BLESSING BACKPACKS AUGUST 15TH 10AM THIS SUNDAY - First Christian Church of North ...
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A Publication of First Christian Church of North Hollywood
A Congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Randy Spleth, Interim Pastor
Jennifer Le’au, Director of Children’s Ministries
Jeremy Gillett, Director of Youth Ministries
Alfredo Gomez & Loydi Rivas Gomez, Pastors, Spanish Speaking Congregation
Volume LXIV No. 11 August 11, 2021
JOIN US FOR THE
BLESSING
of the
BACKPACKS
10A M THIS SUNDAY
AUGUST 15 TH
JOIN THE 10AM SUNDAY LIVESTREAM ON FACEBOOK
or check out recent service streams and more at www.fccnh.org.
Page 2 August 11, 2021 First Christian News
One of the most widespread experiences in There is concern about the unknown and anx-
America is going back to school, a widely held iety about learning. There is worry about identity
memory which reappears throughout life. School and fitting in. There is sadness about peer pres-
daydreams are in the top ten commonly reported sure and distress over bullying. There are recogni-
by adults. There is a reason. In the classroom, we tion needs and performance challenges. Going to
lay some of the most important foundations of school is hard. But the burden is even greater this
our adult lives. The rituals of school shape us. year. There is the added anxiety about return to
Our students and parents are stepping into in-person learning and the additional stress over
those rituals as school begins. For most, it in- Covid-19. More than ever before, our students and
cludes shopping for new clothes. Many report their parents need our prayer and support.
anxious memories about wearing the right outfit Sunday, we return to a worship ritual, back-
or psychodramas with children about fitting in. pack Sunday. While many of our students have
There is concern about the ritual of clothes and yet to come back, we will offer the blessings of the
appearance. backpacks for those who feel it is safe enough to
There is the scramble to find pristine school gather. But we will bless not just those who are in
supplies that seemingly disappear off the shelves person, but our community beyond. We will pray
before you can get them. I remember the ritual for and bless all the backpacks in our community,
hunt for a cigar box for pencils. To this day, I still both physical and emotional.
remember the smell. Now, pencil cases and cray- I can’t think of a time when our role as an en-
on boxes are searched for with equal intensity couraging, supportive family is needed more than
and must look just right. at the start of this school year. You remember how
Of course, there is the pursuit of the right important this is. So, I encourage you to step into
backpack. All supplies must fit in a backpack and this ritual, whether presented or worshipping on-
leave enough space for the books you collect. It line, offering laser-focused prayers and abundant
needs to look good and fit well. But the backpack strength to those going back-to-school. Do so this
is more than a utilitarian object. It is a metaphor Sunday but also daily in the school year ahead.
for all the feelings and concerns we carry back-
to-school. Each student, whether school was
decades ago or will begin next week, carries an
emotional backpack filled beyond capacity. It is
why school dreams are ubiquitous.
First Christian News August 11, 2021 Page 3
UPDATE FROM THE
pulpit committee
INITIAL REPORT TO THE CONGREGATION FROM THE FCCNH PULPIT COMMITTEE
Following the congregationally-ratified appoint-
FCC NORTH HOLLYWOOD ment last week, the FCCNH Pulpit Committee met
Pulpit Committee Progress Sunday, 8 August 2021, immediately after morn-
ing worship and completed four tasks:
1 FCCNH members and friends
commit ourselves to prayerful
1. Prayerfully accepted our responsibilities to
guidance under the Holy Spirit for FCCNH over the next 12 to 24 months under
the Search Process. God’s guidance.
2 Board selects a slate of members of
the Pulpit Committee with approval
2. Elected Committee Chair Richard Follett and
Vice-Chair Ann Wilson with the Secretary TBD.
by the Congregation. PENDING 3. Moved to ask the congregation for nomina-
3 Pulpit Committee meets with the
Regional Minister to discuss the
tions for an additional member between 25
and 35 years old, as requested in the con-
search process. gregational meeting. Nominations should
4 Pulpit Committee surveys the
congregation and completes a
be submitted immediately to Dino Schofield,
President of the Board, through the church
Congregational Profile. office at 818.763.8218 or www.fccnh.org.
5 Pulpit Committee does independent
research and receives profiles of
4. In response to Regional Minister Rev. Richie
Sánchez’s email within one hour of last
potential candidates. week’s release of the FCCNH Newsletter, we
6 Pulpit Committee creates a list of
candidates to interview.
found our best times for our initial meeting
with him and the Regional Staff and look
7 Pulpit Committee interviews
candidates.
forward to their training.
8 Pulpit Committee recommends one
candidate to the church Board.
We intend to keep you informed of where we
are in our 10-step process (see chart) as you keep
9 Congregation votes on the
recommended candidate.
us in prayer for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We’re
all in this together, and your input is vital.
10 FCCNH joins with Regional Minister
to welcome our new Senior Pastor. Welcoming your prayers in Christ’s service,
Richard Follett
Page 4 August 11, 2021 First Christian News
The support and embrace of our youth has long been a priority at FCCNH. The purpose of the
ongoing series below is to give us all an opportunity to hear about the impact of that mission on
some of those young people in essays from senior/former FCCNH Youth Group members.
WEEK THREE: Eliza Beam
In my fourteen years of attending this church, I went
through a lot of changes. My faith was challenged, my
family became difficult, and my schools changed. My
confidence had been broken and then rebuilt again, and
I grew like two feet taller. However, no matter what I
faced, I still had my youth group. There was always at
least someone from here to stand by me no matter how
many bad hairstyles and outfits I had experimented
with. We were able to laugh together and cry together,
even if it had been a while since I last saw them.
For a long time, I would walk into a room and assume
that no one would want to talk to me or that no one
would notice if I was gone. I had a hard time creating
and maintaining connections to people because of the
way my anxiety weighed on me. No matter how often I
felt these things, I was still welcomed into the youth hut
and given many chances to grow more comfortable with myself. I saw how everyone could open up in
our discussions or be free to express themselves and I felt safer. Youth group became a place where
I knew that no matter how many times I inevitably messed up, embarrassed myself, or felt different, I
could always come back and start anew.
Last week, I got to enjoy my last high school sleepover at the church. I was nervous to attend at first
but my fears were immediately proven wrong when I ended up being made to feel at home. As I played
Alien and crammed onto a single couch with my fellow graduates, I felt so grateful for the time that we
had spent together at previous sleepovers, mission trips, Christmas parties, and more. There are so
many experiences and fun times that I never would have had without these people. I always think about
how incredible it is that we were brought together by this place to form these friendships and watch
each other grow.
First Christian News August 11, 2021 Page 5
Ever wondered what
it’s like to sing in a
For those of you who know someone serving in the
armed forces, as well as people serving in other ca-
pacities, we want to lift them up in prayer... please
let us know when they come home!
Chris Diaz • Joshua Bigbee • Steven Zaun
hink you might “have what it takes?” All we
ask around FCCNH is that one is willing to We also want to continue to pray for peace, for
make a joyful noise! Hey, it’s in the Bible, wisdom for the world’s leaders, and for the people
so... THIS Sunday (August 15th) you’re in- of all war-torn areas of our world.
vited to join us in the choir loft at 9:00 am for a
quick run-through rehearsal of our morning an- WE NEED HELP!!
them. We’ll pair you up with a “buddy” who can
help guide you all the way to performance time. I
can send you the music, and a practice tape so
you can take a look and listen before Sunday
morning. Call 562-708-6169 (talk/text) or email
brewstty@gmail.com for more information! Come
join us. You’ll be glad you at least tried it! By the
way, it’s Psalm 98:4, if you don’t believe me.
David Rigsby, After serving the homeless for eight years, Shelley
and Chris are stepping down and will no longer be
Choir Director
distributing clothes and gear to our homeless in
the park. It’s a big, big job, and they accomplished
HUMAN NEEDS it without fail, rain or shine.
I cannot coordinate, cook food, and distribute
While we’re searching for volunteers
the clothes as well. If anyone is interested in con-
to distribute clothing to our homeless tinuing the clothes distribution, please let Shelley
in the park, we are very much in need or me know. If no one steps up, we will unfortu-
of HYGIENE BAGS, T-SHIRTS, SOCKS, nately have to quit this part of the ministry.
PANTS, and SHORTS. For further details
or to volunteer, contact Deborah Luster Thanks,
(dluster@yahoo.com). Deborah Luster (diluster@yahoo.com)
Shelley (champs1girl@yahoo.com)
Page 6 August 11, 2021 First Christian News
Prayers received during the week in one of
these ways will be emailed out to Prayer Group
members. Unless urgent, prayers received on
Saturday or Sunday will be compiled for the list
given to members on Monday mornings.
The sole purpose of the Prayer Group has
always been to pray for those in need. Prayers
are lifted aloud in the Chapel on Monday
mornings, and then become part of the daily
PRAYER IS ALWAYS THERE prayer discipline of our members. As always,
all prayers that come to us are kept strictly
confidential and are not shared elsewhere.
As always, there are many ways to reach us with
your prayer needs.
On Sundays, there are cards in the morning
bulletins. You can write your prayers on the back
and put them in any of the offering plates set
out near the doors from the Sanctuary. You may
also slide your prayer cards through the slot in
the Prayer Cabinet near the drinking fountain
outside the Chapel doors. The item most needed for
During the week, your prayers can reach us in the month of AUGUST is
several ways:
• Via email to one of our Prayer Group leaders: READY TO EAT
Eunice Cox (ec4prayer@sbcglobal.net), SOUPS
Irion DeRouen (dashsmom@aol.com), -- any brand is fine.
Barbara Wiles (barbwiles@verizon.net), Would you please
or Janet Bruce (grayladies@aol.com) pick up a few extras
• Via email on the church website: for our Pantry clients
www.fccnh.org/worship/prayer-requests the next time you are
• Via phone call to the church office: at the market?
818-763-8218
If you are at the church, prayer cards are available ———————————— Thank you!
at the Prayer Cabinet outside the Chapel. Fill one For more info, visit our website
out and put it in the cabinet slot, or drop it off in www.nhifp.org
the church office.
First Christian News August 11, 2021 Page 7
W2W.FCCNH@gmail.com
Page 8 August 11, 2021 First Christian News
Communion
Meditation
1 August 2021
JENNY HARRIS, ELDER
Today (August 1st), you may not know, is National
Sisters’ Day. This is a lovely coincidence because
my sister is visiting today and is joining us in
church. It’s so nice to have part of my biological
family here with my church family.
Yesterday my sister and I were talking about
what it was like at our family’s table, when we
were growing up. We had lots of fun and funny
WELCOME NEW MEMBER memories over the years. Some memories were
sad, too, like when we gathered together to
PHIL WANGENHEIM mourn someone we had lost.
Some were joyful like when my parents
We welcome Phil Wangenheim hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas, and we had
as FCCNH‘s newest member. He tons of people squashed together around the
transfers from Catholic tradition and table. The most important part was how loved
joined the FCCNH Family on August we felt and how welcome everyone was at the
8th. Phil is a post-production editor table of our childhood.
for NBC and proud father of two adult This table is the same in many ways, because
sons, Brian and Ben. Phil discovered everyone is welcome here and everyone is loved.
our community through Men on the God is here for you when you are joyful and when
Corner during lockdown and is a you are sad. The love that God has for us, and
active member of that group. the sacrifice He made for us are represented
here with Communion.
Unable to join us in person this Sunday?
Tune in to the livestream on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/pages/First-Christian-Church-of-North-Hollywood/111570318857728
First Christian News August 11, 2021 Page 9
To order flowers to decorate the chancel on an
upcoming Sunday, please fill out the following
form and place in the offering box or drop at
the church office with your check for $40.
Today’s Date:
Name(s):
Daytime Phone:
Email:
Available dates:
8/15 8/22 8/29 9/5 9/19 10/3
10/10 10/17 10/24 11/1 11/8 11/15
Floral Dedication:
(Please check one of the following and write the
specifics of your dedication in the space provide
below)
7pm Wednesdays In Honor of ...
Interested?
In Celebration of ...
In Memory of ...
For Zoom info Email:
menoncorner@gmail.com
Men on the Corner suggested
scripture for the month of August
“…Let us not become weary in doing good, for
at the proper time we will reap a harvest If we
Check enclosed for arrangement ($40)
do not give up.” —GALATIANS 6:9 Arrangements are supplied by Dee’s Flowers.
Checks should be made payable to FCCNH.
Page 10 August 11, 2021 First Christian News
CAN YOU HELP THE FOOD PANTRY?
PACK BAGS • 2 people at Temple Beth Hillel on Mondays (9:30- 11:15am)
TRANSPORT BAGS • in Pantry Van (One hour) - Monday through Friday
(3:30pm - 5:30pm) begin at Temple Beth Hillel, end at FCCNH
MORE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES COMING SOON FOR:
Sandwich-making • Hygiene Kits • Pet Kits
SIGN UP AT: www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0a4ba5a82fa5fa7-transporting
NORTH HOLLYWOOD
INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY
SPECIFIC NEEDS
PASTA • PEANUT BUTTER • JEANS (size 30-
36) • chunky meal-type SOUPS “ready to eat”
• ENERGY BARS • size 6 CHILD DIAPERS
(loose or open bags okay)
STILL LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO
... loves to write and share information on
social media. The Food Pantry would like to
reach more people via a Vlog or Blog postings.
NEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Public Relations Lead - Can be done
from home! We have connections with
various neighborhood councils. We have
some school connections. We need
other civic groups, major corporations,
realtors or TV networks to embrace us!
Rae Eiklor,
FCCNH Food Pantry LiaisonFirst Christian News August 11, 2021 Page 11
BY WAY OF REPORT CHURCH STAFF
Rev. Randy Spleth
Week Ending Sunday, August 8, 2021_______ Interim Pastor
10:00 AM Worship Attendance 75 Alfredo Gomez
Pastor, Spanish Speaking Congregation
Sunday School Children 9
Jennifer Le’au
Youth 12 Director of Children’s Ministries
Evening Youth 1 Luis Oliart
Interim Youth Ministes
Tyana Parr
10:00 AM Worship Offering $4,942.51
Director of Children’s/Youth Choirs
Bride’s Room Project $500.00 David Rigsby
Music Director/Organist
Credit Card Offerings 8/2/21-8/8/21____ Christine Karasseferian
Director of Finance
General Offering $1,089.35 Chris Carson
Church Administrator
Gabriela Dorantes
Administrative Assistant
Glenda Morgan Brown
Administrative Assistant
Terri Burton
Church Publications
Trudie Kirkland
Event Planner
1
Elmer Maldonado
Building & Grounds Superintendent
Paypal@fccnh.org Miriam Mancilla
Director of Christian Nursery School
Greg Kirkland
2 Media Director
@fccnh.org VOLUNTEER STAFF
Jacob Beam, Craig Brooks, Tom Louie, Susan Marble,
Jeff McFadden, Denise Ovaldson, Tiffany Tapp
3 Sound Technicians
Luis Oliart
First Christian Church of North Hollywood Security
IN MEMORIAM
4 On our website at: www.fccnh.org Robert M. Bock
Senior Pastor
5 Mail donations to the church office at:
First Christian Church of North Hollywood
Earle Immel
Minister of Music Emeritus
4390 Colfax Avenue • Studio City, CA 91604 Merle E. Fish, Jr.
Minister EmeritusFirst
F C
irst
Christian
C
News
N
hristian Hhurch of orth ollywood
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 Hollywood
818/763-8218 • FAX 818/763-8457
Website: www.fccnh.org
email: fccnh@earthlink.net
Proofreading Glenda Morgan Brown
Art Direction Terri Burton
Production Services Byron Armantrout
Emeritus
Robert M. Bock Mary Ann Steuterman
Billie Kline Lillian Carlson
Heather Kenney Margaret Defibaugh
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