November 21, 2012

Vol. 29, Issue 24

OFFICE: (818) 886-1555 FAX: (818) 886-9105

WWW.NORTHRIDGEUMC.ORG WEEKDAY PRESCHOOL: (818) 886-4949 SUNDAY WORSHIP AT 9:00 & 11:00 AM

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors

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BISHOP MINERVA CARCAÑO

DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT CEDRICK BRIDGEFORTH

REV. STEVE PETTY

KATIE KEVORKIAN, DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH MINISTRIES

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Friday, November 30, 7:30 PM Friends of Music Concert

John West — Organist / Composer with beautiful and familiar music to welcome the season

Sunday, December 2, 3:30 PM

Advent Craft Workshop and the Bob Baker Marionettes

Wednesday, December 5, 5 PM

“Journey to Peace and Light” Escape the holiday madness and rediscover the

meaning of Christmas at this self-guided interactive walk through the scripture of The Nativity.

Sunday, December 9, 4 PM

Christmas Concert in the Sanctuary NUMC music programs present

“Gloria in Excelsis Deo”.

Saturday, December 15, 10 AM to Noon

Children’s Christmas Mart at North Valley Caring Services, 15453 Rayen Street

Give the true gift of Christmas to a child — the gift of giving.

Saturday, December 15, 1 PM

“Christmas Home Tour”

See lovely Christmas decorations and enjoy Christmas music at each home.

Sunday, December 16, 3 PM

Caroling to Homebound

Meet in Fellowship Hall

Monday, December 24

Children’s Christmas Eve Service A special service for children and families

5:30 PM in the Sanctuary

Candlelight with Worship Band

Christmas Eve Service 8 PM in the Sanctuary

Candlelight with Chancel Choir

and Celebration Ringers

Christmas Eve Service 11 PM in the Sanctuary

Advent and Christmas Events at NUMC

Be sure to mark your calendar for these special NUMC events.

The Preacher’s Part

Upcoming Sermons

November 25

“Getting Blessed” –– Genesis 12: 1-4a

Advent Sermon Series

December 2: 1st Sunday of Advent: HOPE

“Mary or the Mayans” –– Luke 21: 25-36

December 9: 2nd Sunday of Advent: PEACE

“Advent Speakers” –– Luke 3: 1-6

December 16: 3rd Sunday of Advent: JOY

“Look Again!” –– Philippians 4: 4-7

December 23: 4th Sunday of Advent: LOVE

“Stable Time” –– Luke 1: 39-45

December 24

A special service for children and families, 5:30 PM

Family Christmas Eve led by Solid Rock, 8 PM

Formal Service led by Chancel Choir, 11 PM

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Thanksgiving should be the easiest thing in the world to

do. I’m not just talking about eating the feast, though that is

certainly easy to do at our house.

I’m talking about living every day with a thankful atti-

tude. It should be easy to look at the blessings God gives us

every day and be incredibly thankful. This thankfulness

should be so pervasive that it should overshadow all the

attacks that negativity will make upon it throughout the day.

Yet, for many of us, this just doesn’t happen.

I confess that one of my greatest weaknesses is a total

failure to write “Thank You!” cards. If you have a thank-

you card from me, cherish that puppy because it is rarer

than a winning lottery ticket.

I think this is because my mother demanded them of

me. She would write thank-you notes to people because it

was expected of her and because it ingratiated people to her.

But she never thanked her family for our gifts to her.

Somehow our gifts were always insufficient and unworthy

of thanks.

So, I developed some terrible attitudes: that all compli-

ments are disingenuous, all thank-you notes are obligatory,

and all gifts have strings attached.

Even though I knew instinctively that these attitudes

were wrong, the discontinuity of those two competing atti-

tudes just froze me in my tracks.

I was thirty-five before I learned to give gifts without

expecting reciprocity.

It took me another ten years to learn how to accept a

compliment.

And I still have trouble writing a sincere thank-you

note; even when I put it in my calendar to do, life just fills

up my time with other tasks and that one goes wanting.

Yet, all is not lost: Because I always knew that those

attitudes were wrong, I was able to cultivate a strong perva-

sive attitude of wonder and gratitude for the simple gifts of

daily living.

Perhaps you are like me in some regard. Perhaps life

swamps you with negativity at times. Perhaps you find it

easier these days to be down about things than to be up

about things. Perhaps you are much more pessimistic about

the future and feel there is just no reason to be optimistic.

I found it useful to start small and work up to the bigger

things. God gives us messages all day long that should en-

courage and sustain us. Yet, usually we are cultivating mes-

sages that are louder and more glaring that send us counter-

manding suggestions. So, start small and look for the signs

of hope.

Find a new flower. This is Southern California; flowers

of some kind bloom here all year long. Open your eyes and

look for a new flower — one that wasn’t there yesterday —

and appreciate its color, fragrance, and boldness.

Watch a child, with a child’s eyes, for at least a minute.

(That’s a long time in a child’s world.) Imagine what it is

that the child is seeing and thinking about in that instant.

Call someone you haven’t talked to in a week and just

say, “Hi, I was thinking about you. What’s up? Tell me

something that is wonderful with you.”

Say grace before every meal. Yep, every meal! Before

anything goes into your mouth, say “Thank you, God!” Do

it at breakfast, snack, coffee break, lunch, afternoon nibbles,

drinks with friends, dinner, dessert out, midnight snacks,

etc. Saying thanks changes mindless eating into acts of

thanksgiving and opportunities to offer and receive grace.

Next time you are at a meeting, make a point to compli-

ment, or appreciate, or agree with, every person in the room

at least once — even the people with whom you normally

can’t stand to be in the room. Make a mental checklist and

see whether you can connect with each one, just for the fun

of it. Then ask yourself how that feels. And did someone

toss a compliment back at you? How was that?

Try that at the family thanksgiving dinner table! What

if it escalated into a huge Thanksgiving Feast of compli-

ments and appreciation?

What if we forgot to talk politics and football? Now

that would be worth giving thanks for!

Love,

A

Prayers of healing for:

Pearl Adams; Marion Dugan; Joan Edwards;

DeWayne Johnson; Randy Kister; Catharine

Phillips and her daughter Rebecca; Lauren

Stipulkosky.

Prayers for all those undergoing treatment and

those in pain.

Prayers of safety for all our Service Personnel

serving at home and abroad.

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Join an NUMC Bible Study Sundays at 8 AM in the Kendall Building

On November 25 Katie Kevorkian will present

her Interfaith Insight class, where we will learn the

basic history and principles of three of the world's

major religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

Wednesdays at 6:30 AM in the Library

This Bible Study sets aside time each

week to read and reflect, using The

Upper Room Daily Devotional Guides.

Thursdays at 10 AM in the Library

Led by Rev. Petty, Study of Luke

Thank you to everyone who

helped make the Fall Boutique a

success — those who made items,

those who helped set up and sell the

items and those who bought items.

Your participation made our event a

success and allows us to help fund many missions programs.

United Methodist Women

Thirteen walkers from NUMC assembled in Sherman Oaks

on November 4 to walk in the 37th annual San Fernando

Valley CROP Hunger Walk, hosted by the Congregational

Church of the Chimes. Preliminary reports indicate that

NUMC collected at least $3,200 to be used here in the Valley

and in areas around the world to assist in alleviating hunger

and providing tools for hungry people to feed themselves and

their families.

Many thanks to the walkers and the generous donors for

participating in a very successful effort to help the hungry!

Barbara Shields

Farewell Reception for Harmony Ji Sunday, December 2, 10 to 11 AM in Fellowship Hall

When is a harmony not a happy harmony? When one isn’t around anymore! In this

case, we’re talking about our own Harmony Ji, soprano section leader for the Chancel

Choir. Harmony, who has been studying here on a student visa, has been denied an ex-

tension on her visa and will be leaving for home on December 4. Her last Sunday with

us will be December 2, so we’re planning a Farewell Reception for her between worship

services in Fellowship Hall and, of course, you are all invited.

Harmony has been more than the usual section leader for NUMC, giving fund-raising

concerts, leading our youth choir, and participating in the life of the church in a deeper

way that has made her dear to many. We would like to show her our appreciation for all

that she has done while she’s been with us, and to send her off with something every stu-

dent can use when moving into a new phase of life –– cash! So in addition to cake and

punch, we’re setting up a money tree, and we’re asking you to help make it “sprout”

with a lot of “green”. Your gift can be in the form of bills, checks, card inclusions, etc.,

and all will be added to the tree.

In order to have the tree ready for December 2, we would appreciate receiving your

gift by December 1, but we can also add items to the tree at the reception. You can turn

in your contributions for the tree to Joan in the church office or to Martha Ruiz. Thank

you in advance for helping Harmony!

Christmas is a

Time for Giving…

Northridge UMC is blessed with a dedicated and loyal staff. We would like to honor the staff with a “Christmas Bonus” to show them we appreciate all their efforts on behalf of the church.

If you would like to be a part of the “Christmas Gift”, please make your check payable to “NUMC Staff Gift” and put it in the Sunday offering plate, mail the check to the church or give to Martha Ruiz, SPRC Chair-person.

Children, Youth, Young Adult and Family News

The 48-hour Study-a-Thon is on! On December 6 through December 9, the YAC will be open 24/7 for college students to study for finals. NUMC Young Adult Ministries is looking for canned food donations and volunteers during the event. If you’d like to help out or learn more, please

contact allegra@northridgeumc.org. Thanks!

Advent Craft Workshop and Bob Baker Marionettes

December 2

Crafts: 3:30 to 5 PM; Show: 5 to 5:30 PM

Tickets: Adults $12; Kids $6,

available in the church office.

Volunteers are needed to spon-

sor and demonstrate crafts. Sign

up in the church office or email

katie @northridgeumc.org.

Journey to Peace

and Light

December 5

Begin at 5 PM, then go to Soul Food, then resume

from 7 PM to 8 PM.

Looking for the true meaning of Christmas? You'll

find it here. Visitors of all ages will leave the rush

and clamor of the busy shopping malls behind. Find

new inspiration together with friends and family.

Kickoff To The Holiday Season!!!

Friday, November 30, 7:30 PM

Please join Friends of Music as

we welcome in the Advent Season

with the marvelous John West at our

glorious Celebration Pipe Organ.

Mr. West will fill our Sanctuary

with beautiful and familiar music of the season, welcoming

the coming of the Christ child.

This concert is a Freewill Offering presentation. Brochures

are available now for the sales of the remaining concerts as

full concert series or as individual events. You can purchase

season tickets at NUMC or online at our website.

NUMC Christmas Concert

in the Sanctuary

Sunday, December 9, 4 PM

NUMC music programs present “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”.

This is a concert for Angels, Kings, Shepherds,

Inn Keepers.

Starring the Chancel Choir, Celebration Ringers, Solid

Rock Band, Jubilee Bells, Cherub / Children’s / Youth

Choir, with Brass, Percussion and Organ.

Family Bible Study Sundays in Advent, 12 PM in Room 4

Poor, Young and Pregnant: Mary’s Advent

Celebrate maternal and family health this holiday season while

studying Mary’s story.

Adults & Students, ages 12 and older. Lunch & childcare provided.

Youth Missions: El Nido Family Center, Pacoima

Help out at El Nido’s Christmas Party, Saturday morning,

December 8. Email Katie@NorthridgeUMC.org or call 818-886-

1555 for more information.

Children’s Missions: Operation Christmas

Child! S u n d a y

school par-

t i c i p a n t s

each packed

OCC boxes

for Novem-

ber’s Children’s Mission. Thank you to

all the parents and families who helped

make this mission possible!

Coming Up in Sunday School!

December 2: Isaiah

December 9: Elizabeth

and Zechariah

December 16: Mary

and Joseph

Student Ministries: Middle and High School

November 30: Pre-Advent Study,

7 PM in the YAC

December 7: Granada Hills Food Truck

December 14: Cookies for the Home-

bound, 7 PM in Fellowship Hall

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Show your love and appreciation by sending a

“Gift to the World”.

You may donate to any of the following projects

in the spirit of Christmas giving: North Valley

Caring Services, Imagine No Malaria, Haven

Hills, Chrysalis, G.Y.T.T.E (Give Ye Them To

Eat), Heifer Project International, and S.H.A.R.E. (Support for

the Handicapped And their Rehabilitation through Education).

For more information, see the November 7 Methodist or the

“Gift to the World” brochure in the church office.

GIFT TO THE WORLD Alternative Christmas Giving 2012

Children’s Christmas Mart Needs Presents/Wrapping

It’s time for the Children’s Christmas Mart at North Valley Caring Services. We usually have 200 to 300 children par-ticipating, and we are in great need of donated presents.

What type of gift would a little child like to give his/her mother

and/or father? Something pretty, something useful, something a

parent does not have. Do you have such items at home? Maybe

cologne, slippers, stationery, scarves, a calendar, or socks. Donated

items and wrapping material or gift bags should be brought to the

church office. We also need volunteers to help the children pick

out presents for their parents and wrap gifts. We will be transport-

ing gifts and setting up at 8 AM on Saturday, December 15,

(event scheduled to begin at 10 AM). If you can participate, let Amybeth Lake or the church office know. NVCS is at 15453 Rayen Street. Thank you for bringing the true gift of Christmas to a child — the gift of giving.

Poinsettias:

A Warm Welcome

I wish to contribute ________ Poinsettias ($7 each)

*Your Name _______________________________

In Memory of ______________________________

or

In Honor of ________________________________

or

As a Gift from ______________________________

Amount $ ___________ for Poinsettias

The 21 Campaign

I would like to help the church keep up with current

technology by updating our old audio/video equipment.

*Your Name _______________________________

In Memory of ______________________________

or

In Honor of ________________________________

or

As a Gift from ______________________________

Amount $__________________ for Audio/Video

Emergency Relief

Fund

I want to help support people in the church and the

community who have emergency needs.

*Your Name _______________________________

In Memory of _______________________________

or

In Honor of ________________________________

or

As a Gift from ______________________________

Amount $____________ for Emergency Relief Fund

*Fill in your name & pertinent information in each

section. Return to church office by December 12.

"The 21 Campaign - It’s not about the technology"

On the face of it the 21 Campaign looks

like just a technology wish-list, but it's real-

ly about communication. Today’s world

moves and communicates in many different

ways, and so the message of God’s love and

this church’s witness to it needs to be pre-

sented in ways both old and new. Moreover, the care that we take

with that message shows the world how highly we value it. Cur-

rently we share that message on the screen in worship, with DVDs

distributed to our ill and homebound, through the streaming of our

worship services and sermons, and in the internet and print com-

munications we send. The equipment we are seeking to purchase in

this campaign will help us open up new avenues of communication

as well as demonstrate greater care of our message.

So please consider being a part of this campaign and donating. If

a particular part of it interests you, you may specify an item for

your contribution or simply give to the campaign and we’ll use

your gift to close any gaps. Each gift gets us closer to completion

and the expanding of our message of God’s Love here in the San

Fernando Valley. Thank you.

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All-Church Hike

Saturday, December 1

to Temescal Fireroad and

Bent Arrow Trail, Mulholland

Gateway Park.

Enjoy a 3-mile loop featur-

ing views of Garapito and Rustic Canyons and the San

Fernando Valley. Sorry, no dogs. Trailhead and free park-

ing at south terminus of Reseda Boulevard.

Meet at the Church Parking Lot at 8:30 AM to carpool.

Members Exchange Thoughts The Book Club will meet on

Monday, November 26, at 7 PM, at the

home of Shiela Attarian. We will discuss The Girl in the

Green Sweater by Krystyna Chiger. Please call the church

office if you would like to join us.

Divided We Fall Church and Society will be screening

"Divided We Fall — America in the

Aftermath" (2006) on November 26 at

6:30 PM in the Kendall Building.

This documentary chronicles a college

student's journey across the U.S. in the

aftermath of 9/11, capturing stories of

fear and violence against her community.

In the fall of 2001 a young woman took off around the

country following hate crimes against the Sikh community

— her community — with a video camera and a streak of

bravery. What began as a solitary

journey to document untold stories

became an award-winning documen-

tary that inspired a dialogue about race

and religion in America.

The documentary has a running time of 110 minutes and

is unrated. A short discussion will follow.

Dine at Rubio’s, take food to go, and Rubio’s will donate

20% of your transaction to this cause.

Monday,

December 10,

2 PM to Close

19500 Plummer Street

Northridge, CA

Dessert Bridge

Saturday, December 8 at 6 PM

at Virginia Jackson’s Home

Sign up at Coffee Hour or in the Church Office.

“New You” will have their annual Christmas

Party on December 3 at 6 PM in the YAC.

For details, see Dorine Collins or check the

church office.

For fellowship & fine dining

Wednesday, December 5 @ 6 PM.

in Fellowship Hall

Free-will Offering Suggested donation - $6

Great Food, Great Fellowship

Sign up after church or call the church office.

December 5

Soul Food

Café

Food Donations Collected Monthly

Church & Society and Missions will collect food donations once a month in the Narthex on Communion Sunday. The next collection will be on Sunday, Decem-ber 2. We will put out the bins and transport the food to North Valley Caring Services.

UMW Holiday Boutique Sunday, December 2nd, in the Kendall

Building between worship services

Find lots of treasures for the special

people on your holiday shopping list — or

find a treat for yourself this season — and

support UMW missions at the same time.

Page 7

Regularly Scheduled Meetings

Tuesdays: Cracker Barrel 10:00 AM Library Sr. Exercise Class 10:45 AM Fellowship Hall Worship Band Rehearsal 7:30 PM Sanctuary

Wednesdays: Devotional Group 6:30 AM Library

Maintenance Volunteers 8:30 AM Church Office

WORMS 9:30 AM Kendall Building

Jubilee Bells 4:00 PM Room 5/6

Celebration Ringers 7:00 PM Room 5/6

Thursdays: Rev. Steve’s Bible Study 10:00 AM Library

Chancel Choir 7:30 PM Sanctuary

Young Adult Study Night 7-11 PM YAC Ends December 6

Fridays: Cracker Barrel 10:00 AM Library

T’ai Chi Class 10:00 AM Fellowship Hall

MYF 7:00 PM YAC

Sundays: Adult Study 8:00 AM Kendall Building 1

Sunday School & Nursery 9:00 AM Library

Youth Choir 10-11 AM Fireside Room

Cherub Choir 10:15 AM Room 5/6

Grief Group 10:15 AM Library Through November 25

Sunday School & Nursery 11:00 AM Ed. Bldg.

Preschool to Kindergarten in Nursery Grades 1 to 5 in Room 5/6

Family Advent Study 12:00 PM Room 4 December 2 through December 23

Worship Services @ 9 & 11 AM \

Childcare available at all services.

United Methodist Women

Contact Person

UMW Pat Small

Prayer Chain Dorine Collins

Hearts & Hands Betty Kinzy

WEEKLY:

Mondays at 9 AM Arts & Crafts Phyllis Nelson

Remaining November 2012 ACTIVITIES

27 Tuesday at 10 AM Bluejays Bridge Pearl Adams

December 2012 ACTIVITIES

4 Tuesday at 10 AM Bluejays Bridge Pearl Adams

10 Monday at Noon Executive Board Kendall Building

Newsletter Articles Are Due Articles for the next newsletter, dated December 5, should be submitted before 4 PM, Tuesday, November 27. Please send pictures, articles and/or information to:

announcements@northridgeumc.org.

Remaining November Events November 22… Thanksgiving — Office Closed

November 23… Office Closed

November 26… Book Club @ 7 PM at the home of Shiela Attarian

Church and Society Movie @ 6:30 PM in the Kendall Building

Methodist Money Makers @ 7 PM in the Library

November 30… Friends of Music Concert @ 7:30 PM in the Sanctuary

Early December Events December 1… All-Church Hike to Mulholland Gateway Park

Meet at Church Parking Lot @ 8:30 AM to Carpool

Opera Works “Sing in the Holidays!” @ 4 PM in the Sanctuary

December 2… Collection of Food Donations in Narthex

UMW Holiday Boutique @ 10 AM in the Kendall Building

Advent Craft Workshop @ 3:30 PM in Fellowship Hall

December 3… New You @ 6 PM in the YAC

December 5… Journey to Peace and Light from 5 to 6 PM and 7 to 8 PM

Soul Food Café @ 6 PM in Fellowship Hall

SPRC @ 7 PM In the Kendall Building

December 8… Rehearsal for Christmas Concert

@ 9 AM in the Sanctuary

Dessert Bridge @ 6 PM at Virginia Jackson’s Home

December 9… Family Ministries @ Noon in the Kendall Building

NUMC Christmas Concert @ 4 PM in the Sanctuary

December 10… Eat Out Monday @ Rubio’s, from 2 PM to Closing

December 15… Children’s Christmas Mart @ 10 AM at North Valley Caring Services

Christmas Home Tour @ 1 PM. Meet at Fellowship Hall to Carpool

December 16… Caroling to Home Bound

Meet in Fellowship Hall @ 3 PM to arrange Carpools

“Christmas Home Tour”

Saturday, December 15, 1 PM

Begin at Fellowship Hall

“Christmas Home Tour” is selling quickly. In addition to

seeing lovely Christmas decorations, there will be

Christmas music played at each home.

You are invited to have a peek into the homes of four of

our church family members. A special thanks to Linda and

Rev. Steve Petty, Nancy and Mike Easterly, Dorine and

John Collins and Char Anderson for opening their homes.

Meet at Fellowship Hall at 1 PM to arrange carpools, then

return to Fellowship Hall for refreshments. Tickets are $15

and may be purchased after church or in the church office.

Ongoing Community Groups

Sundays: Narcotics Anonymous at 7 PM in Fireside Room Mondays: AA (Women) at 6 PM in Fireside Room Tuesdays: Alanon at 10 AM & AA Book Study at 8 PM in Fireside Rm. Thursdays: AA at 7 PM in Fireside Room Fridays: Alanon at 12:30 PM in Fireside Room Boy Scouts - Troop 911: Tuesdays at 7 PM in Fellowship Hall Call John Orlick at 818-886-6229 Cub Scouts - Call Gary Kuykendall at 818-426-8195 Girl Scouts - Call Tandy Wilson at 818-886-9376

All age levels, various days.