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. 72 December 7, 2016

Page � December 7, �016 First christian news

come to the corner of Colfax and Moorpark during this glorious Season. If you want to smile, feel and catch the Christmas Spirit just stop and stand among the beauti-ful Christmas trees and talk to the families donating their time to sell those trees. The Spirit of Christmas is contagious and all you have to do to get it is walk through the Lot.

I also wanted to tell them that while every Sunday is a special time on our corner, this coming Saturday and Sunday are extremely special. I would guarantee, if they would come, that they would smile, enjoy and catch the Spirit of Christmas in a way difficult to find anywhere else.

This Saturday (12.10.16) at 2:00 and 7:00 PM our Chancel Choir will give the gift of Christmas music to our church family and community. I’ve heard a lot of fine choirs through the years but I have to say, in all honesty, as I’ve listened to our choir rehearse and pre-pare for these concerts, I don’t think I’ve heard better. As Bill Hayes said Sunday morning, before he sang the delightful “Hanging of the Greens”, this may well be the best concert that he remembers in his over 40 years of singing in our choir.

So if you want to smile, laugh, cry, tap your feet, sit in absolute amazement at such a collection of talented musicians and experience the Joy of Christmas – please don’t miss this Christmas concert. It is the choir’s gift to us. There is no charge. Bring as many people as you wish. And if you want to contribute to a free-will offer-ing, you may. But it is not necessary. The choir wants to give you the gift of Christmas music and in the giving they hope you will find a special Spirit in the music.

The second thing I would share with those shop-pers, and also with you and all your family and friends,

I’m very much aware that the magic of the Christmas Season often gets short-changed by the pres-sure and busyness of everyday life. We made a quick stop at the mall Sunday afternoon after the pageant re-hearsal and before the Spirit Song service of worship. An industrious driver could easily have sold their park-ing place when exiting the garage. Inside it seemed the store aisles were narrower this year than I remember and fancy displays were set up in the middle of them which made walking a crisscross adventure of dodging shop-pers, children and merchandise.

But what struck me most, at this happiest time of the year, was that no one was smiling. Parents were pull-ing their children behind them, some were attempting to take pictures by the huge Christmas tree and some older grandparent types sat on the chairs and benches spaced along the way. I’m a person who likes to make eye-contact and get a frowning person to smile in the process. But it wasn’t working Sunday. Intent, deter-mined, single-purposed and a get-out-of-my-way atti-tude seemed to prevail in the stores and along the mall.

It was sad! It was not what I expected. I had heard that Internet sales were undermining brick and mortar stores. But shopping was going full steam at the mall and as we graciously donated our parking place to the first of three cars waiting in line for an open spot I wanted to tell all those shoppers two things: First, if you can’t smile while buying gifts for someone you love why buy the gift at all? And second, all you people should

First christian news December 7, �016 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.

is that this Sunday morning (12.11.16) the Children’s Christmas Pageant will highlight our 10:00 AM morn-ing service of worship. We are so blessed to have so many bright, wonderful, talented and loving children and youth in our midst. We see part of them every Sunday morning during the Children’s Moment but when you get them all together at the same place and at the same time, such as in the Pageant, they fill the Chancel and magic happens.

Our children have been rehearsing for this special Christmas gift to their church family for weeks. You will be amazed at their talent and the beauty and joy of their singing. And you may never have seen so many “sheep” coming down the center aisle. Narrating with poise and professionalism are several of our youth.

And if you promise not to tell anyone… I’ll tell you a secret. There is a surprise planned near the end of the pageant. Watch carefully during the singing of “Go Tell It On The Mountain”. I can’t tell you what but if you watch carefully I think you may see a wonderful, unique part of our own story of the Baby Jesus. But please, don’t tell anyone else.

So make sure to invite your family, friends, fellow shoppers, store clerks, frowning people, smiling people, runners, joggers, people stopped next to you at the traf-fic light … invite everyone to the Incredible Corner of Colfax and Moorpark this weekend and every weekend. They will catch the Christmas Spirit which is our gift to them.

And while you’re at it – remember – we need YOU to help make our Christmas Tree Lot ministry a suc-cess this year. Please volunteer to work on the Lot, or to provide food for the Lot, as often as you can during the next three weeks. We often forget that the Tree Lot

is our largest mission project of the year. Speaking con-servatively, we have contributed well over half a million dollars to children’s ministries in Southern California and around the world. Our church family is ranked among the top five churches in our denomination for our contributions to missions. Our congregation’s mission statement emphasizes service. The Tree Lot is a marvelous way to serve and, at the same time, meet and work with some wonderful people, members of our church and larger church family.

Don’t let the busyness and the pressure of the Season steal the meaning of the Season. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday and on Sunday as we receive the gifts of our choir and our children. Believe me – you don’t want to miss these two wonderful events.

See you in church. And remember to smile. It says so much about your soul.

Pergé! Pastor Bob

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A voice cries out: In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God…

(Isaiah 40:3)

All four Gospel accounts of the work and minis-try of Jesus begin with John the Baptist filling the role the prophet Isaiah shouting out – “Prepare the way!” It is interesting that we read this as we are preparing for Jesus’ birth, as John’s message was proclaimed as Jesus emerges from our story beginning his adult ministry. It is the man of wisdom and the man of sorrows that John introduces to us, not a baby in a crib. His message is described as one of repentance and preparation. And I think that the repentance part of this is also the prepa-ration as well!

Historically, the Church in its many forms has put an emphasis on the “repentance” part of this equation. The root of the word “repent” comes from the Greek – metanoia, which actually has a very different signifi-cance from how we understand it today. We have a ten-dency to hear judgement in this. However, a better defi-nition is “to go beyond the mind we have,” to see things in a different way, a new way that is shaped by God. Re-pentance is less about guilt and contrition as it is about seeing things in more expansive ways and then allowing this expansiveness to transform our thinking, our living and our believing. God wants to do something new in your life and with your life. And whatever that may be is fundamentally based in love – always in love!

My experience is that most of are never ready – never fully prepared – for transformation. Jesus said

more than once that the Kingdom has a way of sneak-ing up on us, “like a thief in the night.” This is not intended to be threatening, but it is always surpris-ing! Sometimes it happens in wonderful ways, like the birth of a new baby. Who knew one’s heart would grow overnight!? Other times it happens with significant life changes like the loss of a job or a loved one, or one’s health. Richard Rohr, one of my favorite writers reflects that changes of heart are usually accompanied by either great love or great sorrow.

How can we ever prepare for that?I love Aliza Ramos’ Elder’s meditation in our Ad-

vent booklet. She writes:“May I make a suggestion?Be still.Please don’t confuse being still with doing noth-

ing. Being still to the world is being present to God. It would be a lovely present to God if you make it a pri-ority to spend time with Him. Let Him open your eyes and your heart to the things that are important to Him. Let Him change your priorities.

Let Him have the gift of you this season. Be still and be filled with His presence. Be still and listen for His guidance.

Be still and know His love.” (In All Things, Love…

Advent 2016 Elders’ Meditations Dec. 3, 2016)

When we are able to do this, we are indeed both re-penting and preparing the way of the Lord.

Pastor Louise

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That’s right; we have some really lovely new jewelry to offer you. Some are not going to be on our regu-lar platters as they are either sets or in boxes ready to give as gifts. We will also have numerous new items in our separated trays of treasures. To top off these items, we will again have our Children’s table waiting for our young children to purchase something special for the special people in their lives.

Come and shop for gifts and don’t forget to pur-chase our homemade items as gifts or as treats during Meet & Greet following our lovely Children’s Christmas Program during the 10:00 am service in the Sanctuary. See you there!

... and the sale will play again on This sunday December 11th !

It certainly was a wonderful

Baubles & Bottles Sale on November 13th...

“ This is How We Do Christmas”

Join us for our annualSunday School Christmas Pageant

Sunday, december 11th

at 10:00 amOur Sunday School children will be leading worship in story and song.

Operation Santa Claus Toys Needed

It’s that time of year again when we roll up our sleeves for our annual toy giveaway for underprivileged children. Operation Santa Claus will be taking place once again in the Social Hall from 8:00 am to about 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 10. We’re accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys as well as funds that will be used for toy purchases. When in doubt, gift cards from places like Target, in the amount of $15 or $20 are easy to obtain and are most welcome. Bring your toys to the church office and we’ll see that they are stored until the giveaway. If you’re writing a check, make it out to FCCNH and include the words Operation Santa Claus on the memo line.

This year, we’re also looking for some adult volunteers to help supervise Santa’s elves on the day of the distribution. If you’d like to volunteer, contact Ken Wilson and he’ll tell you how you can help. He can be reached by phone at 818-763-7310 or by email at kwmedia@earthlink.net. Merry Christmas!

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Xplor resideNTs

Lunch in the Park is still collecting blankets, warm jackets, gloves, hats, sleeping bags and small tents for the homeless in the park. It’s really cold and the guys re-ally appreciate anything we can donate. Deborah Luster will be in the narthex on Sunday for donations or they may be dropped off anytime during business hours in the church office.

Thank you!

A Note From TheHuman Needs Committee

New Member Debbie Chyba (right), pictured with long-time member Tanya Lewis.

Welcome to the FCCNH Family, Debbie!

Please join us THIS SUNDAY, December 11th dur-ing the 10:00 AM service as the Sunday School children and youth present their gift to you. They will be bring-ing the story of the birth of Jesus to you in a Christmas Pageant called “This is how WE do Christmas”. There will be sheep, animals, shepherds, angels and a few twists thrown into a scriptural telling of the story. The kids have worked hard and are excited to present this gift to you. Your prayers and support throughout the year are very much appreciated. I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas! I hope you carry the peace and love of Christ with you throughout the year. Thank you!

Christi AndersonDirector of Children’s Ministries

An exercise class for everyone.Led by Richard Roberts, member of

FCCNH and a fitness instructor & personal trainer—these classes will include movement to strengthen balance and coordination, body alignment, flexibility, aerobic and anaerobic exercise, relaxation and muscle strengthening.

We are asking for a donation of $10 per class, though no one will be turned away if cost is an issue. Tuesdays at 3:00 pm and Thursdays at 11:00 am in the Youth Hut.

As Richard always says, Just keep movin’!

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Xplor resideNTs

Christmas ConCert this satUrDaYtwo Concert times

Page � December 7, �016 First christian news

Guided Tai Chi Classes Tues. 1:00 pm & Thurs. 4:00 pm

in the Youth HutGood for seniors. All ages welcome!

Come Improve your health.Get Healthy. Stay Healthy. Live Longer.

Classes guided by Byron Armantrout.Freewill donation of $10 per session.

Tai Chibreathing techniques

s imple stretching exercisesmeditat ion to reduce stress

Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feel-ing that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. As it happens, this is Walter Hobbs, a cynical businessman. After

a DNA test proves this, Walter reluctantly attempts to start a relationship with the childlike Buddy with increasingly chaotic results.

With the advent of World War I, Europe is thrown into a brutal and vicious chaos as men are forced to kill or be killed. While blood soaks the battlefield as Christmas ap-proaches, the men in the trenches of the Western Front face a transfor-mation, however fleeting, toward peace and goodwill. Against all odds, four unlikely individuals from opposing sides bond during this bloodless respite to experience the hope and goodness in humanity.

MONDAYS of ADVENT

It’s never too late to join in the T4K volunteer effort! The Tree Lot will be open through Tuesday, December 20th from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday-Friday and 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Saturday & Sunday. Even though the Tree Lot is already open we can still use some extra hands!

To volunteer or for more info contact Phil Restivo (philrestivo@yahoo.com 818-915-4767) or Dorothy Brooks (dorothymbrooks@gmail.com 818-919-8085). Also, if you would like to be added to the email list for tree lot communications, we would love to add you!

Not to worry—we will train you at the lot! We look forward to having you sign up, show up, having fun and helping a variety of children’s charities!

volunteers still neeDeD

TREES for KIDS

Buy a tree. Help a child.First Christian Church of North Hollywood

4390 Colfax Avenue (corner of Colfax and Moorpark)Studio City, CA 91604

November 27 — DeCember 20moN-Thur: 10am-8pm & fri-SuN: 9am-8pmTo volunteer contact Phil Restivo at philrestivo@yahoo.com

or Dorothy Brooks at dorothymbrooks@gmail.com

Volunteers are needed in a variety of capacities: cashiers, tree cutting and standing, food angels (providing meals for our volunteers), and assisting customers.

We will be holding training sessions in the Dragonfly classroom on Sunday, November 15th & 22nd from 12:00 pm to 12:45 pm.

We will also have a “Cutting and Standing” training session at the Tree Lot on friday, November 27th.

Spread the joy! ALL profits from Trees for Kids are distributed to programs that directly help children.

TREES for KIDS is a non-profit, volunteer tree lot operated by First Christian Church of North Hollywood (Disciples of Christ) since 1982.

voLuNTeerS NeeDeD

trees for kiDs

First christian news December 7, �016 Page �

Do you know First Christian Church of North Hollywood has a Facebook page? Please 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

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

I want to give a special thank you to Mike Dobbin and Roz Noziska. Their support this past Sunday night helped to make our Ice Skating adventure a huge suc-cess. In addition, a big thank you to our parents as they brought food for the Potluck Feast! We had an as-sortment of food-- chicken, vegetables, chips and dip, and finally Neapolitan ice cream for dessert. From our (Parents) POV we enjoyed watching the youth skate, laugh, and fall down from time to time. Ice skating is a wonderful reminder of the Christmas season. We were not at Rockefeller Center and there was no snow in sight but we embraced the spirit and fun of the event.

There were many special moments from this week-end, but again the one that resonates most with me, was the fellowship between middle school youth and high school youth. I truly love witnessing the ways in which our youth support and care for each other. Middle school and high school can be difficult years and as youth director, it is very important to me that our youth develop encouraging peer relationships to help each other navigate the journey.

This Friday we will be having our fall sleepover. The sleepover will begin at 8pm on Friday(12-9-16) and will conclude on Saturday(12-10-16) afternoon following Operation Santa Claus.

Our evening will be filled with lots of fun activi-ties and team building exercises. There are a few of our older young people that have volunteered to facilitate some of our gaming activities. I am pleased about this, because I believe it is important for them to gradually explore leadership roles for their events. We will watch two movies. One movie will be in the PG range and the second movie will be PG-13. Both movies will begin at the same time but viewed on different areas of campus.

I should add that we will be sleeping on the floors and couches in the youth hut. If your child is consider-ing joining us, below is a short packing list.

• Pillow• Sleeping bag or blow up mattress • Medicine (if needed)• Toiletries• Blankets/Covers

Finally, if your child is planning on inviting a friend, please bring this to my attention. Everyone must have the proper paperwork required for participa-tion and I can give it to any anticipated guest before the sleepover.

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

Jeremy GillettDirector of Youth Ministries

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Wednesday 12/7Studio City Team

Thursday 12/8#5 Rosey Tamkin Heather Hatch Barbara Erdahl Derek Reisinger

Sunday 12/11#4 Luis Oliart Ken Wilson Barbara Erdahl Hans Christoph

Wednesday 12/14Studio City Team

Sunday 12/18#6 Kevin Kenney Heather Hatch Barbara Erdahl

Wednesday 12/21Studio City Team

Thursday 12/22#1 Barry Dantagnan Terri Hall Jackie Fecske

Sunday 12/25#8 Temple Closed —no pick up

Thursday 12/29Swing Team Art Dielhenn Robin Garner Joe White Danny Pino

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!

Throughout the year, the FCCNH chancel is decorat-ed with beautiful flowers, often given in memory or in honor of a person or event such as birthdays or anniver-saries. In celebration of Christmas, we will once again place poinsettias on the chancel for Christmas Sunday. The cost of the plants is $17.50 each. If you would care to give a poinsettia, either as a gift or as a memorial, please fill out the order form, enclose it with your check with “poinsettias” in the memo line, and place it in the offering plate, or send it to the office prior to Sunday, December 11th. We will print as many dedications as we have by that date in the Christmas Sunday, Christmas Eve bulletins and the newsletter.

Your Name(s):

Daytime Phone:

Email:

Poinsettia Dedication(s):Please check one of the following and write the specifics

of your dedication(s) in the space provide below In Honor Celebration Memory of ...

No. of plants Total Enclosed $

If you would like to take your poinsettia home, they will be available following the 11:00 PM Christmas Eve service. Plants remaining after Christmas will be taken to shut-ins of our church family. Anyone who would like to help with tak-ing plants to shut-ins please contact the Elders.

PoinsettiasProvided by Dee’s Flowers

ORDER DEADLINE IS THIS SUNDAY

First christian news December 7, �016 Page 11

ChUrCh StaFF

Robert M. Bock Senior Pastor

Louise Sloan Goben Associate Pastor

Alfredo Gomez Pastor, Spanish Speaking Congregation

Christi Anderson Director of Children’s Ministries

Jeremy Gillett Director of Youth Ministries

Tyana Parr Director of Children’s Choir

Joshua Elson Music Director

David Rigsby Organist

Christine Karasseferian Director of Finance and Human Resources

Diane Hirsch Administrative Assistant/Web Master/Publicity Coordinator

Terri Burton Church Publications

Michele Amundsen Wedding Director

Elmer Maldonado Building & Grounds Superintendent

Miriam MancillaActing Director of Christian Nursery School

Greg 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 rEPortDecember 4, 2016—SeconD SunDay of aDvent

10:00 AM Sunday Worship 232 5:30 PM Sunday SpiritSong Worship 33 7:00 PM Sunday Evenlight Worship 2 7:00 PM Wednesday Meditation 6 Sunday School Children 58 Sunday School Youth 40 Evening Youth Groups 20

10:00 AM Sunday Worship $9,841.00 4:00 PM Sunday Service En Espanol $100.00 5:30 PM Sunday SpiritSong Worship $849.25 7:00 PM Wednesday Worship $22.00 Sunday School Children $5.26

total General offerinG $10,817.51

T4K $500.00 Disciples Mission Fund—Christmas $200.00 Operation Santa Claus $1,345.00 Food Pantry $500.00

nov. creDit carDS General offerinG $4,494.67 T4K $50.00 Operation Santa Claus $100.00 Operation Christmas Child $130.00 Thanksgiving in the Park $100.00 Food Pantry $20.00 Disciples Mission Fund—Christmas $20.00

PLEASE SUBMIT ARTICLES VIA EMAIL TOterriburton@gmail.com or terrib@fccnh.org

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

is midnight sunday!

newsletter

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

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

December 11, 201610:00 am Jay Aldrich (O) Morgan Stoddard (C)5:30 pm Randy Carver7:00 pm Erica Christensen

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

Upcoming Diaconate:

Dec. 18 Chris Carson & Deb Carson Dec. 25 Bill Drastal & Karen Drastal

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.