Good News November & December

Out newsletter is now available to read online. We hope you will download it and reference it often for what's happinging at NoHo First UMC. We have a lot of community events and would love to see you here in person as you are able. If you would like a hard copy please pick one up at church or give the church office your contact info including your address and one can be mailed to you. More info here: www.nohofumc.org

Transcript

1. First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood GOOD NEWS November | December 2026 4832 Tujunga Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91601 (818) 763-8231 | www.nohofumc.org | admin@nohofumc.org A Note from Pastor Krista Grace and peace to you as we conclude 2026 and begin a new year together! GOOD NEWS is published bi-monthly by First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood, California. Rev. Dottie Escobedo Frank Bishop Rev. Garth Gilliam District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Krista S. Givens Pastor Patty Kelsey Director of Outreach & Congregational Nurture Tonya Peat Director of Social Media & Digital Outreach April Anderson Of ce Administrator Nylean Rapinac Membership & Financial Secretary Dr. Yu Hang Tan Director of Music Ministries Letha Watts Sunday School & Nursery Scott Faucett Custodian Norman Kelsey Lay Leader Officially I will mark the end of my second year as your pastor and the beginning of my third year as we begin 2027 and I continually thank God for bringing us together. Our ministry at First UMC North Hollywood has been a blessed period of meaningful work and significant growth, as we have supported one another during this challenging time. As we - once again - pledge to love God and love our neighbors, I am pleased to report how we responded to God and God’s people in 2026. First, I must begin with our amazing staff: Patty, Tonya, April, Nylean, Yu Hang, Scott and Letha. Each week, they provide us the opportunity to worship joyfully together, to develop relationships within our church family and to serve outside our walls. In January, we lost our beloved organist of 43 years, Roger Eshleman. What a loss to our music program, our Sunday worship, to our staff and to our church family. In March, we celebrated Roger with a beautiful memorial service and in September we dedicated the organ in his name. We continued our tradition of honoring our cultures and traditions with the celebration of Black History month and Juneteenth, AANHPI (Asian American/ Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) Heritage month in May, Native American Heritage with a special offering to Sherman Indian High School, Hispanic Heritage with a special El Salvadorian meal, and our Annual Luau event featuring Polynesian music, dancers and a wonderful meal. This year, we also celebrated Filipino Heritage month for the first time. In worship, we combined Women’s History month with UWF Sunday and celebrated the contributions of our United Methodist women. And on Scout Sunday, we had the largest participation of scouts (girls, boys and cubs) on the 85th anniversary of Troop 18. fi (continued on the inside cover)
2. Our Holy week offerings were well-attended and meaningful, focusing on the contributions of our laity. Thanks to the organization, planning and preaching of our Lay Leader Norman Kelsey, our Laity Sunday on October 18th was a celebration of ministry, call and the unified vision of NoHo FUMC. Our children helped us lead worship on October 25th for our “Children’s Sabbath.” This was our first time inviting the kids and youth to read scripture, take over “Children’s Time” and lead the prayers during worship and it was a blessing to us all. Our Bible Study program has developed from Wednesday nights to Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoon offerings. While Patty and Norman Kelsey lead our new Faith and Life lectionary bible study on Sunday afternoons, I continue to lead the Wednesday night group. During our Wednesday Night Bible Study, we’ve completed studies of “An Unlikely Lent” by Rachel Billups, “Simon Peter” and “Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times” by Adam Hamilton, “Christian History Made Easy” by Timothy Paul Jones, and many weeks of Lectionary Study directly from our biblical texts. With the addition of our “Faith and Life” Sunday afternoon bible study, we have as many as 25-30 people involved in bible study each week! We’ve built upon our relationship with Wesley School with a monthly lunch shared with our office staff and the Wesley administrative staff. This has been a time for us to develop relationships based on a mutual desire for both entities to thrive. Our Board also hosted the Wesley Board at a “Meet and Greet” event in March with food, games and a general discussion about our two organizations that share our facility. Some other highlights of the year include: 9 new members as of Nov. 3, 2026, and we have more members to add before the • end of the year. Our NoHo FUMC booth at the San Fernando Valley Pride Festival! • Jon Laciste, the co-chair of our Love Thy Neighbor Mission team, received the • Outstanding Lay Person of the Year for the North District of our Cal-Pac Annual Conference. Using our designated funds, we purchased new tables and chairs for our courtyard • activities and renovated the church office. In my personal life, 2026 continued my journey of transitions as I moved from Pasadena into my new cottage in Altadena in January. In July, my beloved dog of 13 years, Po passed away. It has been a powerful loss but in October I welcomed a 1 1/2 year old golden retriever named Sophie into the family. Although I will be mourning Po’s loss for a long time, I am grateful Sophie and I found one another. In August I took my annual trip to India as a representative of the non-profit organization I founded called Friends of Padhar Schools. And with gratitude to God and to my NoHo FUMC family, I am able to visit and care for my parents twice weekly. Praise be to God, who encourages us to be together, who gives us strength to persevere when life is challenging, who blesses us with gifts and opportunities to move us forward. May God continue to bless us, Pastor Krista
8. Join us for Bible Study! November & December
10. As it is near the end of the year, your Trustees team will be going through a few changes. I first want to thank my Trustees Co-Chair, Chris Moore, who finished his 3-year term as Trustees Co-Chair, for all your dedication and service. Our congregation is full of gratitude for all the time you had put in maintaining our church campus here at NOHO FUMC. Looking ahead to the New Year, I am excited to announce our new Trustees team in the next church newsletter! Our goal is to enhance the worship and fellowship experience for the congregation by maintaining and upgrading our beautiful campus to match the modern demands of today. Here are some highlights as well as some plans in the works: Cleanup Project Phase 2: Planning is currently in the works with a much bigger scope of work for organizing and cleaning up spaces around the church campus to maximize use of all spaces efficiently. Capital Improvement Projects Update: Electrical work for the new sound system will have logistical walkthroughs during the beginning of November and work is currently planned during Thanksgiving break. Once electrical work has been completed, we will then look at upgrading the sanctuary sound system. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to myself or any of the Church Office and Board Members as we are here to serve you and the church! Celebrating a New Grant! We are excited to share that United Women in Faith at NOHO First UMC has been awarded a $2,000 grant from the United Women in Faith National Of ce to support work addressing the school-to-prison pipeline. This grant provides seed funding for local projects working to interrupt practices and systems that too often push children and youth— particularly young people of color—out of schools and toward involvement with the criminal justice system. United Women in Faith encourages projects that listen to and include the voices of those directly impacted and that build partnerships within the community. A special thank you to Ijumaa Jordan, a member of our congregation and United Women in Faith, who took the initiative to apply for this grant on behalf of our local unit (with the assistance of Lynn Yoshizumi). Because of their efforts, we now have $2,000 to put faith into action on behalf of children and youth in our community. We look forward to sharing more as this project takes shape and to finding ways our UWF will be participating in this important work. Congratulations to Ijumaa, Lynn, and our United Women in Faith and thank you for helping NOHO First continue to tur n compassion into action! Sponsor a veteran’s wreath this Christmas as a gift of gratitude to those who served our country. fi Wreaths are $17 and will be placed on December 19th at a local cemetery. In 2025, we sponsored 22 wreaths that were place on veteran’s headstones at Mountain View Mortuary in Altadena. Please contact Norman Kelsey to sponsor a wreath.
11. Scout Scribe Report Violet Penn Troop 18G - Scribe Troop 18 has not strayed from its tight-knit dynamics and eagerness to learn new skills, as the past few months have been chocked full of campouts, community bonding, and opportunities to grow and achieve. For example, during the scouts' service weekend at Camp Whitsett in May, Troop 18 helped the other scouts set up tents in their designated campsites, and after that, they were free to enjoy the weekend with board games such as Pick Your Poison. One camper claims some of the troop members even "rode a tree"! Then, in late May, the scouts were provided an opportunity by First Aid merit badge counselor Dan Doggett to knock an Eagle-required merit badge off their list by attending a dedicated session over the weekend, with about half of the participating scouts choosing the Saturday session or the Monday session. Those who visited the scout hut for in-person discussions, necessary practices, and hands-on demonstrations received the First Aid merit badge during the Court of Honor on June 24th, which may have been one of the most impressive in terms of achievement through the past few years. Other merit badges, including Swimming, Canoeing, and Lifesaving were offered by merit badge counselor Mario Corado in the weeks leading up to the Court of Honor as well; this was an effort to allow scouts to pursue other water-related merit badges at Camp Emerald Bay, the choice for this year's summer camping trip. An overwhelming amount of scouts attended these events and earned the badges, marking a period of exceptional participation from the troop and enabling those interested in the Kayaking, Small Boat Sailing, and Motorboating merit badges to earn them during summer camp. Emerald Bay was nothing short of an adventure for every Troop 18 scout and adult who took the extremely windy boat ride there and back. Scouts took merit badge classes ranging from Shotgun Shooting to Basketry to Energy, as well as the aquatic options previously mentioned. Additionally, there were a range of activities on the table to fill their off-time, whether it was a bike ride up a mountain that allowed a view of a separate part of the island, or a 9-mile hike up Silver Peak that took scouters above the clouds for a beautiful sunset. Nobody found themselves bored at Emerald Bay for this reason, but the biggest event everyone at the camp was looking forward to, was War Canoe Day, taking place either on Tuesday or Wednesday for each troop. On Wednesday, July 15th, Troop 18 and others embarked on a daring trip around the island to Parson's Beach, where they would be spending the night. The water was rough and the work was strenuous, but our scouts showed collaboration skills unlike any other troop. After arriving at Parson's, most scouts spent their day on the shore or in the water, while others searched for shady places or a spot underneath one tarp the adults were using to beat the heat. However, the end of the day was rewarding, as everyone laid out their sleeping bag and spent a night sleeping under the stars and the open sky.
12. A Cup of Water Jon Laciste, Missions Co-Chair We are entering the season of giving, a time that can be joyous and stressful - joyous in giving someone something they’ve wanted, and stressful from the struggle to obtain/pay for the gift. Societal pressure to fulfill a want has become normal during the season of giving where we feel guilt not being able to give the way we want, especially if we ourselves are struggling. With so much uncertainty in our lives today and environment we are living in right now, how can we all approach giving during the holidays? The sermon, “Call of Welcome,” from Pastor Krista and the lesson from Faith and Life Bible Study on June 28, 2026, has been on my mind this entire year and amazing how God’s message comes full circle. In the sermon and Bible Study, a cup of water was seen as the ultimate sign of hospitality back then. Simply, “to give a cup of cold water was a symbol of meeting another person’s essential needs.” This was made evident in Love Thy Neighbor’s event the following day where our Missions Team provided a simple meal to the day laborers at the Van Nuys Job Center while the World Cup was being played inside the center. Seeing all the workers watching Brazil vs Japan while enjoying the meal and community was heartwarming. Brazil won that game, and the 2 Brazilians were letting all the other workers know that they were on top of the world! From the message that Sunday, “we are not asked to do great things for others, give simple things that any person can give.” Seeing such happiness within that community from just fulfilling a need was a gift! Dr. Galloway’s message on August 15, 2026, to “remember our story and who we are as Jesus’ people” reaffirms Love Thy Neighbor’s mission to continue fulfilling the needs of those we are serving. This year, we are reminded that God providing will always be a known factor during a time when unknown factors make it difficult to give. One example of God providing a way for Love Thy Neighbor to give is through grant funding! A special thank you to my Missions Co-Chair, Patty, for leading this, we applied for 3 grants which were: 1. 2. 3. Justice and Compassion Ministries Hunger Grant UMCOR Mustard Seed Refugee and Migrant Wellness Grant Justice and Compassion and UMCOR Feeding Ministries for Immigrants Grant We applied for 3 and were awarded all 3 for a total of $7,500 in grant funding which will be used for our upcoming service projects, and if you are looking for a way to give during this holiday season, we’d like to invite you to participate in one our service projects this year as we try to reach our goal to touch 10,000 lives! Currently, we are at about 8,438 lives touched! One of the ways God continues to nudge our Love Thy Neighbor Missions Team is by reminding us that our neighbors aren't only those we meet outside the walls of our church. Sometimes our neighbor is sitting right beside us. We want NOHO First to be a community where people know they can both offer help and receive help when they need it.
13. One way we're doing this is through our Community Cupboard, located in the Hand in Hand Room, the last door on your right as you exit toward the South Parking Lot. Inside you'll find hygiene products, towels, and other necessities available to anyone who needs them, no questions asked. The room is open on Sundays, and we encourage everyone to take a look. If you'd like to donate items to help keep the cupboard stocked, please talk with Patty before leaving donations. We're also offering Metro/TAP cards to members of our congregation who may be experiencing financial hardship and need help with public transportation. Cards are available through Patty in the church office with an initial $5 fare. When you need additional fare, simply return the card to the office and we'll exchange it for another while yours is reloaded. Again, this assistance is here because sometimes we all need a little help and that's part of what it means to be a church family. Sharing Love This Christmas As we enter the holiday season, there are even more opportunities to Love Thy Neighbor! We're excited to introduce Angel Tree 2026, led by our wonderful team members Jaz and Andrew. Look for the Angel Tree article in this issue to get details. Our angels include families connected with the Refugee Children's Center, members of our extended NoHo First community, and others with whom we've built relationships through our ministries. We want to make sure our care extends to our own NOHO First church family as well. We know the holidays can bring additional financial pressures, and sometimes a little help with essentials, groceries, gas, transportation, or another everyday need can make a meaningful difference. You are able to make your request discreetly at church. Just go to Boyer Chapel and look for the request box. And don't forget another longtime NOHO First tradition our Annual Christmas Tree Lot, led by Dan and Muffett! Consider volunteering for a shift at the lot. The proceeds help support numerous organizations and ministries during the holiday season, so every tree sold becomes another way our congregation gives back. Whether we're serving a meal at the Job Center, helping a refugee family celebrate Christmas, stocking our Community Cupboard, or simply noticing that someone within our own church family could use a hand, the call is the same: Love your neighbor and remember that your neighbor may be closer than you think. At the School of Congregational Development that our North District Co-Lay Leaders Patty and Norman attended, this past August, a quote was shared with me from a keynote speaker, “complexity doesn’t scale, simplicity does.” Taking this mindset in our everyday lives can be a gift to someone. Being kind to one another, checking in with each other, and looking out for others is the simplest form we can show God working in our lives. If you’re ever struggling to figure out what to give during this season of giving, start by giving a cup of water! If you would like more information on Love Thy Neighbor, how to get involved with Missions Ministry, or you’d like a t-shirt, please contact myself, Patty, or any one of our Love They Neighbor team members! On behalf of myself, Patty, and all our Love Thy Neighbor team members, we wish everyone an amazing Thanksgiving and Christmas!
14. The Pantry is unable to accept our donations currently because they are overwhelmed with donations. We are no longer collecting brown grocery bags. If you would like to donate to them send money to their website.
15. The Angel Tree Is Up By Jaz Pinero & Andrew Stum, Love Thy Neighbor Representatives The Angel Tree is up in the main entrance, brought to us by Love Thy Neighbor. Starting November 1st, paper angels will appear on the tree, each with a gift idea for someone in need. Take an angel, buy the gift, and bring it back unwrapped with the angel still attached. You can drop gifts at the tree or in the church office starting November 15th. The final collection day is December 6th. There is no limit, so take as many angels as you like. The Angel Tree is for our church family too. Sometimes Christmas is harder than it looks from the pew, and there is no shame in that. If you or someone in your household could use some help this year, request forms and sealed envelopes are in the prayer chapel, next to a locked box. Fill one out, seal it, and drop it in. Only Pastor Krista has the key, and no one else will see your request or know it came from you.
16. THE CHRISTMAS TREE WITH A HEART IS BACK!!!!! IťЍŜϙťēÍťϙťĖıôϙĺċϙƅôÍŘϙÍČÍĖIJ. It is Tree Lot time. Did you know our Tree Lot has very special trees that no other lot in the area has? Our Trees will help provide food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, relief for those during natural disasters, and a second chance for often forgotten four-legged friends. See, our Trees are the Christmas Tree with the Heart which supports great organizations like North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry, UMCOR, our very own Love Thy Neighbor Projects, and other great organizations. Unfortunately, ťēôϙťŘôôŜϙèÍIJЍťϙsell and load themselves onto cars. That is where we desperately need you. We have positions for all skill levels from just being a friendly face that says, ЊWelcomeЋϠ to the opportunity to build some real muscles moving trees while fellowshipping with your Church Family, the Scout Troop, and the Wesley School. This is truly a campus wide event that brings our entire community together. To sign-up, please scan the QR Code or use the link below to visit our SignUpGenius Page. We encourage the church membership to please try to sign up for the later shifts on Saturday and Sunday. The 4pm ϳ 6pm and 6pm ϳ 8pm shifts on Saturday and Sunday are often understaffed but of course we are appreciative of whatever time you can give us. https://tinyurl.com/1st-UMC-Wesley-Tree-Lot "ĺIJЍťϙċĺŘČôťϙťĺϙťôīīϙƅĺŪŘϙċŘĖôIJîŜϙÍæĺŪťϙĺŪŘϙČŘôÍťϙťŘôôŜϙthat will brighten ôŽôŘƅĺIJôЍŜ holidays!
17. For more information reach out to Shanna!
19. CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS $10 EACH Help create our traditional Poinsettia Christmas Tree! Dedicate a plant in memory, in honor, or in celebration of someone special. Poinsettias may be taken home following Christmas Eve Worship. Ordered by: In Memory of # Plants: In Honor of In Celebration of Dedicated to: Given by: Thank you for helping make our sanctuary beautiful this Christmas! Total: $
20. November 5 - Frank Rapinac November 6 - Dan Nishimura November 10 - Patricia Doelitzsch November 10 - Linda Eshleman November 11 - Suellen Vance November 25 - Jesse Boone November 25 - Hannah Ye-Books November 27 - Bryan Ancheta November 28 - Warlito Laciste November 28 - McKenna Sucher November 28 - Libeck Vieten December 1 - Laura Hovermale December 5 - Anita McChesney December 11 - Jon Laciste December 11 - Myriel Tyree December 17 - Cary Noren December 18 - Jeff Thomas December 20 - Genelita Ancheta December 21 - Matthew Noren December 21 - James St. John December 24 - Tracy Radillo December 24 - Dr. Yu Hang Tan December 24 - John Walter • Scott Faucett received news that the 3.7 cm mass/tumor on his brain stem is an encapsulated aneurysm. He has been cleared for work and is learning to live with his new diagnosis. • Jim Tyree’s cousin, Lillian Craycraft, in Catlettsburg, Kentucky passed away in October from cancer. • Lisa Cheby’s friend, Xochitl, is doing much better and back to normal activity. Thank you for your prayers. • Patty & Norman Kelsey ask for prayers for long time from, Hardy Parungao, who has been diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. Half of his colon was removed and he is now undergoing chemotherapy treatments. • Sue Longnecker had a double lung transplant. • Mary Ann Barron needs prayers for stage 4 metastatic cancer that is now in her bones. • Dani St. Clair’s uncle, Bill Steinmeyer is doing his best to live with brain cancer. Dani’s cousin, Aly Holvik could use prayers as she is not only a caregiver for her husband, Bill, but also taking care of their child. • Morenike Lake is healing from a successful rotator cuff surgery. • Prayers for Jaz Pinero’s health, as she lives with lymphoma. • Mychal Guyton will have another procedure soon to maintain his bands that prevent dangerous bleeding. • Michael Sweetman lost his job and still has not found work. Please send him any leads you may have. • Homebound: Joyce Cunningham, Bill Varney, Dottie Vick, Rhonda Scott. • Prayers for our friends at the Van Nuys Job Center, LA Community Fridges, Refugee Children’s Center, Hoving Home, House of Ruth Los Angeles, NOHO Home Alliance. • Prayers for our leaders, our nation, and our world. • Prayers for those struggling with health, relationships, finances, mental health. You can send your joys and concerns in a variety of ways: 1. Contact the church office at (818) 763-8231 or pattyfumc@gmail.com 2. Drop a note in the offering plate on Sunday 3. Let us know if this is a private prayer, for the prayer chain only, or if it can be shared with the congregation.
21. LECTIONARY SCRIPTURE (YEAR A & B) Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost. Communion Sunday. White. Joshua 3:7-17; Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37; 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13; Matthew 23:1-12. November 1 November 8 Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost. Green. Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25; Psalm 78:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13. November. 15 Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost. Green. Judges 4:1-7; Psalm 123; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30. November 22 Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost. White. Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Psalm 100; Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46. November 29 First Sunday of Advent. Purple. Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37. December 6 Second Sunday of Advent. Communion Sunday. Purple. Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8. December 13 Third Sunday of Advent (Year B). Purple. Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28. December 20 December 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B). Purple. 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Luke 1:46b-55; Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38. Christmas Eve (Year B). Communion served. White. Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14, (15-20). December 27 First Sunday after Christmas (Year B). White. Luke 2:22-40 Sunday Worship Services are Posted Online by Wednesday | Worship In-Person at 10:30 AM Join us online via YouTube @nohofumc Communion will be served, in-person, on November 1, December 6 & 24. 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.”