The document provides information about upcoming events at the First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood including a Christmas tree lot, Operation Gratitude volunteer event, chili cook-off, holiday luncheon, organ concert, Christmas Eve services, children's choir performance, and tips for donating Christmas cards. It also recaps recent church events like a community worship service and care kit assembly for the homeless.

1. First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood
GOOD NEWS
DECEMBER 2013
e-mail: nohofumc@pacbell.net
facebook.com/nohofumc
www.nohofumc.com
A NOTE FROM PASTOR JOEY
IN THIS ISSUE:
• UMCOR Philippines
• Heifer Living Market
• Christmas Eve Worship
• Poinsettia Orders
• Organ Concert & Carols
GOOD NEWS is published monthly by
First United Methodist Church of North
Hollywood, California 91601
Phone (818) 763-8231
Minerva Carcaño
Bishop
Rev. Dr. Cedrick Bridgeforth
District Superintendent
Dr. Joey K. McDonald
Pastor
Congregation
Ministers
Jeff Thomas
Director of Music
Roger Eshleman
Organist
Nylean Rapinac
Administrator
Patty Kelsey
Director, Program Ministries
Jessica Renslow
Director, Outreach Ministries
According to the dictionary Advent is, “The period including the four
Sundays before Christmas.” In historical terms, within the Christian
tradition, this has been known as a time of anticipation and
preparation. Anticipation of the coming of the Christ child and
preparation for his arrival. In the meantime, however, there are things
to do, places to go and people to see.
Since there are only 24 shopping days left until Christmas, we observe
Advent in several ways: we prepare to shop at convenient times, plan
to spend wisely and prepare for the parties we will attend and/or host.
What we encounter is shopping malls where parking becomes a
religious awakening (yelling at those who steal your space is a
meditative chant now isn’t it?) and shopping affords us the opportunity
to be closer to more people in three hours than we might care to be
close to in the next five years. Into this fine process, we add our keen
sense of anticipation. For we can anticipate: long lines, sold out
items, high prices, surly sales-persons, crowded freeways, throbbing
head, aching feet, and inadequate time to clean our houses for those
parties.
However, somewhere in this process (usually by December 23rd)
something strange happen to us...Advent becomes genuine. Standing
on the real imitation marble floor of some department store next to a
pine Santa and a plastic tree, we hear it. The music we’ve ignored
since the day after Thanksgiving resonates within us.
We don’t even feel self conscious as the words form on our lips. “Joy
to the World, the Lord is Come...” The hymn may be another, “Away
in a Manger.” Or perhaps, “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” but the
net result is always the same. Our hearts and minds are stilled for a
moment and then stirred to the true meaning of Advent. For in that
moment, as the hymn so clearly states, “The world in solemn stillness
lay to hear the angels sing.” Have a blessed Advent!
Your Friend and Pastor,
Joey

2. COME AND WORSHIP
The following Bible passages will be the basis for the messages in December.
Please take time each week to read the selected passages.
December
1
Greenwich Kind Time
Romans 13:11-14
December
8
Why We Have Hope
Romans 15:4-13
December
15
December 22
December
29
24
December
On Becoming The Real Deal
7:00 PM
9:30 PM
Signs And Wonders
Isaiah 7:10-16
Making Room For Christmas
Between Giving And Receiving
A Spiritual Road Trip
Matthew 11:2-11
Luke 2:1-20
Luke 2:1-20
Matthew 2:13-23
HIGHLIGHTS OF WORSHIP AND OUR PARISH
November 3rd - Today was All Saint’s Day. We remember the Saints of our church that we lost this
year; Hazel McIntosh and Ted Kenessey. Norman Kelsey and Phillip Mottaz shared the monthly
announced with the congregation in a Thanksgiving Celebration Theme! Pastor Joey & Sue were
vacationing and Patty Kelsey sat in the Pulpit with Rachel Mottaz in the Lectern. Patty’s message,
“Screening God’s Call?” was based on Romans 12:1-8.
November 10th - We celebrated Community Day! Our Church, The Wesley School, Evergreen
Music Conservatory, and Boy Scout Troop 18 joined in a special worship service. Everyone was asked
to donate hygiene items that will benefit the chronic homeless in the Valley. The Acosta Family graced
us a gorgeous performance. Francis Nyaforh & Shaun Vieten shared their talents by performing. Ken
Ellis, Jeff Thomas and Norman Kelsey shared their homily’s on “Community.” Worship was followed
with a lovely reception in the Social Hall catered by Chris Drapkin & her company Harvest Moon.
Everyone enjoyed treats and shopping at the UMW Holiday Boutique tables. What a blessing to be a
part of such a special community! The North District Area Charge Conference took place at 3pm this
afternoon at Tarzana UMC. Our church was represented by Scott Shepard, Jessie Renslow and The
Kelseys.
November 17th - A children’s moment was shared with the kids about showing gratitude to God.
Norman Kelsey shared a Stewardship Moment. Pastor Joey’s sermon was titled, “When The Earth
Shakes Live Fully,” based on Luke 21:5-19. We shared in communion and The Great Thanksgiving
this morning. Following worship today the congregation was invited to assemble Care Kits For The
Homeless during coffee fellowship. The United Methodist Men hosted a Talent Show and light lunch
in the Social Hall featuring Larry Pines, Lidya Yirgu, Isabella Day, Michelle Vo, Roger Eshleman,
David Eshleman, Francis Nyaforh and Shaun Vieten.
November 24th - We had a number of Mission Moments today: Rachel Mottaz shared information
on the Heifer Project, Living Market. Wendy Welch spoke on behalf of the Missions Team and
Operation Gratitude’s letter writing campaign. Wendy also joined Doug Eboch to share about “A Day
Without Art.” Santa Claus also made an appearance on behalf of the tree lot! Pastor Joey shared his
powerful message on “The Business Of Being Blessed,” based on Luke 1:68-79.

3. Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Featuring Roger Eshleman
7:00 PM
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Features special music and
a children’s message
7:00 PM
9:30 PM
In the Main Sanctuary
Features special music, the Chancel Choir
and Communion is served
Sing-a-long to cherished Christmas songs,
fellowship with our community and enjoy
Each service concludes with a
candle lighting ceremony
Give a poinsettia plant in honor or memory of a loved one.
These plants are fashioned into a Christmas tree which adorns the
chancel of our church. The flowers may be taken home following the
9:30 PM Christmas Eve Service.
Thank you for your $10.00 donation. Please complete the section
below and return the form to the office with your check.
Please indicate “for poinsettia” on the offering envelope. Thank you.
Your Name________________________________ Phone ______________________________
Address _______________________________________________________________________
Circle one: (IN MEMORY OF) or (IN HONOR OF)
Number of plants ordered _______
Name _________________________________________
Amount Enclosed $ ____________
Name _________________________________________
Please place orders by December 15th

4. What’s Happening in December?
December 1st - December 22nd
Our 15th Annual Christmas Tree Lot is open for business!
Weekdays: 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM Saturdays: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sundays: 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
We need tree handlers, greeters, cashiers, & dinner providers.
Sign up with Tara Varilek or online. (Check your weekly email update for link)
Saturday, December 7th - Operation
Sunday, December 8th - UMM host a chili
Gratitude One Millionth Package Event!
cook-off in front of the Lounge.
Join your Missions Team at the Van Nuys Armory
Wednesday, December 11th - UMW Holiday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM!
Luncheon. $3 Donation. Lunch in Lo-Fe-Lo &
Saturday, December 7th - Come serve dinner to
Holiday Program.
the situational homeless at the San Fernando
Saturday, December 14th- Organ Concert &
Valley Rescue Mission 13422 Saticoy St.,
Christmas Carol sing-a-long, featuring Roger
NoHo. Meet at 5:45 PM.
Eshleman. 7 PM in the Main Sanctuary. Treats
Sunday, December 8th - Mission Sunday!
following. All are welcome. Invite your neighbors!
Bring cans of chili and tuna for the food pantry and
a few extra dollars for the blue mission envelopes.
Sunday, December 22nd - Walk to the
Manger at the end of worship. Please bring your
Sunday, December 8th - Holiday Festivities in
Christmas Offering with you to church. After the
the Lounge!
Join us following worship for
benediction we will ask everyone to walk down the
Christmas Cheer! Shop for gifts at the UMW
center aisle and place your offering in the manger.
Holiday Boutique and maybe Santa will make an
appearance!
Tuesday, December 24th - Join us for CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
7:00 PM - Family Service with special music & a children’s message.
9:30 PM - Includes Chancel Choir & Communion.
Join us in the Main Sanctuary.
Both worship services include a candle lighting ceremony.
MISSIONS SUNDAY
Saturday,
December 7th
Meet at 5:45 PM
San Fernando Valley
Rescue Mission
13422 Saticoy Street,
NoHo
December 8th
Sunday,
December 8th
12:00 PM
Lounge
Sign up with David Eshleman
Please bring non-perishable food
items, especially peanut butter
and tuna.
We are also collecting brown
paper grocery bags for the pantry.
Leave all donations on the table
next to Boyer Chapel.
Thank you for your
continued support.

5. CHRISTMAS IN THE LIBRARY
Last year Pastor Joey led a discussion group based on Mike Slaughter’s “Christmas Is Not Your
Birthday.” Every year we say we’re going to cut back, simplify and have a family Christmas that
focuses on the real reason for the season – Jesus. In 5 short, engaging chapters, Pastor Mike
Slaughter inspires readers to approach Christmas differently and be transformed in the process.
Slaughter also wrote “A Different Kind of Christmas,” a book of devotional readings designed to draw
your entire family into closer fellowship with God as you respond to this Christmas season and the call
of God to live generously all year around. It includes thirty short readings, Scripture, prayer, and
stories about helping others at Christmas.
Willa Koenigsaecker donated several children’s Christmas books that were in the collection of her mother,
Pat Schoonmaker, including 3 different versions of Clement Moore’s “The Night Before Christmas,” each
one illustrated by a different artist. Also from Pat Schoonmaker’s collection are “My Christmas Treasury,”
a collection of Christmas stories, poems and songs, “The Story of Santa Claus” by Barbara Shook Hazen,
“Two-Minute Christmas Stories: Favorite Bedtime Stories for the Holidays,” 7 stories written by several
writers and illustrated by several artists, and “Christmas Trolls” written and illustrated by Jan Brett.
Among the many books Sandra Smith donated from the collection of her parents, Rex and Nez Smith, are
5 Christmas books. “The Miracle of Christmas” is a little book of beautiful words by Billy Graham. “My
Very Own Christmas Prayer Book” contains 26 prayers, one for each letter of the alphabet. “The Real
Night before Christmas” is about the first night before Christmas in Bethlehem. In “The Twelve Days of
Christmas” Cathie Shuttleworth illustrates the famous poem/song. The beautifully illustrated book
“Christmas: An American Annual of Christmas Literature and Art,” printed in 1963, features
Matthew’s Christmas gospel, Christmas articles and stories, poetry, music and art.
These books, as well as Christmas books that were already in our collection, will be placed around the
Lounge during the month of December. If you take a book home, please remove the card from the pocket
in the front of the book, sign it and leave the card by the computer. When you return the book, please
leave it beside the computer. We hope you will make one or more of these books a part of your Christmas.
READING PROGRAM READERS
UMW Readers: Please submit your completed Report Forms to me by the UMW General Meeting
on Wednesday, Dec 11. It is suggested that you report only 5 books (1 in each category) for Level
I, 10 books (2 in each category) for Level II, 15 books (2 in each category plus 5 others) for Level
III, or 20 books (2 in each category plus 10 others). If, for example, you report 8 books, 3 of them
are “wasted” so far as the report is concerned. Save them for next year.
You also need to check off that you have read something from the various issues of “response”
and “New World Outlook”. There were 11 issues of “response” - Jul & Aug were combined; there
were 6 issues of “New World Outlook”. Although our subscription to “New World Outlook”
continues until Sept 2014, I have not received the Sep/Oct or Nov/Dec issues. Count articles from
2012 for those 2 issues. You will find articles from the Oct and Nov issues of “response” in the
articles box; Dec articles will be there by Dec 8th.
I know you have all been reading very diligently and I am optimistic that we will retain the
District banner that we earned last year. New books will be presented at the January UMW
meeting.

6. During the breakout sessions at the International Justice Mission program in
October, the participants came to the realization that a focus group should be
formed to determine which area(s) of IJM work we want to concentrate on. IJM
works for justice in the areas of sexual and domestic violence, human trafficking,
police corruption, illegal imprisonment, predatory land seizures, citizenship rights
and forced labor.
If you are interested in participating in this focus group which will be entirely separate from the Mission
Team, please call or e-mail the church office. Please leave your name, phone number and e-mail
address. In January it is hoped that this group can meet and formulate a plan of action.
CARE KITS FOR THE HOMELESS
By Lynn Yoshizumi
When the assembly of nearly 150 Care Kits for the Homeless was completed, I had such a good
feeling because it showed our congregation at its best, working together - love in action. So many
people pitched in to help in so many different ways. Thank you to:
• Everyone who contributed to the huge number of items that were donated, with a special thanks to
Kim Deason, who brings home toiletry items from her travels around the world and assembles
them into very complete, pre packaged toiletries sets.
• Patty & Norman Kelsey, Rhonda Scott, Tara Varilek, Deanne Cox, Lynn Yoshizumi, Lisa Cheby, and
Chuck. Who sorted the many items on Saturday in preparation for Sunday’s assembly.
• Patty Kelsey & Rhonda Scott who came early on Sunday morning to set up the assembly line.
• Myriel Tyree who brought scissors with her Sunday morning just because she thought they might
be needed - and they were - to open packages of tissues, toothbrushes, razor and cheese crackers
• Everyone who participated in the assembly of care kits.
• Those who helped clean up and put away all of the surplus items.
• Those who took Kits to distribute to the homeless.
The Mission Team is extremely grateful for your wonderful participation and cooperation with our
various projects throughout the year such as Easter baskets for children at the rescue missions;
Discovery Arts Bedside Kits for hospitalized children; towels, blankets and supplies for no-kill animal
rescues; monthly canned food donations for the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry; and Care
Kits for the Homeless twice this year. December we’ll see us reach our goal of $1,500 for Heifer
and everyone helping with the Christmas Tree Lot in the usual FUMC/NH way!

7. COMMUNITY DAY REDUX
By Norman Kelsey
Children’s
Card Donating Tips:
Sunday, December 15th
During 10:30 AM Worship
Sign your child up with our
Children’s Choir Director, Lynne Hutton
*Lynne needs help with costumes!
Here’s the Tennessee Ernie Ford LP cover
that I shared on Community Day. Recognize that
marvelous background? If only these bricks could
talk, what stories they would tell about us.
Our legacy is made up of the tales we
share; whether they are anecdotes about the
household names or the unsung heroes who have
attended North Hollywood. I encourage our longtime members to share these stories with newer
members to keep our church’s rich history alive
and vibrant. I also hope you newer members, who
bring your own stories, will take the opportunity to
deepen your connection with this wonderful
community! Along with Coffee Fellowship, the
Tree Lot is a great place to swap stories! See you
there.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE WITH A HEART
It’s that time of year again. It is Tree Lot time.
Did you know our Tree Lot has very special trees that
no other lot in the area has?
See there’s a tree that will provide a homeless person
with a care kit or homeless family with a hot meal.
Another that will provide a sick hospitalize kid with a
fun day of art.
Recently during coffee fellowship Lynn
Yoshizumi greeted a mother and daughter,
Shirley and Rebecca Siegford, who said they
were visiting from Arlington, VA. When they
said they attended a Methodist Church in
Arlington, VA, Lynn asked, “Do you know
my brother Walter Baumann and his wife
Andrea?”. Rebecca replied “Oh, yes, Walt
and Andrea, we were in the same Six for
Supper group.”. Not only do they attend the
same church, they are neighbors - you drive
right past the Siegfred’s house to get in and
out of Walt’s cul-de-sac.
And still another that will save a young girl from the
evils of slavery.
See our Trees are the Christmas Tree with the Heart,
and is how the Mission Team supports great
organizations like Hope of the Valley Rescue
Mission, Discovery Arts, International Justice
Missions, and many other great organizations.
Unfortunately the trees can’t sell and load themselves
onto cars. That is where we desperately need you.
Please visit www.nohofumc.com to sign up for a Tree
Lot shift because without you there is no Heart.

8. By Rachel Mottaz & The Sunday School Class
In the past the Mission Team and I have challenged the congregation with an amount to raise or
a certain amount of animals to send to Heifer International during the season of Advent. This
year, the Children’s Sunday School and I will be running a Living Gift Market after service every
Sunday in December until Christmas. A Living Gift Market is an alternative gift giving event. I
was inspired by it because, as we are already knee deep in the holiday season, I’ve been checking
my list of gifts to buy for over a month now. If you are like me, you have a list of people for
whom you buy holiday gifts for… and if you are still like me, you have those people on your list
who need or want absolutely nothing…like my Dad or my Grandma… They are impossible to
shop for. But then I get caught up in the shopping or buying and lose sight of what the season is
really about…being generous and thinking about and loving other people.
So what can we do for the people who want for and need nothing? We can donate money to a
worthy cause in their honor. The Heifer International Living Gift Market is an event that sells
income-producing animals like goats, bees, chicks and heifers. The animals go to resource poor
families working to improve their lives. You donate money that will purchase an animal. You
can honor a friend or loved one with a beautiful card that describes the gift you bought in their
honor. You empower an impoverished family with an animal and training in its care. The
family shares its knowledge and the animal’s first offspring with another family. And the next.
Heifer calls it Passing on the Gift.
In your bulletin every Sunday, you will find a Shopping List that you can use to plan. On the
back of that is a list of animals that the Living Gift Market offers.
We will also have ornaments made by our Sunday School that you can purchase for a dollar a
piece. The children have a goal of selling 100 ornaments so that they can send two shares of a
heifer in honor of their Sunday School teachers Letha, Willa and Jackie.
And if you just want to donate money, any amount will help, just write Heifer on your offering
envelopes during the month of December.
So that brings me to my goal… I think we can collect $1500 again this year. Please join me.
Thank you and Happy New Year!
ANIMALS OFFERED:
Heifer - $500 or Share - $50 / Pig - $120 or Share - $10 / Llama - $150 or Share - $20
Water Buffalo - $250 or Share $25 / Tree Seedlings - $60 or Share - $10 / Trio of Rabbits - $60 or Share - $10
Goat - $120 or Share - $10 / Sheep - $120 or Share - $10 / Starter Flock of Chicks or Ducks or Geese - $20
Honeybees - $30

9. December 5
December 6
December 7
December 10
December 11
December 17
December 17
Anita McChesney
Helen Wirthh
Ralph Seybold
Doug Eboch
Myriel Tyree
Charlie Cox
Cary Noren
December 18
December 19
December 20
December 21
December 25
December 31
December 31
Jeff Thomas
Pastor Joey
Clive Melville
James St. John
Jesus
Henri Doble
Nancy Kien
Wishing you a birthday that is merry and bright!
Love, Your Church Family
The following are detailed instructions for
supporting UMCOR's relief and recovery work in
the Philippines through donations to International
Disaster Response, Advance #982450:
Make checks payable to:
California-Pacific Annual Conference
Make a notation that the check is for Philippines Disaster
Response (Advance #982450)
Send checks in care of:
Archana Carey, our Cal-Pac Conference Treasurer,
to PO Box 6006, Pasadena, CA 91102-6006.
All of your gift, 100%, will be used to help those in
need in the Philippines. Following these instructions
will ensure proper recording of giving for a
particular local church in the accounting system.
Thanks be to God for the donations already
received by the Conference Office that bear witness
to the spiritual vitality and living faith of our
California-Pacific Annual Conference.
‧Laura Lesko, cancer survivor, has been tested
for malignancies in her lungs.
‧Nancy Gatchell is back at The Lighthouse on
Magnolia Blvd.
‧Amy, friend of Lisa Cheby is battling a
debilitating depression.
‧Marilyn Fabre is still recuperating after
breaking her femur and hip.
‧Patty Kelsey’s Mom is still in need of prayers
of calm and peace.
‧Sue McDonald’s younger brother passed
away in November. Please lift up her family.
‧Prayers for the Philippines
Call the church office (818) 763-8231 or email
your request to nohofumc@pacbell.net

10. Reflections
! Joey K. "Donald
The third verse of the hymn, God of the Sparrow, God of the Whale is “God of the
rainbow, God of the Cross, God of the empty grave. How does the creature say grace,
how does the creature say thanks?”
In this season of Thanksgiving, we say grace by how we live. Anyone over ten years
old knows the truth of the phrase, “Actions speak louder than words.” So, if we talk
about wishing everyone “Happy Thanksgiving!” and we appear ungrateful, the words
are hollow. Our works and actions are incongruous. We are not walking our talk.
An attitude of gratitude can create a grace filled existence. Just think, if we allow our
thoughts to be filled with all that is negative or wrong with life in general, or our lives in
particular, we will soon be pressed flat, emotionally and spiritually. However, if we
pause to consider what we can give thanks for, then our lives mirror the grace present
in our lives.
Though each of us have life events which disappoint and confound us, if we look
closely at life through the eyes of faith we can see the rainbows God has given us. We
can be moved to say thanks to our Creator through the graceful way we live and act
toward others.
This writing was Dr. McDonald’s Thanksgiving Letter to the congregation. It is originally from November 24, 1997.

11. OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORSHIP
December 1
December
8
First Sunday of Advent. World Aids Day. Purple or Blue.
Isa 2:1-5; Ps. 122 or (UMH 845); Rom. 13:11-14; Mark 24:36-44
December
15
Third Sunday of Advent. Purple or Blue.
Isa. 35:1-10; Luke 1:47-55 or (UMH 199); Jas. 5:7-10; Matt. 11:2-11
December
22
Fourth Sunday of Advent. Purple or Blue.
Isa. 7:10-16; Ps. 80 or (UMH 801); Rom. 1:1-7; Matt. 1:18-25
Second Sunday of Advent. Purple or Blue.
Isa. 11:1-10; Ps. 72:1-7, 18-19 or (UMH 795); Rom. 15:4-13; Matt. 3:1-12
December 24
Christmas Eve. White or Gold.
Isa. 9:2-7; Ps. 96 or (UMH 815); Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20
December
First Sunday After Christmas. White.
Isa. 63:7-9; Ps. 148 or (UMH 861); Heb. 2:10-18; Matt. 2:13-23
29
Sunday Worship Services at 10:30 AM in the Main Sanctuary
Adult Sunday School meets at 9:15 AM in the Hand in Hand room
Children’s Sunday School meets at 10:30 AM in the Community Room/Nursery
Children’s Message every second & third Sunday of the month during 10:30 worship service
Communion will be celebrated on December 1st at 8:15 AM and 10:30 AM worship services, and at
the 9:30 PM worship service, Tuesday, December 24th - Christmas Eve.
8:15 AM Worship Services in Boyer Chapel
December 1 - Pastor Joey December 8 - Norman Kelsey
December 15 - Patty Kelsey
December 23rd - Sandra Smith December 30th - Sandra Smith
Please have your articles for the Good News to the church office by December 17th for the January 2014 publication
or email them to pattyfumc@gmail.com
If you no longer wish to receive this publication, please contact the church office
or return this address label noting that we are to discontinue sending it. Thank you.
POSTMASTER - Please send changes of address to:
First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA. 91601