Good News Newsletter NoHo First September 2025

welcome to the online version of our monthly newsletter

1. First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood
GOOD NEWS
e-mail: [email protected]
2025
facebook.com/nohofumc1 www.nohofumc.org
IN THIS ISSUE:
•Fall Kick Off
•Hispanic Heritage
•Chancel Choir Returns
•Troop 18 Update
•Love Thy Neighbor
GOOD NEWS is published monthly by
First United Methodist Church of North
Hollywood, California 91601
Phone [phone]
Rev.Dottie Escobedo-Frank
Bishop
Rev. Garth Gilliam
District Superintendent
Rev. Dr. Krista S. Givens
Senior Pastor
Congregation
Ministers
Roger Eshleman
Organist
Yu Hang Tan
Director, Music Ministries
Nylean Rapinac
Membership & Financial Secretary
Patty Kelsey
Outreach & Congregational Nurture
Tonya Peat
Digital & Social Media
April Anderson
Administrator
Letha Watts
Sunday School & Nursery
Scott Faucett
Custodial
“Do not mistreat foreigners living in your country, but treat them just as you treat your
own citizens. Love foreigners as you love yourselves, because you were foreigners once in
Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”
Leviticus 19:33-34
At the end of August, our “Love Thy Neighbor” Mission team marked the
one-year anniversary of our relationship with the Van Nuys Job Center. As
Patty noted, “the vibrant street vendor community has almost disappeared
with the constant targeted raids at this location…There were volunteers
patrolling the lot and our team had to keep vigilant. But with God's grace
and protection we got through the service unscathed and no trouble.”
Our team, under the leadership of our co-chairs Patty and Jon, have
worked diligently to build relationships with the staff and visitors to the Job
Center and to develop the trust necessary to help those in need. Each time
our front line team shows up to serve they bear the message of Christ: Love
Thy Neighbor. Some people have even referred to the team the “Love”
people, because of the prominent text on the t-shirt. What an amazing
honor it is to be the LOVE people.
This month, we will begin a sermon series on what it means to be
Christian, to bear the name of Christ. Being a Christian is complicated,
and each person has their own definition. As followers of this teacher called
Jesus Christ, it is up to us to discover some of the characteristics Jesus
himself thought were important. These characteristics include Faith,
Transformation, Compassion, Repentance and Hospitality.
We will begin the series with one of my favorite characteristics: hospitality.
Not just an invitation to a dinner party, hospitality is the creation of a warm
atmosphere in which others feel welcomed and loved. What does it mean to
be hospitable in a world that seems cold and cruel? Can we be the “host”
when we are outside of our church walls? Must we wait for people to come
to us or do we go to them?
Join us in September to rethink HOW we interact with the world as
followers of Christ,
Blessings to you,
Pastor Krista

2. Join Us for our Fall Kick-Off!
Sunday, September 7th
Let’s go to our playbooks and make going to
church a habit! We would love to encourage
you to make coming to worship a positive
habit that refreshes you for the week ahead.
Following Worship, we will enjoy a
‘tailgate’ party in the courtyard with
Andrew & Matt on the new grill that was
generously donated by Joel & Sarah McHale!
Wear a team jersey, hat or scarf!
Bring a side dish or dessert to share!
Bring a friend to come sit with you!
Are you ready for the final push?
Hope you had a great summer!
Time to reflect on the past eight months and plan the
four months ahead.
Have you been consistently giving financially this year?
Maybe give a little more as we move towards advent.
Help sustain this vital ministry.
Thank you for your support!

3. SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
31 1 2 3 4 5 6
10:30am Worship in
the Sanctuary

11:30 Courtyard
Coffee Fellowship
10:45am Thy
Neighbor Day
Trunk & Hood Meal.
Meet at Lulu’s
RSPV with Jon or Patty

7:00pm Scouts
in the Hut










Join us Saturday to
Celebrate as we
Volunteer at ICSC
Food Pantry
8:45am - 11:45am
Thy Neighbor
volunteer with the
ICSC Food Pantry at
434 S. Vermont Ave.
LA, CA 90020
For more info talk to
Andrew Stum
7 Communion

8

9

10

11

12

13
10:30am Worship with
Communion in the
Sanctuary


11:30 Fall Kick-Off
BBQ Featuring the
New Grill donated by
Joel & Sarah McHale

12:00pm Thy
Neighbor Sack Lunch
Assembly
10:00am - 11:00am
Gyrokinesis
in Boyer

Thy Neighbor Sack
Lunch Distro
11am at Job Center
12pm at Panorama
Home Depot
12:30pm at NoHo
Home Depot

7:00pm Scouts
in the Hut

12:00pm – 2:00pm
UWF Monthly Lunch in
the Lounge
(Bring a Sack Lunch)



7:00pm – 8:30pm
Choir Practice
in the Sanctuary

5:00pm – 10:00pm
Game Night in the
Lounge. Bring a
Friend, Game, &
Snack to share.
14 15 16 17

18 19 20
10:30am Worship in
the Sanctuary















11:30am Hispanic
Heritage Celebration
Pop-Up with Tacos
10:00am - 11:00am
Gyrokinesis
in Boyer


7:00pm Bible Study
with Pastor Krista in
the Lounge
7:00pm Scouts
in the Hut
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Choir Practice
in the Sanctuary

1:00pm - 8:00pm
Young People's
Academy at Arroyo
Grande State Beach
jotform.com/form/25
2013880565153
21

22

23

24

25

26

27
10:30am Worship in
the Sanctuary




11:30 Courtyard
Coffee Fellowship

10:00am - 11:00am
Gyrokinesis
in Boyer

7:00pm Bible Study
with Pastor Krista in
the Lounge
7:00pm Scouts
in the Hut
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Choir Practice
in the Sanctuary


28 29 30 1

2 3 4
10:30am Worship in
the Sanctuary

11:30 Courtyard
Coffee Fellowship

12:30pm - 4:30pm
North District Friends
& Family Fall Festival
at San Luis Obispo


7:00pm Bible Study
with Pastor Krista in
the Lounge
7:00pm Scouts
in the Hut
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Choir Practice
in the Sanctuary

SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS:
+NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH – Look into FEMA & other organizations in your area during
National Preparedness Month to make sure you know what to do in case of a national disaster.

+HAPPY NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
September 15
th
– October 15
th


+HAPPY CAT MONTH
October 2025
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31

4. North District Co-Lay Leaders, Patty & Norman Kelsey
share two exciting events in September, brought to you by
the California Pacific North & West District!
Young people are encouraged to attend the Young People’s
Academy field trip to Arroyo Grande UMC on Saturday,
September 20th. We also encourage our church to sign up
for the North District Friends & Family Fall Fellowship!

6. The choir returns from Summer break
on Saturday, September 14th!
If you feel called to share your gifts to
lead and enrich our worship service,
please come to rehearsal!
Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Thursdays at 7:00 PM
Main Sanctuary
Beginning September 11th
Come serve by helping us make a joyful
noise for Jesus!

7. By Lisa Cheby, Board Chair
Our Board is growing and working hard.  As you saw in last month’s update, we have new board members to
make sure that we can nurture our congregation and campus and to create consistency of strong leadership. 
You may have noticed a lot going on around campus. The Wesley’ Gate Project, is near completion with the
new gate for the south parking lot.  This will help to keep the school and church safe while also allowing for
accessibility with the new keypad system. We also continue with our joint church-Wesley roof repair project.
This past month we had the roof on the classroom building near the Wesley administration building and field
repaired. We’ve also contracted with some of our friends from the Home Depot Labor Center and Joel from
Wesley for smaller repairs around campus, like making sure the gutters are clear and functioning to avoid
water damage.  Finally, we will be tending to our bell tower, which has suffered leaks. Don’t be alarmed if you
see scaffolding around the front of the sanctuary and bell tower as we conduct repair and maintenance. 
We are also working with our expert members to update contracts for filming and weddings. Thanks April,
Carrie, and Andrew!  The next two months we will focus on preparing for the charge conference and working
with our staff to bring a strong, well considered budget to support our ongoing ministry in North Hollywood. 

8. Endurance and Perseverance
By Patty Kelsey & Jonathan Laciste, Mission Co-Chairs
This month, messages of endurance and perseverance have been inspirational and rejuvenating, and August
has brought opportunities to serve in such a manner that imbue these themes! Your Love Thy Neighbor
team was able to provide a hot meal every Monday in the month of August by supporting a local food
vendor that would provide a hot meal for the day laborers at the Van Nuys Job center. Our efforts did not go
unnoticed, and we wanted to share some great news!
The Los Angeles Community Fridges will be collaborating with our Love Thy Neighbor Missions Team, to
lend additional support to our already well-established front-line meal service at the Van Nuys Labor
Center.  LACF hopes to provide weekly funds to support the local street vendors who will then be able to
provide food to day laborers, every day of the week. This is a wonderful blessing that expands our mission
outreach and care for a marginalized community that is living in fear. While writing this on August 27th,
another raid took place this morning at 11:00 AM. Gratefully, no one was taken. Because of these raids,
workers do not have the ability to find work. Without money, they are unable to purchase food, to pay rent
or bills. There is also another issue with street vendors too scared to show up to cook and sell their food to
this once vibrant community. A few laborers rely on helping street vendors set up and tear down their
booths to trade for meals. It is a terrible domino effect.  It is amazing to see God move and work through
our Love Thy Neighbor Missions Team! More details will follow but, in the meantime, please pray for our
collaboration and for the day laborers and street vendors. 
We are kicking off September with a Minute Missions meal distribution on Labor Day weekend by
purchasing chuchitos from our food vendor Also in August, we were able to provide school supplies and
backpack assembly line for Splash LA hosted by Kid City! We made some great connections during this
service project, and we are eager to see how we can provide for the youth that are being served. We are also
excited about our upcoming service project at the Islamic Center Food Pantry on September 6!
If you would like to be informed of upcoming Missions events, interested in volunteering, contributing, or
would just like to talk, please reach out to us or any Love Thy Neighbor members!

9. Islamic Center Food Pantry –
Koreatown
Saturday, September 6 
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Every Saturday, between 300–400 people
line up to receive boxes of fresh vegetables,
fruits, frozen proteins, canned goods, and
more. 
We have room for about 10-12 volunteers,
so please RSVP to Andrew Stum
if you can join us. 
[email protected]
323-363-4422
Details
Islamic Center Food Pantry
434 S. Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90020

10. Over the past few months, Troop 18 has gone on many campouts, including a two-day visit to Camp
Trask, a week-long trip to Camp Whitsett, and an overnight on Anacapa Island. At Camp Trask, we
visited Fort Rotary, went on a hike, and even saw some deer.
At Camp Whitsett, we went to classes for different merit badges and performed a skit for all the troops
there. On Anacapa Island, we took a boat there and backpacked for a little more than a mile to the
campground.  These campouts are great for the Scouts as it allows them to further connect with their
friends as well as nature. It also gives them a break from the stress of their everyday lives. Every
Wednesday, Troop 18 has a meeting where they actively learn skills such as first aid, fire-starting, and
water safety. Troop 18 is a very welcoming community, and most new scouts are integrated into the
troop very quickly. Troop 18 continues to be a great environment for scouts to grow, learn, and form
lasting bonds.
UWF Monthly Luncheon
Thursday, September 11th
Noon in the Lounge
Bring a sack lunch.
Dessert and beverages provided.
All ladies are invited to attend.
Troop 18 Update
By Dan Doggett
Since 1941, the church has sponsored Scout Troop 18.
Currently, we have a troop with approximately 25 boys and
girls from age 10 through 17. We also have Cub Scout Pack
18 serving boys and girls from kindergarten through grade
5. Periodically, here in the Good News, we will have one of
the scouts provide an update on what is happening with
Scouting here at NOHO FUMC. The following report was
prepared by Julian, the current troop scribe. More
information is available at our website: www.troop18.org

11. September 5 Dianne Lake
September 5 Aaron McDonald
September 5 Ian McDonald
September 10 Holly Gibson
September 11 Daniella Lake
September 12 Mary Jane Radillo
September 13 Lexi Wintermute
September 14 Rachel Mottaz
September 14 Beth Roche
September 14 Dani St. Clair
September 15 Carol VanMeter
September 16 Emma Zakarian
September 20 Martin Light (92)
September 22 Scott Faucett
September 23 Jackson Books
September 24 Preseli Laciste
September 26 Patty Kelsey

•Bill Varney is having pain from a bone protrusion in his foot. He asks for prayers for his son, David,
daughter-in-law, Sona, & granddaughter, Vivian Varney. They are always trying to find a way to have
a breakthrough with Vivian. She is eight now and has no use of her voice. 
•David Eshleman's girlfriend, Ana, received approval to have another procedure to replace her shunt at
USC Medical on September 3rd. They ask for prayers that this shunt will work exactly how Ana needs
it to and will last a long time.
•Jaz Pinero has been living with her lymphoma diagnosis and managing her self care.
•MaryAnn Barron has metastatic breast cancer that has gone to her bones. She has been depressed
lately with needing to start up more treatments. This is her second breast cancer diagnosis.
•DeAnne Hayes is still in a dementia and alzheimer’s care facility.
•Dani St. Clair’s uncle, Bill Steinmeyer is doing his best, living with brain cancer. Dani’s cousin, Aly
Holvik is a caregiver to Bill and also taking care of their children.
•Sherri Perry’s 99 year old grandmother, Florine Humphrey and Sherri’s Aunt Audra.
•Prayer for our country and our state specifically the situation with I.C.E. Raids in Los Angeles.
•Prayers for those affected by war and natural disasters.
Our Homebound: Joyce Cunningham, Rhonda Scott, Dottie Vick, Bill Varney
*If you’d like to add your birthday, email [email protected]
•Patty's friend, Kristee Laiva received wonderful news
that she will not have to endure chemotherapy. She
begins radiation treatment in September.
•Martin Light has been able to return to church with his
nephew’s assistance. His broken back has healed up
slowly and his pain is being managed.
•New guest, Peter, is having hip issues and would
appreciate prayers to have relief from pain.

12. LECTIONARY CALENDAR YEAR C
September 7 Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Green.
Jeremiah 18:1-11 Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; Philemon 1:17-27; Luke 14:25-33
September 14 Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Fall Kick Off. Hispanic Heritage. Green.
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28; Psalm 14: 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10
September 21 Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Green.
Jeremiah 8:8-9:1; Psalm 79:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:1-7; Luke 16:1-13
September 28 Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Green.
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15; Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16; 1 Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31
Online Worship Posted on Youtube| Worship In-Person at 10:30 AM
Join us on Youtube @nohofumc
Communion will be served on September 7th at 10:30 AM Worship.
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.”