DECEMBER 2016 Volume 33, Issue 12

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1 Northridge United Methodist Church DECEMBER 2016 Volume 33, Issue 12 12/4 (Sun.) at 4 pm A Swinging Holiday Band Concert Northridge United Methodist Church 9650 Reseda Blvd. Northridge, CA (818) Weekday Preschool: (818) /11 (Sun.) at 2:30 pm Caroling to homebound 12/11 (Sun.) at 6 pm Jazz Vespers Lanny Hartley and his friends 12/18 (Sun.) at 4 pm Choir & Handbell Concert 12/24 (Sat.) at 7 pm Family & Band Christmas Eve Service 12/24 (Sat.) at 10 pm Choir & Handbell Christmas Eve Service 12/25 (Sun.) at 10 am Christmas Day ONE Service 1/1 (Sun.) at 10 am New Year s Day ONE Service The Methodist is archived on the NUMC website. Please contact the church office for more information. Pastor...Rev. Dr. Joseph Choi Associate Pastor...Rev. Karen Murata Dir. of Senior Ministry...Char Anderson Business Manager...Dorrel Atteberry Facilities/Office Manager...Joan Coston H.R. Coordinator...Elizabeth Beckman Dir. of Youth Ministry...Steven Klotz Dir. of Preschool...Debbie Goodman Dir. of Music (9 am)..rayvon Moore Organist (9 am)...dr. Joseph Lee Dir. of Music (11 am)...jason Retana Dir. of Handbells...Ruben Mendoza Dir. of Youth Choir...Carol de Leon Dir. of Children s Choir...TBD Sunday School Lead...Amanda D Amico Sunday School Assistants...Leslie Orozco...Lindsey Woerner Sunday Childcare...Ashley Anderson...Liz Piceno Buildings and Grounds...Richard Grijalva Custodian...Chuck Grant Sunday Custodian...Matthew Nash Sound Technician...Adrian Boluarte Worship Services Sundays 9 and 11 am Sunday School & Nursery 9 and 11 am in the Kendall Building Childcare available

2 This is my second experience with a Discipleship group led by Rev. Choi in the last year. I really found the first class compelling and challenging to my thoughts of myself as a Methodist. In this second class, we chose a different book, The Wesleyan Way, where we examine the way John Wesley might have guided our thinking. I have enjoyed this class even more than my first. I am rediscovering through these study and sharing sessions, what being a Methodist means to me and why I love being a part of this ministry. I highly recommend this method of small group sharing of significant religious books to bring one closer to God and to others in our church. Valerie Hunter I am an eighteen year-old freshman at CSUN (California State University Northridge). I found the Northridge United Methodist Church after spending some time around the campus location, and I have been attending since summer. Although I am relatively new to the church, and Methodists, I am strongly enjoying my time there. When I heard of a program I could join to become more involved, I immediately became interested. I was late, having missed over half of the program, but from the times I was there I learned a lot. The book, The Wesleyan Way, did not take much time at all to read; Wednesday Evening Group Valerie Hunter (Second Right in Front Row), Jake Moreno (Second Right in Back Row) I would say it took only a few hours. I learned, from the Discipleship Program, that being a Methodist was more than just a quick skim through chapters, and in fact required fellowship. What is fellowship? From the Wednesday meetings I interpreted fellowship as a gathering of people, and not always with similar beliefs. Many people in the group brought vastly different ideas with them, and it was clear when two people did not share the same interpretation of the book. One major example of this was the most recent, and the last meeting for the year. I asked, What is God s love? It's a question I felt ridiculous for asking, but I had always taken the term God s Love without thinking about it. The question was taken very seriously, and many contrasting opinions came forward. It was suggested that God s love is the same as grace, which prompted some disagreement from others. I bring up this example to explicate the importance of belonging to some kind of religious studies class. At my Wednesday meetings, I could ask questions, and trust that their answers were informed. Walk outside and ask anyone about God s love. It is difficult, and many people may mislead or misinform. Having this Wednesday group gave me a place where I could feel safe discussing religion, while knowing I would never be judged for my ignorance or personal beliefs. I am glad I took the class, and I will be attending next year. Jake Moreno

3 Jazz Vespers on November 13 Artist Merrilyn Duzy with her artwork (L to R) Mike Flick, Doug MacDonald, Bill Paul and Lanny Hartley Photos courtesy of Teresa Priem Videos of all services are archived on YouTube. Upper Room Devotional Sundays at 7 am This Bible study sets aside time each week to read and reflect using The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide. Issues of The Upper Room are available in the Narthex and online at Book Study Sundays at 8 am Join us for our study of the book How Jesus Became God by Bart D. Ehrman. Discipleship Group Wednesday: 3/15 4/12 Thursday: 3/16 4/13 Upcoming Sermons December 4 Our Gift to Jesus: Faith Hebrews 11:1-6 December 11 Our Gift to Jesus: Hope Romans 5:1-5 December 18 Our Gift to Jesus: Love 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13 December 25 (ONE Service at 10 AM) Our Gift to Jesus: Joy Luke 2:8-12 January 1 (ONE Service at 10 AM) Our Gift to Jesus: Unity John 17:

4 Children & Family A Special Children s Choir rehearsal, led by Carol De Leon, will be held on Sunday, December 11, from 10 am-11 am in the Kendall Building. Kids will learn & practice a special song they will be singing at the 7 pm Christmas Eve Service on December 24! Children of all ages are welcome!!!

5 Mission & Outreach GIFT TO THE WORLD More and more, we want our gifts to loved ones to be meaningful and less self-serving. Make NUMC s Gift To The World, an alternative form of giving, be a part of your family tradition. Make it a teaching opportunity to children on the value of sharing. When they open their gifts on Christmas morning, tell them that one of their gifts is a gift to a child in Mexico in their name. Gift To the World provides a sure, safe way to make your Christmas gifts count. They are gifts of peace and justice, gifts that are sustainable and gifts that builds economic security. These alternative gifts multiply and grow, and offer hope and new life to people facing grave crises and need. These are authentic gifts that people really use and cherish. They always fit and are never thrown away. This year, there are five focus organizations you can designate as beneficiaries: Give Ye Them To Eat (GYTTE) in Mexico, North Valley Caring Services (NVCS) in North Hills, California, SHARE (Support for the Handicapped And their Rehabilitation Through Education) at Wesleyan University-Philippines, East Congo Women s Center in Africa, and San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission. Or you can even designate an organization of your own choosing. Pick up the Gift to The World brochures at the church office or at the GTTW table that will be open all throughout Advent after both Sunday services. (Left) UMCOR Mission Team (Below) Bob Serrano with Bishop Ciriaco Francisco

6 The Primetimers had a special treat when they were given a tour of Union Station with an excellent guide followed by lunch at the famous Clifton's Cafeteria. Photos thanks to Jim Benham, the official Primetimers photographer The Primetimers planning team is working on the events for 2017 that will be listed soon. Did You Know? Most of the Wednesday workers are seniors All of the front office volunteers are seniors The roses are trimmed, fed and cared for by a senior (say thank you to Jo-Ann Seitzinger) Most of the Soul Food crew are seniors The Memorial Reception team are all seniors Prayers Peggy Walters, Yvette Hartley, Mary Farish, Don Miller, John Turner, Pearl Adams, Millie Wambold, Christine Coons, Shirley Hersh, Rev Mark Ulrickson, Ruth Shaw A huge thank you to Nancy and Mike Easterly and all the people who brought pies, helped cut pies, set up, decorated and cleanup for the reception following the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on November 21. 6

7 Church & Society Children s Christmas Mart We are now collecting gifts for the Children's Christmas Mart. These can be dropped off in the church library. Then join us on Saturday, December 17. We will be transporting items from the church to North Valley Caring Services at 8 a.m. We will help the kids pick out their gifts and wrap from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact Amybeth Lake or the church office if you would like to volunteer at this worthwhile event. A Big Thanks to All! Northridge United Methodist hosted the CROP Walk again this year. This was 4 th consecutive year that we hosted the walk. 24 walkers came from our church! Our church has raised $4, so far. A total of 94 walkers from 10 organizations participated in the walk. A total of $13, has been raised to date. You have until November 30th to send in checks and donate online. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this a success! We can't do this without you! We are closer to reducing hunger and poverty locally, and around the world thanks to you! Next year's walk will be on Sunday, November 5. Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on November 21

8 Mission Report How NUMC Helped Light and Life UMC in Tacloban, Leyte, Build Their New Sanctuary By Eleanor Serrano In 2014, typhoon Haiyan the strongest typhoon in history to make a landfall hit and devastated the island of Leyte in the Philippines. In response, our church did two things: we sent help through UMCOR, Philippine Advance, and we assembled relief kits backpacks for children, tool kits, and first aid kits. These kits were personally delivered and distributed by one of our members Steven Koch. Afterwards, there was money left from the funds we raised. After searching online, we found the website of the Davao UM Episcopal Area to which the typhoon-ravaged area belongs. We started communicating with its Bishop and asked if we could help a UMC church affected by the typhoon. He said that they were getting ready to break ground at the Light and Life UMC in Leyte. We pledged to send them our funds to help. We are just one of the many groups that helped this project. Monks from a non-christian monastery from Malaysia donated the money to buy the land. Last February 2016, during my vacation in the Philippines, I made a side trip to visit this church. Construction was halted because they had run out of money. It needed new doors and windows, ceiling, and finishing for the façade. Two months later, last May, its bishop, the Rev Ciriaco Francisco visited and spoke at our church after attending the General Conference in Oregon. Out of the free will offering we received that day, we have raised additional funds to pay for the new doors and windows. Last month upon the invitation of the Bishop, my husband Bob attended the dedication of the new church. He was handed a plaque of appreciation naming and thanking NUMC for our help in completing the new church. This is the second church in the Philippines that our church have helped build. The first one was the Lambakin UMC in Nueva Ecjia which was finished in In addition to many of our mission outreach here and abroad, we have become instruments in growing God s kingdom. By helping build his sanctuaries and temples of worship we are helping fulfill Christ s Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). May God bless us all for having generous and giving hearts and hands.

9 December Events and Meetings 3 8:30 am All Church Hike-Parking Lot 10 to 4 pm Choir Retreat-Sanctuary 4 8:30 to12:30 pm UMW Boutique-Kendall 10:15 am Grief/caregiver support-library 12:15 Young Adult Lunch-Library 3 pm Family Cookie Decorate-F.Hall 4 pm Solid Rock Concert-Sanctuary 5 6 pm New You Holiday Pot Luck-F.Hall 7 pm Methodist Money Makers-Library 7 6 pm Soul Food Café-Fellowship Hall 11 2:30 pm Caroling to Homebound-F. Hall 5 pm Carolers return for Chili-F. Hall 6 pm Jazz Vespers-Sanctuary Lanny Hartley and Friends 12 11:30 am UMW Board Mtg-Kendall Building 7 am to 9 pm Eat Out Monday Corner Bakery, Plummer St to 12 Choir/Bells rehearse-sanctuary 10 am Children s Christmas Mart - North Valley Caring Services 12 noon Staff Party-Fireside Room 18 4 pm Christmas Concert Sanctuary 19 11:30 am Caring Ministry 20 11:30 am Noon Fellowship Lunch-Kendall 5 pm Finance-Library 21 11:30 am Caring Ministry-Kendall Building 24 7 pm Christmas Eve Family Service with NUMC Solid Rock Band 10 pm Christmas Eve Service with Chancel Choir, Celebration Ringers am Special Christmas Day Service Regular Weekly Events Mondays: UMW Arts and Crafts 9 am T ai Chi (1st & 3rd) 10 am Kendall Bldg Fireside Rm Tuesdays: Cracker Barrel 10 am Library Worship Band Rehearsal 7:30 pm Sanctuary Wednesdays: Maintenance 8:30 am Church Office Volunteers (WMD) WORMS 9:30 am Kendall Bldg. Jubilee Bells 5:30 pm Room 5/6 Celebration Ringers 7 pm Room 5/6 Thursdays: Chancel Choir 7:30 pm Sanctuary Fridays: Cracker Barrel 10 am Library T ai Chi 10 am Fellowship Hall Sundays: Devotional Group 7 am Library Adult Study 8 am Library Worship Services 9 & 11 am Sanctuary Breakfast between services Sunday School 9 & 11am Kendall Bldg. Grades Preschool-5 in Kendall Building Infant/Toddler Care in Nursery All morning Youth & Youth Choir 10:00 am Room 5/6 Youth Confirmation Class Sunday-YAC December 11 & 18 (last class) January ~ 10 am ONE Service 4 ~ Soul Food Café in Fellowship Hall 7 ~ All Church Hike 9 ~ Red Cross Blood Drive 28 ~ North District Leadership Training Northridge United Methodist Church

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