Volume LXIII No. 36 February 26, 2020 - fccnh.org

Volume LXIII No. 36 February 26, 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

Page � February �6, �0�0 First Christian news

Well, it happened again. We got a new server and most of the staff got new computers. Our old ones were over ten years old and new technology makes work a lot easier. Or so it says in the fine print! And within three days my computer was hacked again. Early this morning I received several emails and phone calls that someone, pretending to be me, was asking for gift cards. The sending email was [email protected].

Please be assured: 1) I will never ask anyone in our church family to send me money, gift cards or any-thing else except prayers. 2) I do not have a gmail.com account. Any communication from me to you and the church family will come through my fccnh.org email. 3) Finally, if you received such a request please let me know. I would like to figure out which email account was used and the scope of the hack.

The Holy Season of Lent begins this Wednesday,

February 26th, with our Ash Wednesday dinner and service of worship. You will most likely be reading this after the Ash Wednesday service, but just in case your newsletter got to you a bit early, I wanted you to have time to join us. Dinner will be at 6:30 PM. We have a taco bar planned for dinner, prepared and served by Matt Hunt in a typically delicious “Hunt-Fashion.” The service begins at 7:30 PM in the Sanctuary. Pastor Louise will be bringing the homily for the evening.

Please be sure to pick up one of the Elder’s Lenten meditation books while you are in church. This is a special gift to you, written and prepared by our Elders and some of our staff. I know that reading this book on a daily basis will enhance your observance of this very Holy Season.

Sunday, March 1st, is the first of six Sundays in Lent. As Jesus moved from Galilee to Jerusalem for the last time he encountered many challenges along the way. The Scriptures say that “He set His face to go to Jerusalem.” This simple sentence communicates the strength and determination of His resolve. His destiny was in Jerusalem and nothing could stand in His way of making that journey. These are things we will be thinking about during the Sundays leading up to Holy Week and concluding with Easter Sunday.

For Peggy and me one of the highlights of the Lenten Season is the annual Pastor’s Class for students in the 5th grade and above. The class meets every Sunday from Noon until 2:30 PM. We begin with lunch followed by a lively class session of learning and sharing. Each student is assigned an adult mentor who shares the class sessions with them. We also have some junior mentors working with us. These are students who have gone through the class, made their confes-sions of faith and have been baptized.

The numbers in the class may be smaller this year compared to some of the larger classes we have had in the past. It seems that our community offers a wide va-riety of activities for children and youth that compete with Sunday church and educational opportunities.

First Christian news February �6, �0�0 Page �

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 • Steve Zaun

Baseball is the big thing this year, along with danc-ing, singing, soccer and extra-curricular school events. Long gone are the days when Sunday was respected by the community as a day of family activities and church.

This is a six-week class. Class sessions are filled with lots of lessons and activities. If you know of any-one interested in being part of the class please have them call Peggy or me prior to Sunday morning. We’d be happy to share all the information about the class with any prospective students. The first session will look at our own church and how it is governed. As part of this week’s class the students will be attending the Congregational Meeting.

Just a reminder – our annual congregational meeting will be held this Sunday, March 1st, in the Social Hall immediately following our morning ser-vice of worship. Refreshments will be served and you will have an opportunity to ask questions regarding both the 2020-2021 proposed budget and nominat-ing committee report. These meetings are not long and I hope all the members of our church family will be there to share as we enter into another exciting year of ministry together.

There is a lot happening on our incredible cor-ner. Come and be part of it. I look forward to seeing you this coming Sunday – in church. In the meantime, have a wonderful week.

Pergé!Pastor Bob

Our annual Congregational Meeting will be held in the Social Hall, immediately

after the 10am service on Sunday, March 1, 2020. All are invited to attend.


Lent is a season of the Christian Year where Chris-tians focus on simple living, prayer, and fasting in order to grow closer to God.

Lent is the forty days before Easter It excludes Sun-days because every Sunday is like a little Easter. Basi-cally, it’s about one-tenth of a year (like a tithe of time). Mardi Gras is the day before Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday. This year it’s from February 26 (Ash Wednesday) to April 12 (Easter), 2020.

In Jewish and Christian history, ashes are a sign of mortality and repentance. Mortality, because when we die, our bodies eventually decompose and we become dust/dirt/ash. Repentance, because long ago, when peo-ple felt remorse for something they did, they would put ashes on their head and wear “sackcloth” (scratchy cloth-ing) to remind them that sin is pretty uncomfortable and leads to a sort of death of the spirit. This was their way of confessing their sins and asking for forgiveness.

It’s pretty easy to get caught up in the drama of life; relationships, family, school or work. Our lives are filled with distractions that take us away from living a life with Christ. We occupy our time with TV, Facebook, mean-ingless chatter, stimulants, alcohol, too many activities or other irrelevant stuff. We run away from life and from God.

Lent is a great time to “repent” -- to return to God and re-focus our lives to be more in line with Jesus. It’s a 40-day trial run in changing your lifestyle and letting God change your heart. You might try one of these prac-tices for Lent:10. Try an electronic fast. Give up TV, Facebook, tex-

ting, tweeting, e-mail and all things electronic for one day every week. (Or everyday of Lent!) Use the time to read & pray.

9. Start a prayer rhythm. Each day of Lent, pray. You may pray for others, or simply sit in the quiet.

8. Go deeper into the Bible. There are many Bible read-ing plans available, or check out the Revised Com-mon Lectionary for suggested scripture readings for each day of the week.

7. Forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it (maybe even yourself.) Read a book on forgiveness; there are many available on sites like Amazon.

6. Give up soft drinks, fast food, tea or coffee. Give the money you save to help folks in a different part of the world who are in crisis. Pick a current global issue and help change the world.

5. Create a daily quiet time. Spend 10 minutes a day in silence and prayer. Read the daily devotional from the Elders of the church for the season of Lent. See how it can help you add spiritual practice to your daily life beyond Lent.

4. Cultivate a life of gratitude. Write someone a thank you letter each week and be aware of how many peo-ple have helped you along the way. Learn more about the spiritual practice of gratitude. Again, there are many resources available online.

3. Participate in a Lent Photo-a-Day practice and pray each day with your camera in your hand. Start pray-ing.

2. Volunteer one hour or more each week with a local shelter, tutoring program, nursing home, or prison ministry.

1. Pray for others you see as you walk to and from classes

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


10:00–11:30 am . in the Annex

a Study ofPaul aPoStle

tueSday morningBiBle Study

or drive to and from work.

And join us Ash Wednesday as we begin our Lenten journey together.

Pastor Louise

(*This article was adapted from “The Upper Room Ministries.” Rev. Penny Ford is the author.)

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

entering the

PaSSion of JeSuS

2020 Lenten BiBLe StudyMondayS . 7pM . in the annex

In Entering the Passion of Jesus. by Amy-Jill Levine, we will explore the biblical texts surrounding the Passion story and learn how the text raises ethical and spiritual questions for the reader, and how we all

face risk in our Christian experience.

byamy-jilllevine

Donations can be dropped off at the church office during normal business hours or given to Deborah Luster in the Narthex on the morning of the second Sunday of the month. Please contact Deborah with any questions at 323.854.6707.

The Human Needs Committee can always put your gently-used but no longer needed items to use by pass-ing them along to the needy in our community. Please take a look at the list below and consider donating one or more of these items:

jackets warm socks jeans blankets

tents sweatpants sleeping bags knit caps

sweatshirts gloves rain coats warm scarves

Ministering tothe Homeless

Page 6 February �6, �0�0 First Christian news

March 13 . 5:30 pM - 8:00 pMk-5th Grade • $5 per child

rSVp reQuiredrSVp by Noon, Thurs., March 12th at

[email protected] or 818.763.8218

This Saturday, February 29th is our monthly Pop-up Mission Trip. We will meet in the

Youth Hut at *10:00am and from there go to Hope of the Valley’s Shepherd’s House in Chatsworth (10337 DeSoto Ave.) where the FCCNH Youth and the youth of Shepherd’s

House will fellowship through games and food. Parents: Chaperone volunteers

needed ... for info contact [email protected].

* pLeaSe note tiMe change

CNS trike-a-thoN

SaVe the dateSat, March 21 • 10am-1pm

KidS Band, aweSoMe food trucKS, face painterS,

and Much More!

Summer will be here before we know it....and we have an exciting lineup of camps at FCCNH this year:

Art • Cooking • Dance • Martial ArtsMusical Theater • Robotics • VBS

Photography/Advanced PhotographyIntro to Video Productions

Dates and further details will be posted next week. In the meantime, if you have questions, please contact Kristina Frost at [email protected].


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

in the Youth Hut

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

Tai Chibreathing techniques

s imple stretching exercisesmeditat ion to reduce stress

In celebration of Easter, we will once again place lilies on the chancel for Easter Sunday, April 12st.

The cost of the lilies is $15.00 each. If you would care to give a lily, either as a gift or as a memorial, please complete this form and place it in the offering plate with your check marked “Lilies” or send the completed form to the church office. The last day for orders is sunday, March 29th. We will print all dedications received by that date in the Easter Sunday bulletins.

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

Your Name(s)

Email

Phone #

Given in

Memory of Honor of Celebration of

Total number of plants

Check enclosed in the amount of $

orDer DeaDLiNe iS FriDaY, MarCh 29th

thank you for your cooperation.

If you are interested in being baptized at the 6:00 am Sunrise Service or the 7:00 pm Evenlight Service on Easter Sunday (April

12), please contact the church office at 818.763.8218.

6:00 am sunrise service7:00 pm evenlight service

easTeR sUndaybaptisms


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.

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.

3/8 3/15 3/22 4/5 4/12 4/19 4/26 5/3 5/10 5/17 5/24

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

I N S U P P O R T O F T H EINTERFaITH FOOd PaNTRy

ingathering sundayis march 15


12 Rico & Molly Briggs14 Terry & Beth Kanoy16 Joseph & Alice Kawan21 Marquitos & Marnie Gatmaitan

1 Mayleen Campo Kellen Slater Brooke Tindel2 Kingston Askerneese Suzy Bock Jeffrey Hallada Debbie Geraci Pamela Rushworth Madison Snodgrass3 Jim Matthews Laurie Leannah4 Kathleen Dantagnan Alice Doré Dave Friedrich Dolores Morgan Kelly Swavely6 Layci Speakman7 Ryana Carradine Theo Durkee Jessica Etheridge8 Kellen Farnham Jennifer Turner9 Ethan Farber10 Elena Anderson Bill DeMartines Alton Gwin David Kanoy

11 Dixie Friedrich Westley Hilton West Young12 Noah Baltazar Kristen Goldschmidt Tim Link13 Elise Anderson Patricia Gillum14 Richard Melendez15 Katie Franklin Susan Randi16 Chuck Askerneese Kira Cooper Charles Petrie Emily Webber17 Tonya Andrews18 Phyllis Stevenson20 Sophia McIntosh Linda Milton Gustavo Santin Beverly Sarton21 June Hazy Everly Johns Lynn McVeigh Patrick Sweigart22 Robert Alpert Mary Barton Jason Ellwein Roger Gonzales-Hibner23 Jake Brooks23 Emily Hamm

Henry Lehn Max Ober24 Jaden Crosby Banner Gwin Cassie Mello Janet Nawoj25 Eunice Cox Ted Mantz26 Stella Caryl27 Gary Gattis Christi Karasseferian Cassidy Walters28 Kay Hicks Miles Oliart29 Chris Wilkinson31 Frank Albro Peggy Bock Candace Currin Peter Lupus III Stacey McIntosh Lucy Zavala

Page 10 February �6, �0�0 First Christian news

Food Pantry volunteer ContaCtsTransportation Teams:

Maggie Talton [email protected] Representative:

Rae Eiklor [email protected]

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, March 4 Studio City Team

Thursday, March 5 #3 Rae Eiklor Mike Eiklor Neil Eiklor

sunday, March 8 #2 Louise Goben Galen Goben Jeff Goben Hutch Hutchinson Fred Sloan

Wednesday, March 11 Studio City Team

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

Our Prayer Group meets in the Chapel to pray on Monday mornings at 9:30 am and on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm. We pray for those of you who have written on the back of one of our prayer cards, prayers forwarded to one of the members of our prayer group via email, in person, or submitted via our website (www.fccnh.org).

Don’t forget that there is a prayer cabinet in the area outside the Chapel and the office next to the drink-ing fountain. You may take a beige card and write down your prayer, then put it through the slot of the locked cabinet, and the Prayer Group will be your prayer sup-port. It will be completely confidential. This cabinet is available any day of the week to receive your prayers and will be checked throughout the week.

prayeris always there

First Christian news February �6, �0�0 Page 11

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 rePort - Continued

Week of Sunday, february 23, 2020__________

10:00 AM Worship Service 208 5:30 PM SpiritSong Service 39 7:00 PM Evenlight Service 9 7:00 PM Wednesday Service -- Sunday School Children 38 Youth (morning) 17 Youth (evening) 8

10:00 AM Worship Service $7,002.00 5:30 PM SpiritSong Service $484.39 7:00 PM Evenlight Service $36.00 Wednesday Meditation Service -- Sunday School Children $18.00

ToTal General offerinG $7,540.39

puBLicationdeadLineS

Fccnh newSletterdeadlIne IS mIdnIght Sunday

pleaSe SuBmIt artIcleS VIa emaIl to:[email protected]

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

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

Sunday BulletIndeadlIne IS mIdnIght wedneSday

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.

March 1st - 1st Sunday of Lent EldErs: 10:00 am Jacqui Dixon (O) Rodney Gould (C) 5:30 pm Randy Carver 7:00 pm Randy Carver

diaconatE: Information not available at time of print.

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

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

Documents

Volume LXIII No. 36 February 26, 2020 - fccnh.org