreciate your continued support

during these difficult times.

www.yumraising.com/secure/firstcco_christian_nursery_school60/candy?h=Ama_Sig3337&c=fb8497

CHRISTIAN NURSERY SCHOOL FUNDRAISER

Give thanks


10 Judy Mickley Rosalie Will11 Richard Briggs III Dominic Dallara Gary Peterson12 Brock Harris Gage Kirkland Sonia Nunez Ivo Resta Molly Wilson13 Sam Cookson Joaquin Ibarra14 Benjamin Bock Matt Hunt Elmer Maldonado15 Justin Day Rae Eiklor Janette Jara Hana Rakicevic16 Marissa McInerney Timothy Treibach Iris Wunderlich17 Jennalynn Andrews Brian Marquez18 Chase Carson Joshua Elson Melanie Maseredjian19 Dave McKinney20 Jenny Harris Savannah Lynch22 Remington Gillum Gene McCutcheon23 Victor Valdez24 Taylor Brown James Coelho Judy Day

24 Gregory Melendez Julian Richardson Nola Sarkisian-Miller25 Hillary Iffrig Rhonda Kinosian26 Miranda Butler Nicholas Mesta27 Alberto Sigala, Jr.28 Rollie Bigbee Molly Briggs Jodie Mann29 José Pretlow Vlado Resta30 Danielle Ober Anna Sigala Lulu Sobel31 Gary Baxley Dolores Hitchcock Karen McInnis Haven Vickers

3 Harrison & Loan Anle6 Dan Darwish & David Blair11 Morgan & Lillian Stoddard21 Randall Carver & Shelley Herman Carver29 Beverly & Don Sarton

1 Nicole Mork2 Patti Patton-Lehn Christian Sepulveda Don Stewart3 Max Caryl John Dickson Karen Drohan Pia Friedrich Audrey Markel4 Julia DeRouen Taylor Della Howarth David Melendez5 Mary Preston Alex Taylor6 Angelica Annino Markie Labovitz Hendrick Lupei7 William Foster Riley Pacula Drake Vickers8 Caroline Culpepper Indigo Farris9 Christi Anderson Madison Lynch Christian Escoto10 Lily Berthold Laura McKinzie


q

Dear Church Family,The tree lot will open this Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. It’s going to obviously look a little

different this year but if you are willing to help, we will need your support.We decided not to use the tent this year to avoid the close contact needed to raise it and take it down. Masks

will be required for all. We will set up in the parking lot with a customer flow that will allow for appropriate distancing for both volunteers and customers. We got new credit card readers that process contactless payments including Apple Pay and Google Pay. Hand sanitizer, gloves, wipes, etc. will be readily available. Tree deliveries will be to doorsteps only. We will not have a physical sign up board obviously, so you can find our online sign-up at www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4dafaa22a2f58-t4k2020 or you can just call ahead and check first if you find you are able to come out. The Youth Hut phone number is 818.985.7807. We really cannot accommodate walk-on volunteers.

Per Pastor Bob’s request, we will be leaving our children at home this season and ask that you do, too. Since we will not have volunteers under 18 years of age, we won’t be able to provide community service hours for students.

We will not be sharing food so meal donations will have to look different. Probably money donations are the way to go for people interested in this type of support so that we can order individual items from restaurants. Separately packaged snacks would also be okay.

In the plus column, we will be blessed to have a ded-icated volunteer full-time at the lot: Brad Bock! Brad has offered to come in from out of state to dedicate his time and energy to support this important ministry. He will be staying on-site in Matt and Vivian’s Airstream, and a big shout out to them, too, for being so generous!

Please let us know if you have any questions. We have our Facebook page (Trees For Kids: F.C.C.N.H. Tree Lot) and Yelp page (Trees for Kids – FCCNH Tree Lot) active and our personal contact information is all the same. Hope to see you soon!

With love,The Brooks and Vallero Families

N E W S F R O M T H E T 4 K T R E E L O T

TreeTreess for for KKididss

Buy a tree. HeBuy a tree. Hellp a chip a chi lld.d.First Christian Church of North Hollywood

4390 Colfax Avenue (corner of Colfax and Moorpark)

Studio City, CA 91604T4K TEL# 818-985-7807

OPENING NOV 2711am - 7pm DAILY

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WILL BE OBSERVED

TREES for KIDS is a non-profit, volunteer tree lot operated by First Christian Church of North

Hollywood (Disciples of Christ) since 1982.

2020

TreeTreess for for KKididss

Buy a tree. HeBuy a tree. Hellp a chip a chi lld.d.First Christian Church of North Hollywood

4390 Colfax Avenue (corner of Colfax and Moorpark)

Studio City, CA 91604T4K TEL# 818-985-7807

OPENING NOV 2711am - 7pm DAILY

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WILL BE OBSERVED

TREES for KIDS is a non-profit, volunteer tree lot operated by First Christian Church of North

Hollywood (Disciples of Christ) since 1982.

2020


Operation Santa ClausOperation Santa Claus, , our annual our annual toy giveaway to underprivileged kids, toy giveaway to underprivileged kids, will be a bit different this year due towill be a bit different this year due to

COVID-19. Because of the virus, no toys will COVID-19. Because of the virus, no toys will be given out. Instead, we will buy Target gift be given out. Instead, we will buy Target gift cards, swab them with alcohol and pass them cards, swab them with alcohol and pass them out to youthful passengers inside cars that will out to youthful passengers inside cars that will line up and drive through our parking lot. To line up and drive through our parking lot. To that end, any gift card worth around $20 will be that end, any gift card worth around $20 will be most welcome. The safest way to do that would most welcome. The safest way to do that would be to send them to the church office. Another be to send them to the church office. Another way to donate would be to send a check with way to donate would be to send a check with the words Operation Santa Claus in the memo the words Operation Santa Claus in the memo line. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get back into line. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get back into regular operation by Christmas 2021regular operation by Christmas 2021. . If you If you have any questions about our limited 2020 have any questions about our limited 2020 operation, call Ken Wilson 818.903.0850.operation, call Ken Wilson 818.903.0850.

O P E R AT I O N

—— 2 0 2 0

Watch your email inbox for the 2020Elder Advent Meditation booklets

DECEMBER 13 • 10amSAVE THE DATE

FOR OUR VIRTUALCHILDREN’S

Christmas Pageant


A Note to the Church Family from Your Prayer GroupsA Note to the Church Family from Your Prayer GroupsPrayer has always been a fundamental part of the glue binding us together as a church family. Unfortunately, the current realities of our worldwide health crisis mean that we cannot physically gather together for either worship or prayer in the church that is “home” to so many of us.

We in the Monday morning and Tuesday evening Prayer Groups want to reassure you that, despite temporarily suspending our weekly gatherings in the Chapel, individual prayers from and for you have continued all along. As part of our covenant, we both corporately lift

prayers when we are together, and lift them in our individual daily prayers throughout the week.

There Are Several Ways Your Prayers Can Reach UsThere Are Several Ways Your Prayers Can Reach Us• Via direct email to one of our leaders: Janet Bruce ([email protected]) • Eunice Cox ([email protected]) • Irion DeRouen ([email protected]) • Via e-mail via the church website:(go to www.fccnh.org. > Worship > Prayer Requests) or click here: www.fccnh.org/worship/prayer-requests/• Via phone call to the church office: 818-763-8218• If you are at the church, via prayer cards that are available at the Prayer Cabinet outside the Chapel. Fill one out and put it in the cabinet slot or drop it off in the church office.Unless urgent, Janet will compile prayers submitted on Saturday and Sunday and for the weekly list. Midweek

prayers will be sent out as received. We will continue to hold you close to our hearts throughout the coming days and weeks.

PRAYERPRAYERis (still) always thereis (still) always there

Did you know FCCNH 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


WOMEN to WOMEN Online Women’s Group

Meets Fridays via Zoom • 8:00 pmHosted by:

Sheryl Fitzpatrick, Jenny HarrisTrudie Kirkland, and Diane O’Brien

For Zoom info email:[email protected](ALL CAPS - Case sensitive)

Join us for our Weekly Service ofHealing & Meditation

Wednesdays . 7:00 pmFor details on joining this Zoom service,

please email [email protected].


NORTH HOLLYWOOD INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY

Dear Pantry Supporters,Thank you for your ongoing support. The Pantry is still in need of the following for those able to help:

HELP UNLOADINGWe need strong bodies to help unloading the big truck at the Temple. Just a couple of hours of heavy

work on at 3:30pm and December 18th at 3:30pm.

HELP TRANSPORTING NEEDEDSign up at: www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0a4ba5a82fa5fa7-transporting

Our current food needs include boxed cereal, canned fruit, and peanut butter as well as the items on our Amazon wishlist at:

www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3M15OOOZO59FV/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2?_encoding=UTF8&type=wishlist

HYGIENE KIT ITEMS NEEDEDtoothpaste • toothbrushes • small deodorants • lip balm

Thank you!Rae Eiklor, FCCNH Food Pantry Liaison

For Zoom info contact: [email protected]

Interested?

WEEKLY MEN’S GROUPMEETS SATURDAYS • 8:00 AM


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, 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, November 22, 2020_______

Total General Offering $4,428.00 Food Pantry $450.00

Credit Card Offerings 11/18 - 11/24_______

General Offering $840.00 Food Pantry $250.00

PUBLICATIONDEADLINES

FCCNH NEWSLETTERDEADLINE IS MIDNIGHT SUNDAYPLEASE SUBMIT ARTICLES VIA EMAIL TO:[email protected] or [email protected]

Articles can also be delivered to the office Monday thru Friday, 9am to 5pm.

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.

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

donation to FCCNH?

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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

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First Christian Church of North Hollywood818/763-8218 • FAX 818/763-8457Web Site: www.fccnh.orgemail: [email protected]

Pastor & Senior Editor Robert M. BockProofreading Glenda Morgan BrownArt Direction Terri BurtonProduction Services Byron Armantrout

EmeritusMary 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

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No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks