The document provides information about events at the First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood including a successful Trunk or Treat event, an upcoming Charge Conference on November 9th over Zoom, and preparations for Advent. The pastor's letter discusses the losses experienced in 2020 due to the pandemic and encourages the congregation to claim God's promises on All Saints Day and in the upcoming worship services. It also provides details about virtual worship services and a sermon series on living between the initiation and completion of God's kingdom.

1. First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood
GOOD NEWS
e-mail: nohofumc@pacbell.net
NOVEMBER 2020
facebook.com/nohofumc1 www.nohofumc.org
IN THIS ISSUE:
• Trunk or Treat Success
• Charge Conference
• Hope of the Valley
• NHIF Pantry Needs
• Single Board Update
• Advent is Near
GOOD NEWS is published monthly by
First United Methodist Church of North
Hollywood, California 91601
Phone (818) 763-8231
Rev. Grant Hagiya
Bishop
Rev. James R. Powell
District Superintendent
Rev. Steven F. Peralta
Senior Pastor
Congregation
Ministers
Jeff Thomas
Director of Music
Roger Eshleman
Organist
Nylean Rapinac
Administrator
Patty Kelsey
Director, Program Ministries
Tonya Peat
Director, Outreach Ministries
My Dear Siblings in Christ,
As 2020 begins its inexorable run to its end, I can’t help but think of what we
have missed over this last year: Celebrations, goodbyes, and the reassurance of
each other’s’ presence. In the last month, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los
Angeles Dodgers have won the championship in basketball and baseball; yet we
witnessed and experienced these events in the safety and isolation of our own
homes. Even as we go to the polls to vote for the office of president of our
country, we go early or send in our ballots to avoid being present with too many
people in an enclosed space. We have adjusted, adapted, shifted, and evolved
until we simply can’t be reconfigured or rebooted anymore.
It’s exhausting. It’s isolating. It’s depressing. It’s (insert you own adjective).
Anytime someone experiences loss, they experience grief. Sometimes grief is
brief and fleeting: we acknowledge our loss and move on because what we have
lost isn’t overly significant in the greater scope of life. But 2020 has brought
significant losses: loss of jobs, income, confidence, relationships, and loved ones.
Plans have been thwarted, dreams have been deferred, and hopes have faded.
I find it interesting that this year, November 1st, All Saints Day, occurs on a
Sunday. Typically, our All Saints Observance involves the proclamation of
God’s promises, the reading of the list of those who have passed away from our
midst in the last year, and a reminder of our place in all the saints. I always
experience the day as a meaningful and solemn moment where I acknowledge
those who have faithfully gone before us.
This year is going to be different…don’t get me wrong, we are still going to do
those things, but this year, we are going to claim those promises of God for the
faithful for ourselves. We are going to remind ourselves that we are a part of
the faithful multitude that worship God and endure in the face of hardship and
loss and grief. We are among the faithful that God sees, God loves, God
remembers, and God blesses. Even though we are in the middle of the worst
year we have ever witnessed or experienced, we know that this will not be the
way things will be forever…we know that God will have the final say.
So tune in on Sunday, November 1st. Let’s be as together as we can. Let’s be
counted among the faithful and remind ourselves that God is at work, even if
we have trouble seeing it. Let’s be a blessing to the world and to one another as
we draw this year to a close.
In Christ,
Pastor Steve

2. November 1 The Eternal Lamb Revelation 7:9-17
John experiences a powerful vision of heaven and the worship of God and the lamb. Their worship song speaks
the glory and power of God as well of the promise that the people of God no longer suffer as God shepherds
them through eternity.
November 8 The Delayed Bridegroom
Sometimes following Christ means listening, journeying, and proclaiming…and sometimes it means you sit and
wait…This week begins our exploration of the here/not-yet nature of the Kingdom of God.
November 15 The Traveling Master Matthew 25:14-30
How do we ever get to see the glory of God? Moses asks to see God’s glory, but is only allowed to see God’s
backside (insert giggles here.) When we request to know that God is present and with us, we only see how when we
look back on tough times.
November 22 The Righteous Judge Matthew 25:31-46
In this parable, history is brought to its close, and the great judgment day happens…and some people are
affirmed…and some are sent away. I am always struck by the way the story is told: nobody is aware of their
righteousness or their wickedness: nobody recognizes the Lord in their midst. Do We? Are you doing the things
that God desires of us?
HIGHLIGHTS OF VIRTUAL WORSHIP
Tune in every Sunday for a brand new worship service!
We share on YouTube @nohofumc and on Facebook @nohofumc1.
Piano & Vocals - Jeff Thomas
Call to Worship Response - Norman Kelsey Pastoral Prayer - Rev. Mary Dennis
Prayers of the People - Norman Kelsey
Moment with Children - Patty Kelsey
October 4 - Staying in the Lines
October 11 - God in 1st Place
October 18 - By My Side
October 25 - Love God & Others
Scripture Reader
October 4 - Hanna Sack in German
October 11 - Anne Roche
October 18 - Daniella Lake
October 25 - Jesse Boone
Matthew 25:1-13
Pastor Steve’s Sermon Series: Breaking Free
Sermon Titles and Scripture
October 4 - A Law to Live By | Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
October 11 - Stuck in the Middle | Exodus 32:1-14
October 18 - The Backside of God | Exodus 33:12-23
The Once, The Current, & the Future Christ
October 25 - The Eternal Christ | Matthew 22:34-46
Special Music
October 4 - Leeland | Waymaker
October 11 - Jeff Thomas on piano| Just a Closer Walk with Thee
October 18 - Holly Gibson on guitar | Meet With Me
October 25 - Scott Peat on guitar | Lead With Love
Sermon Series - “In The Meantime”
When we talk about the Kingdom of God, sometimes it feels like a project that has been
started but isn’t yet complete. Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom present in his ministry; yet
we know that the promised completion of all God desires for creation has not been
completed. We still face injustice, inequity, and we still misuse creations resources for our
own gain and convenience. How does our call as God’s people affect the way we live in
this space between initiation and completion? How are we supposed to live in the
meantime? As the year winds down, the lectionary gospel readings turn their attention in
the direction of the future and what is to come: specifically the promised return of Christ.
However, the promises also contain direction and guidance of how we are
supposed to live in the meantime:
Organist - Roger Eshleman

3. Monday, November 9th
6:30 PM
Zoom Meeting
The North District office has informed us that our
annual Charge Conference will be held Monday,
November 9th at 6:30 PM. This will be a Zoom
meeting that is open only to key leadership because of
the limitations of the Zoom platform and the work
we need to do. However, it means that we have work
to do with Nominations, Budget, and Conference
Paperwork. We will keep you posted about the
progression of our work.
By Pastor Steve
The FUMC Board continues to work during this time of physical distancing. This month the Door
Replacement project should near completion, with door painting and one final door installation to go.
The doors will make our property more secure, more accessible, and should look good for years to come.
The final step of this project involves re-keying every door, which means that if you have a key, a time is
approaching when your old key will no longer work. We will keep you updated so we can issue keys to all
who require one.
You may not be aware, but right before the COVID19 crisis hit, our accountant, Sergio, left his position
with us and transitioned into a full-time position. In the meantime, we have made do with basic ledger-
keeping. However, we have entered into a working agreement with Rod Sprott of Church-Biz accounting
and payroll services and will once again be able to provide monthly and year-end financial reports.
Lastly, our annual charge conference will take place Monday, November 9th, at 6:30 PM. The District
Superintendent has asked that only key leadership attend the meeting to keep things simple but we will
keep you posted about what transpires!
Homemade Jams and Jellies
made by Sue McDonald
marysuejams@gmail.com
email Sue for details!

4. Thanksgiving is around the corner and Hope of the Valley
is preparing to feed our neighbors who live on the streets.
www.hopeofthevalley.org

5. From Pastor Steve
I have been asked when we are going to be back together in worship…and the answer continues to be the
same: I do not know. I do not have control over the number of active COVID19 cases in Los Angeles
County nor do I have a way of projecting when the numbers will reach a point where in-person worship can
resume safely for everyone.
I remind you that we agreed in our All-Church Meeting back in June that we wouldn’t come back together
for in-person worship until we were confident everyone could participate safely. Right now, LA County
continues to be in the purple zone, which precludes us from all gathering together safely. Also, our Bishop
continues to recommend that we act with patience, caution, and the kind of love which keeps the most
vulnerable among us safe. However, we are finalizing our re-opening procedures so that when we can open,
we will be ready to!
The Wesley School has applied to the county for a waiver to bring the K-2 grades back onto campus. They
have painstakingly worked to meet the over 80 pages of safety protocols in the hopes that they can help the
students who are struggling the most with distance learning. At this moment, they have not been notified
whether or not they have been approved, so there is no official date of when these students will be on
campus.
Lastly, we ask that if you must come onto campus that you enter from the South Lot. If your business is in
the church office, you may enter from the gates next to the Hand-in-Hand room or the gate between Boyer
Chapel and the office (or the office door for that matter). Please do not enter the Kinderland area during
school hours (M-F, 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM). If you need to be in other areas on campus, please enter the gate
Making it Work!
By Patty Kelsey
To say that 2020 has been a rough one, is truly, an understatement! So many gut-wrenching losses,
natural disasters, world wide chaos, stress, and anxiety.
When our church doors closed, your staff were quick to figure out how to make it work. With much
prayer and hustle, God stood beside us and blessed our worship in a new way. We have made new
friends from our online worship platform, and grown in ways we did not anticipate.
We have celebrated new babies, graduations, and fellowship in safe ways, right in our church lot.
We even made Halloween Trick or Treating happen for our community. Our Drive Thru Trunk or
Treat was successful beyond our imaginations. It is what we prayed and hoped for. Many thanks to those
that jumped on board and supported this event. We had 125 children and their families, drive thru, from
all over the neighborhood. Every guest, thanking us profusely, for providing something joyful and safe
for their families. We could not have done it without our participants. Thank you so much!
God is good, all the time.

6. November 4 Maggie Christian
November 5 Frank Rapinac
November 7 Deanne Cox
November 9 Shirley Pratt
November 10 Patricia Doelitzsch
November 10 Linda Eshleman
November 12 Jacqueline Casas
November 16 Raylean Fetterman
November 25 Hannah Ye-Books
November 26 Erin Parnell-Zavala
November 27 Bryan Ancheta
November 27 Jessica Renslow
November 28 McKenna Sucher
November 28 Libeck Kadu-Vieten
• Shaun Vieten's Dad, Brian, will be undergoing chemotherapy to treat his Non-Hodgkins
Lymphoma that metastasized to his leg bone and kidney. Shaun, Libeck and Avery, flew to New
Jersey for two weeks to visit with the family. Prayers for a safe trip and good health.
• Judy Andrus had a colostomy surgery due to her ovarian cancer returning. Catie says that her mom
is in pain 24-7. Please send prayers of healing and care. Judy went into the hospital last week
because she was unable to keep food down. Continued prayers.
• Patty Kelsey's Uncle, Sunai, 67, and Aunt Goy, 60, in Thailand, have been improving in all areas.
The entire family is grateful for your prayers.
• Muffett Brinkman's Dad, Michael, is being treated for stage 4 prostate cancer.
• Prayers for our Nation during this Presidential Election
Caitlin Thomas
Ernest Levroney
Margaret Dixon
Dorothy Tyler
Steve Pitchford
• Muffett's good friend, Adam, is in need of prayers for his
husband, Oscar. Oscar is in a Neuro-ICU for bleeding in his
brain and spinal column. Adam and Oscar have 6 kids.
Please lift up the family.
• Shaun Vieten's Uncle, Dennis, suffered a stroke.

7. LECTIONARY READINGS FOR NOVEMBER
November 1 All Saints Sunday. Year A. Green.
Rev. 7:9-17; Ps. 34:1-10, 22 (UMH 769); 1 John 3:1-3; Matt. 5:1-12
November 8 Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost. Year A. Green.
Josh. 24:1-3a, 14-25; Ps. 78:1-7 (UMH 799); 1 Thes. 4:13-18; Matt. 25:1-13
November 15 Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost. Year A. Green.
Judges 4:1-7; Ps. 123 or Ps. 76 (UMH 797); 1 Thess. 5:1-11; Matt. 25:14-30
November 22 Reign of Christ/Thanksgiving Sunday. Year A. White. Gold.
Ezek. 34:11-16, 20-24; Ps. 100 (UMH 821); Eph. 1:15-23; Matt. 25:31-46
November 29 First Sunday of Advent. Year B. Purple and Blue.
Isa. 64:1-9; Ps. 80:1-7, 17-19 (UMH 801); 1 Cor. 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37
Sunday Worship Services are Posted Online by 8:00 AM | Worship at Your Leisure
Join us online via Facebook @nohofumc1 or YouTube @nohofumc
Virtual Coffee Fellowship at 11:30 AM on Zoom every Sunday | Meeting ID 893 0136 6824
Virtual Communion will be served on November 1st via our online worship service.
(Please have your communion elements ready).
Please have your articles for the Good News to the church office by November 17th for the December 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
“NoHoFUMC is a community that practices the all-inclusive and transforming love of God as modeled by the life
and ministry of Jesus Christ. We celebrate our diversity in race, ethnicity, marital status, sexual orientation, gender
identity, age, gender, ability, citizenship, and socioeconomic status. Moved by the Holy Spirit, we welcome all people
into the full participation of the life of the church.”

12. What an awesome
event! We are so
grateful to our
participants! Thank you
for dressing up,
providing candy, and
having fun! We made
the best of 2020!
See you next year!