First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood shares updates in their January 2023 newsletter. They celebrate Christmas festivities and look forward to their Souper Bowl Sunday food drive. The pastor introduces the church's 2023 theme of "Growing Belief into Faith and Action" and goals of setting mission/values, increasing attendance, replacing the sanctuary roof, and developing new leaders. They provide the sermon series and worship highlights for January.

1. First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood
GOOD NEWS
e-mail: nohofumc@gmail.com
JANUARY 2023
facebook.com/nohofumc1 www.nohofumc.org
IN THIS ISSUE:
• Souper Bowl Sunday
• Epiphany Party
• Christmas Festivities
• Altar Flower Dedications
• United Women of Faith
GOOD NEWS is published monthly by
First United Methodist Church of North
Hollywood, California 91601
Phone (818) 763-8231
Rev. Dottie Escobedo-Frank
Bishop
Rev. Melissa MacKinnon
District Superintendent
Rev. Steven F. Peralta
Senior Pastor
Congregation
Ministers
Michael McKenzie
Director of Music
Roger Eshleman
Organist
Nylean Rapinac
Administrator
Patty Kelsey
Director, Program Ministries
Tonya Peat
Director, Digital & Social Media
“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will
bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6, NRSV
This year, millions of people had their travel plans disrupted. An untimely winter
storm ground countless flights, and for Southwest Airlines, a perfect storm of
being understaffed and having too few pilots caused over 2,600 flights to be
cancelled. Needless to say, this wasn’t a good year to be traveling in the United
States.
I share these things because the New Year is here: welcome to 2023! Once again
we turn the page and open up the new, blank calendars (although, if you are like
me and dependent upon your electronic calendars, 2023 is already full of plans
and events!). Typically I have found the New Year to be a quite, peaceful time: a
time to reflect on the past and plan for the future.
But this year, it doesn’t feel peaceful...this year it feels restless. We have made it
through the pandemic and now life is coming at us full-speed. In order to face
the renewed pace of life and to move forward into the future, we will need to
think differently as a church. We will need to think more about the community
around us and where we can connect with people outside of our congregation,
in order to make the love God revealed in Jesus Christ present in the world.
Change brings disruption. Challenges create moments of decisions and choices.
Each one will have an impact upon how we do ministry and how we grow as a
congregation. However, we must use these things as opportunities, rather than
disruption. Poor decisions and poor preparation left Southwest Airline unable to
serve their customers in a very important window of time and it will take months
for them to make up for the money lost and to regain the trust of their
customers.
As we start 2023, I want to share with you a theme for our church: Growing
Belief into Faith and Action. I came upon this theme in September, when I was
working on my preaching plan for 2023. The lectionary passages all seemed to
point to this idea that the life of faith isn’t simply an intellectual process of belief;
it is taking those beliefs and using them to direct your decisions and action.
Ultimately, we have to make faith real, so that it is good news for all people.
In line with this ministry theme, we have set a few goals for our church:
1. Set our mission, values, and goals.
2. Increase Sunday morning attendance to 100.
3. Replace the roof on the Sanctuary.
4. Recruit and develop new congregational leadership.
(Continued on page 7)

2. January 1 Re-Locating Jesus Matthew 2:13-17
Happy New Year! In a world full of people seeking asylum from war and violence, we remember that the
Holy Family sought asylum in Egypt and that even when Life brings disruption and fear, God is at work.
January 8 The Water of Preparation
On this Epiphany Sunday, we will compare the gifts the magi brought to Jesus to the waters of baptism
he receives from John, and ask, “What does baptism provide for us in our lives?” This sermon begins a
new series called “A Disciple’s Path.”
January 15 Come and See John 1:29-42
We continue in our series, moving from baptism into discipleship. We are invited to “Come and See” if
anything good comes from Nazareth.
January 22 Casting Nets Matthew 4:12-23
Jesus gave his disciples a calling: to be fishers of people. As we examine our lives, what are we doing
that can be transformed to serve God’s Kingdom? What nets has Jesus given us?
January 29 You Know What is Right Micah 6:1-8
God desires obedience, not sacrifice. According to Micah, we already know what to do; we just have to do it.
HIGHLIGHTS OF VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON WORSHIP
Tune in every Sunday for a brand new worship service!
We share on YouTube @nohofumc and on Facebook @nohofumc1.
Vocals - Michael McKenzie
Moment with Children - Patty Kelsey
December 4 - Promised Peace
December 11 - Worth the Wait
December 18 - Mary’s Song
December 24 & 25- All About Jesus
Scripture Reader
December 4 - Jonash Poyaoan
December 11 - Holly Gibson
December 18 - Hannah Ye-Books
December 24 & 25 - Daniella Lake
Advent Wreath Readers & Candle Lighters In Person
Candle of Peace - Tonya & Ashley Peat
Candle of Joy - Libeck, Shaun & Avery Vieten
Candle of Love - Tammy, Mateo, Mahattan, & Malibu Messina
Candle of Hope - Dr. Lancelot Lake, Morenike, Dianne, Darrel, & Daniella
Christ Candle - Hannah, Josie, Jackson, & Jason Books
Matthew 3:13-17
Pastor Steve’s Sermon Series: The Grinch Who Found Christmas
Sermon Titles and Scripture
December 4 - Mistaking Christmas| Isaiah 11:1-10
December 11 - Seeking Light| Isaiah 35:1-10
December 18 - Magnifying Joy| Matthew 1:18-25
December 24- Making Room in Your Heart | Luke 2:1-20
December 25 - The Grinch Who Saved Christmas | John 1:1-11
Sermon Series - “A Disciples Path”
We have five Sundays to praise the Lord in January of 2023. The first Sunday stands alone with a Covenant
Renewal and Communion, and the following Sundays begin a new sermon series, “A Disciple’s Path.”
Organist/Pianist - Roger Eshleman

4. To order flowers for the chancel, fill out the order form below and place in the offering plate or
drop it in the church office mail slot..
It’s time to think about dedicating altar flowers in
honor or in memory of your loved one in 2023!
Each arrangement is $30 and includes an
announcement in the bulletin for the Sunday
selected.
You may take home the bouquet arrangement
following worship.
Today’s Date: _________________________
Name(s): __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Daytime Phone: ____________________________________________
Email: ____________________________________________________
All dates are available in 2023 currently.
Dates Requested: ___________________________________________
Floral Dedication:
(Please check one of the following and write the specifics of your dedication in the
space provided below)
In Honor of ___________________________________________
In Celebration of _______________________________________
In Memory of _________________________________________
Check enclosed for arrangement ($30). Checks made payable to FUMC.
Single bud vase may also be ordered at $10 each. You may also take the entire vase home following
worship. Red and Pink roses for baby announcements. White roses for death. Special colors for life
milestones like an engagement or graduation. Please contact the church office prior to the weekend.

5. Christmas Weekend Joy
We were elated to welcome over 200 guests to our
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, worship services!
Delightful music, readings, and inspiring messages, made
Christmas weekend incredibly meaningful.

6. vs.
It’s that time of year football fans! So here’s the game plan:
We are collecting cans of soup on January 15, 22 & 29 and on
Super/Souper Bowl Sunday, February 5 & 12!
Place your donations of soup in the BIN you think will WIN!
We will have collection bins available for each conference in the Main Sanctuary.
Help us collect 200 cans of soup and tackle hunger for the
North Hollywood Inter-Faith Food Pantry.
*Please consider donating soups high in protein or heartier soups
The Christmas Tree Lot
As we close December out, we say with joy that the
Christmas Tree Lot is definitely back! Our partnership
with the Wesley School provided us with more hands
and smiles on the lot and together, we sold over 500
trees! Not bad after taking two years off!
Final figures are still being calculated, but we estimate
a profit between five and six thousand dollars which
will be split evenly between the North Hollywood
Interfaith Food Pantry, Hope of the Valley, UMCOR,
LA Family Housing, and Paws for Life.
As we look to 2023, we are all on-board with making
the lot happen. We will be looking for ways to tighten
up the connection between the Wesley School and
FUMC, as well as looking for new leadership
to strengthen the effort to do good in the world
together.
Special thanks to Muffett Brinkman and Dan Doggett,
who spent many hours on the lot making things
happen. This could not have happened without their
dedication and hard work!

7. Wishing you a year filled with blessings!
Love, Your Church Family
January 4 Molly Moffatt
January 6 Anthony Duffy
January 8 Paul Ellis
January 9 Dexter Moffatt
January 10 Pam Orchard
January 11 Abbey Thomas
January 11 Emma Thomas
January 16 Jake Orchard
January 24 Dennis Parnell
January 24 Steve Watts
January 26 Annabelle Peat
January 28 Julie Shuford
January 30 Phillip Mottaz
Wendy Welch’s brother-in-law, had complications following shoulder surgery. He has issues with his
hands trembling.
Charles Minetree requests prayers for his wife, Carrie, who underwent breast cancer surgery on
December 12th and for his Mother, who has shingles.
Jim Tyree’s cousin, Christine Ranker, passed away in Ohio, after a brief illness. Prayers for family
appreciated.
Roger Eshleman’s sister, Joan Velde, has reported that the
treatments she has undergone recently for her lymphoma
cancer, have not been successful. She will now undergo
radiaton beginning, January 2nd, for approximately 3 weeks.
She has a tumor that his pressing on her throat.
Mychal Guyton underwent a TIPS procedure, (transjugular
intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) on December 27th, that was
successful. He is recuperating and welcomes prayers.
Pastor’s Cover Letter Continued
These are the goals and each one represents a significant investment of time and energy and
dedication to accomplish. Each goal also carries within it the possibility for change and
disruption...and it’s up to us to see each one as opportunity.
I believe in the scripture at the top of this article...and I believe that a year of opportunities is
right in front of us. Together, with God’s help. Let’s make this a great year!
Happy New Year!
Pastor Steve

8. Sunday Worship Services are Posted Online Saturday Eve| Worship In-Person at 10:30 AM
Join us online via Facebook @nohofumc1 or YouTube @nohofumc
Communion will be served, in-person, on January 1st, New Year’s Day, during worship.
Please have your articles for the Good News to the church office by January 17th for the February 2023 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.”
LECTIONARY READINGS FOR JANUARY 2023 - Year A
January 1 New Year’s Day. White.
Matthew 2:1-12
January 8 Epiphany Sunday/Baptism of the Lord. White or Gold.
Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17
January 15 Second Sunday After the Epiphany. Green.
Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42
January 22 Third Sunday After the Epiphany. Green.
Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 4-9; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23
January 29 Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany. Green.
Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12