i shall flow rivers of out of the believer’s heart living...

thought for the week: pray without ceasing

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 PastorJefferson Beeker, Minister of Evangelism and Membership DevelopmentJeremy Gillett, Director of Youth MinistriesAlfredo Gomez & Loydi Rivas Gomez, Pastor, Spanish Speaking CongregationYoung Lan Kim & Young Jun Yang, Korean Pastors

Volume LXI No. 33 March 2, 2016

Out of the believer’s heartI shall flow rivers of

living water.John 7:38

Page � March �, �016 First christian news

Founders dayMarch 11-12, 2016

after War’s Broken Heart: an exploration on Moral Injury

Founders Day is an annual event sponsored by Chapman University’s Office of Church Relations, connecting

students, faculty and community members with an outstanding scholar in the area of religion (Founders Education

Day) and a renewal and reunion event for Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ people (Founders Day).

The scholar this year is Rev. Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock. Brock is Research Professor of Theology and Culture

and Founding Co-Director of the Soul Repair Center at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. She has been a

professor and activist, helping to organize the Truth Commission on Conscience in War.

The preacher is Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, Kinnamon has been a major leader and scholar of the ecumenical

movement for decades. He is the immediate-past General Secretary of the National Council of Churches and has led

the Consultation on Church Union and the World Council of Churches’ Commission on Faith and Order.

For more information on Founders Day events, pricing, etc., please go to:

www.chapman.edu/about/church-relations/founders-day/

Pastor Bob’s Letter to the Family will return in next week’s newsletter.

If you are interested in being baptized at the Sunrise

Service or the 7:00 pm Service on Easter Sunday,

please contact the church office at 818.763.8218.

First christian news March �, �016 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.

Arthur J. Szoke

R. W. Bruce

Joshua Bigbee

Christopher A. Bernstein

1st Battalion at Pendleton

Chris Diaz

Brian Johnson

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!Please join us for a brief congregational meeting in

the Social Hall on Sunday, March 13. We need to dis-

cuss and approve the budget and slate of church leaders

for the upcoming year to ensure that we can continue

doing God’s amazing work in the coming year. But

we need your voice to do it! Literally, we can’t approve

them without a quorum of 100 active members. So

please help your FCCNH family by joining us in the

Social Hall after the 10:00 a.m. service on March 13 for

fellowship, refreshments, and some light parliamentary

procedure.

Copies of the proposed budget and list of nominated

officers will be available in the narthex beginning this

Sunday, February 28th.

See you there,

Andy Holmer

Congregational President

sunday, MarcH 13

MeetIng


more meaningful; it makes us see the good around us and gives us a spirit of thanksgiving, compassion and love. This week, I hope you will celebrate the small, seemingly unimportant events in our life and in the lives of those around you. Have a great week!

Christi AndersonDirector of Children’s Ministries

One of the highlights of my week is doing chapel for the Christian Nursery School kids. Pastor Bob and I are a duo and one of us will sing to the kids and the other will read a story. Sometimes we share in the read-ing of the story. The kids are 2-5 years old and they are filled with wisdom and stories. After chapel, we stand in the doorway as they exit for high fives and hugs. And most of the kids have something that they have to tell us on the way out. The topics vary and are usually not directly related to the story we told.

Last week, as a little girl was walking out, she stopped abruptly, turned and looked me right in the eye and proclaimed very loudly “I’m old enough to chew gum now”. For some reason this made me smile so big and her statement, as well as her enthusiasm about her new gum chewing adventure, warmed my heart. It got me thinking about how much in life we take for grant-ed. Obviously, there has been alot going on that has made me think about how grateful I am for everything in my life. But, her statement made me think about how things that seem so simple aren’t always so simple. God has blessed me with so many things in my life and I am grateful and thankful—I’m thankful for all the children, families and adults in the church that I get to work with and walk this journey with. I’m thankful for my own children.

During this time of Lent, my focus has been to try to be more aware of my interactions with others and more aware of trying to help others let their light shine. I think that by celebrating the small things, like being old enough to chew gum, makes our lives better and


There is a saying that comes from the Hindu tradi-tion that “all the waters of the earth are waters of the River Ganges.” The river is considered sacred to those who practice Hinduism, and the act of bathing in its waters is the equivalent of our baptism—it is done for the remission of sins and it brings them closer to mok-sha (or deliverance from the cycle of life and death.) By recognizing that all the waters of the earth participate in the cycle of evaporation and eventually the return of water as rain in our oceans, snow on our mountain tops, and the rivers that flow through the lands, hu-manity affirms the process of giving and receiving that which is a basic part of our common lives.

King David, before the assembly of Israel states: Everything comes from you; all we’re doing is giving back what we’ve been given from your generous hand. (1 Chronicles 29:14, The Message translation). And Jesus assumes that part of the practices of people of faith includes giving generously (Matthew 6). Our giv-ing and receiving is part of this cycle of life. When it comes to water, we who live in California understand the preciousness of that cycle when it doesn’t work as we expect it should! Our hopes for the El Nino rains have not been fulfilled this year.

This should underscore our appreciation for keep-ing the cycles in motion. We can give, not because God requires it but because when we offer our money or of-fer ourselves we keep that pattern in motion—giving…

receiving, giving… receiving. Those ideas, those pat-terns are related. If one stops, so does the other. We can not continue to give and give if we don’t also participate in the receiving, and vice versa. We can not take and take, unless we also give. The cycle will stop and life will stagnate.

Our giving is related to our praying. We often pray, bringing a host of concerns to lie at the feet of God with the right understanding that God hears and receives our prayers. It is also important that we then take the time to listen for the voice of God, for God also desires for us to be attentive to the love that God would share back with us. It is a relationship, a giving and receiving be-tween each of us and our creator.

There is a very clear pattern of reciprocity that God has established in the creation.

When the cycle is disrupted, when humanity fails to recognize the importance of giving as much as we have received, the system breaks down. Notice what we have done to our earth and its creatures, both animal and human. There are places in our nation and in our world where human taking has led to pollution and the destruction of the earth, our waters, and the atmo-sphere. Dire situations arise, and starvation, disease and death are rampant.

Giving and generosity are more important than one may conventionally assume. God has not stopped giving to us. Keep the love in motion. For all the waters of the earth are the waters of the River Ganges, and all the giving and caring you do is a reflection of the giving and the love offered to you from God.

Rev. Louise Sloan Goben

March �, �016 First christian news

Hi, everyone, The XPLORers have passed the halfway point of their

residency and not surprisingly, it’s been a time of bless-ing and growth for them. All three have fit in well at their respective service sites and are enjoying the work they’ve been given. And while bringing three very differ-ent personalities together under one roof is a sitcom sta-ple, that’s part of their journey and one they’ve handled with grace and respect.

All three are starting to make plans for what comes next. I’ll have more on that later. What I want to talk about today is the positive effects they’ve had on our church. Through participation in our young adults pro-gram, Young Adult Disciples in Action (YADA) as well as regional events, activities and just hanging out, they’ve become friends with our young adults. Their influence has been such that YADA members will be taking over the leadership of this important ministry as XPLOR moves into its third year. Again, more on that later.

What I’d like to talk about now is Theology On Tap. This is a Bible study experience that Ryan Felber has

imported from his home church back in Texas. It will be held on the 1st, 2nd, 4th Tuesday of each month... the 3rd Tuesday is when YADA meets. The group meets at 7:00pm at Shakey’s Pizza on Laurel Canyon and the format is simple. Eat, drink, talk, read from the Bible, then talk about that.

All are welcome. You don’t have to drink and you

don’t have to be under 35. But a special invitation is extended to young adults, who are not well represented at the other Bible study offerings. It’s a chance for them share thoughts and share faith in a forum where they are in the majority... for once.

For further information about Theology On Tap, you can call me at 818.261.2632 or Ryan at 817.688.5897.

With peace,Jeff Henderson

Update and info on Yada (Young adult disciples in action)

Human Needs is still collecting warm clothes, blan-kets and sleeping bags for the homeless—donations can be dropped at the church office during the week 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. Thank you!


Falling Upward into lent: Finding

Love in the CrossMonday Evenings

7:00 pm to 8:30 pmin the Annex

In the resurrection, God reveals the insubstanti-ality of the “false self,” of death and of loss, revealing the peace that surpasses all understanding. This is the journey we are taking, this falling upward into Lent and finding love in the cross. Join us for 4 sessions of this Lenten series intended to strengthen us in spiritual growth. Our study and conversation will rely on the teachings of Jesus, and the wisdom of Richard Rohr, James Finley and Thich Nhat Hanh. Join for for 4 ses-sions of this Lenten...

Mar7 • “Non-dualism”andtheMercySeat Mar14• AndFinally,Love

Much of this series is based on the writing and teaching of Richard Rohr and the Center for Action and Contemplation. For more information about Fa. Rohr you may search him online at https://cac.org/.

Ann Wilson has been a member of First Christian Church for close to 25 years. She has served on the Diaconate and as Chair of the Elders, as well as serving of the Board of Trustees of the congregation. Ann is com-pleting a two-year course of study at the Living School with the Center for Action and Comtemplation.

The course will be co-facilitated by Ann Wilson and Pastor Louise Sloan Goben.

‘Tweens4th Grade & Up

We will feature dinner, snacksand the movie

Friday night LiFe March 4th

5:30 pm - 8:00 pm in the annex

KIDs3 years thru 3rd Grade(Younger children are

welcome with a parent.)

We will feature dinner, snacksand the movie

“Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2”

“My Dad’s a Soccer Mom”


Join the FCCNH Softball Team—contact Phil Restivo at 818-915-4767 to sign up or for more info. Games

are played on Friday nights in the West Valley.

Le

t’s Play Ball!

Bat t er u P !

We hope everyone enjoyed the Valentine’s Day Meet and Greet on February 14th featuring our gorgeous Chocolate Fountain. We thoroughly enjoyed serving you!!

Look for us again in April . We are delighted to share just a couple of thewonderful photos from the festivities that day.

Markie Labovitz and Alison Hawkins-Keogh(AKA Flirty Peacock Fondue)

Phot

os b

y Mar

kie L

abov

itz

The Flirty Peacock Fondue Fountain at the Valentine’s Day Meet & Greet in the Social Hall.

Sylvia and James Jefferies enjoy the chocolate covered goodies at the February 14th Meet & Greet.


I greet you in the wonderful magnificent name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of watching some of our youth perform in the John Burroughs High School talent showcase. The talent on stage was amazing. This weekend I will be going to Walter Reed Middle School to enjoy the play Music Man featuring several FCCNH youth. I look forward to seeing more of our youth share their gifts and talents on and off stage at their schools and here at church.

It is important to me that I support our youth in as many ways as I can. Therefore, I encourage all of you to make me aware of any extra-curricular activities in-volving FCCNH youth. We want to provide love and encouragement to our young people as they explore and develop their talents. Please give me as much notice as possible so that I can attend as many events as I can.

During this Lenten season some of our youth have committed to giving up certain foods and activities and others are discarding old behaviors and mastering new ones. We celebrate that all of them have been invited to reflect upon their spiritual journey and the journey of Jesus to the cross. In this Lenten season, I ask that you pray for their spiritual maturity in a world that offers them daily temptation to forget one’s faith.

Blessing,

Jeremy GillettDirector of Youth Ministries

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 at the bottom of the stairs. You may take a blue card and write down your prayer, then put it through the slot of the locked cabi-net, and the Prayer Group will be your prayer support. It will be completely confidential. This cabinet is avail-able any day of the week to receive your prayers and will be checked throughout the week.

March �, �016 First christian news

Food PAntry VoLUntEEr ContACtTransportation Teams:

Chris Wilkinson at 818.515.5753

another way to donateYou can now make recurring donations to the

Interfaith Food Pantry through the FCCNH web page (www.fccnh.org/Donate%20Cash).

THEFOODPANTRYISINNEEDOF:Canned tuna, canned chicken, rice, canned beans (pinto, navy etc.), boxed cereal, diapers, powderd

milk, baby food, peanut butter and tomato products!

Wednesday 3/2 Studio City Team

Thursday 3/3#3 Rae Eiklor Mike Eiklor Ryan Eiklor Neil Eiklor Heather Hatch

Sunday 3/6#2 Fred Sloan Louise Goben Galen Goben Jeff Goben Hutch Hutchinson

Wednesday 3/9 Studio City Team

Thursday 3/10#5 Rosey Tamkin Shayne Tamkin Heather Hatch Barbara Erdahl Danny Pino

Sunday 3/13#4 Luis Oliart Chris Wilkinson Ken Wilson Barbara Erdahl Hans Christoph

Oooh... Ahh! Looking for that Perfect... Wow?

T hroughout the year, our chancel is decorated with beautiful flowers, often given in memory of

or in honor of a person or event such as birthdays or anniversaries. In celebration of Easter, we will once again place lilies on the chancel for Easter Sunday, March 27th. The cost of the lilies are $15.00each.

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. LastdayforordersisFriday,March18. We will print all dedications received by that date in the Easter Sunday bulletin.

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

Your Name(s)

Phone #

Given in

Memory of Honor of Celebration of

Total number of plants

LILIES ORDER DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, MARCH 18(THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION)

First christian news March �, �016

ChUrCh StAFF

Robert M. Bock Senior PastorLouise Sloan Goben Associate PastorJefferson Beeker Minister of Evangelism and Membership DevelopmentAlfredo Gomez Pastor, Spanish Speaking CongregationChristi Anderson Director of Children’s MinistriesJeremy Gillett Interim Director of Youth MinistriesTyana Parr Director of Children’s ChoirJoshua Elson Music DirectorDavid Rigsby OrganistChristine Karasseferian Director of Finance and Human Resources Sara Rushing Administrative SpecialistDiane Hirsch Administrative Assistant/Web Master/Publicity CoordinatorTerri Burton Church PublicationsMichele Amundsen Wedding Director Elmer Maldonado Building & Grounds SuperintendentLauren Muscarella-Huizar Christian Nursery School DirectorGreg Kirkland Media Director

VoLUntEEr StAFFJosé Pretlow, Susan Marble, John Henry Kreitler, Jeff McFadden, Denise Ovaldson, Tom Louie, Richard Johnson, Martin Smith, Sound TechniciansLuis Oliart Security

In MEMorIAMEarle Immel Minister of Music EmeritusMerle E. Fish, Jr. Minister Emeritus

By WAy oF rEPort

PLEASE SUBMIT ARTICLES VIA EMAIL [email protected]

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

is midnight sunday!

n e w s l e t t e r

February 28, 2016_______________________

10:00 AM Worship 189 5:30 SpiritSong Worship 39 7:00 PM Evenlight Worship 10 7:00 PM Wednesday Worship 7 Sunday School Children 39 Youth 29 Sunday Evening Youth Group 16

10:00 AM Worship $10,287.28 4:00 PM Service En Espanol $70.00 5:30 PM SpiritSong Worship $1,244.00 7:00 PM Evenlight Worship $80.86 7:00 PM Wednesday Worship $17.00 Sunday School Children/Youth $33.25

ToTal General oFFerinG $11,732.39

Week of Compassion $270.00 Food Pantry $1,000.00 Youth Meals $100.00 Youth Scholarship/Mission Trips $1,000.00 Youth Bake Sale $830.26

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: [email protected]

Pastor & senior editor Robert M. Bockart direction Terri BurtonWeb Master Diane Hirsch

Production services

Billie Kline Mary Ann SteutermanJean Johnson Heather Kenney

eMeritus

Michele Amundsen Lillian CarlsonAnita Bené Jerry & Edna McCormackMargaret Defibaugh Cathy MelendezFern Donald Chuck MontCindy Kaller Barbara RhinelanderWanda Kanoy Helen ScarnaChuck MacCannell Kay SmithJessica McConahey Betty Van ZantenShirley McClure Deborah Wheeler Virginia Stebbins

March 6, 2016The Fourth Sunday of Lent

10:00 am Barbara Sheppard (O) Gaye Coffman (C)5:30 pm Barbara Campbell7:00 pm Erica Christensen

Diaconate:Diaconate information

not available at time of print.

JoinusforworshipthisSundayatoneofthefollowingservices:

10:00 am —Traditional Worship with Chancel Choir4:00 pm — En Español5:30 — SpiritSong Service with Live Music7:00 pm — Evenlight Service of reflection and meditation

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.

i shall flow rivers of out of the believer’s heart living...

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