April 11, 2012 Vol. 29, Issue 8 OFFICE: (818) 886-1555 FAX: (818) 886-9105 BISHOP MARY ANN SWENSON WWW.NORTHRIDGEUMC.ORG DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT CATHLEEN COOTS WEEKDAY PRESCHOOL: (818) 886-4949 REV. STEVE PETTY SUNDAY WORSHIP AT 9:00 & 11:00 AM KATIE KEVORKIAN, DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH SERVICES Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Jazz Vespers Presents... Pancakes at Frank Capp and Octet, Plus 1 Saturday Morning Breakfast Sunday, April 15, 6 PM Pancakes will be served from 8 to Frank Capp, on drums, is joined by 11 AM on April 21 in Fellowship Hall. John Campbell, piano; Carl Saunders, $5 for all you can eat. Come for the best breakfast in town! trumpet; Scott Whitfield, trombone; Stephanie O'Keefe, French horn; Bill Reichenback Jr., tuba; See the Antique and Classic Car Show Lanny Morgan, alto sax; Doug Webb, baritone sax; in the NUMC Parking Lot. and Jim Hughart, bass. Also see guide dogs in training. Joan Newton, our ceramicist / artist, learned the Boy Scout Troop 911 will cook Hot craft during her college years and con- Dogs on the Patio from 11 AM to 1 PM. tinued studying at Everywoman’s Vil- lage in Van Nuys with Owen Meldy and Come for a day of good food and classic cars. Wes Stanley, then under the tutelage of Greg Kennedy and Eric Kao. Joan makes functional pieces for use in the Amanda home, striving for depth and richness McBroom in combining clays and glazes, and for simplicity and elegance of form. in Joan is particularly happy to join us, being a musician herself, having received her Bache- Concert lor’s degree in Voice and Comparative Literature Amanda McBroom — “A Feast for the Ears and the from the Indiana University School of Music, and has Heart” — will be at NUMC Saturday, April 28, at 7:30 PM. been a singing teacher and choral conductor for a She has been called “the greatest cabaret performer of her major part of her career. generation; an urban poet who writes like an angel and has a Frank Capp, who was leader of the Juggernaut, is voice to match”. She first came to public attention when a flexible and consistently swinging drummer, who she wrote The Rose and Bette Midler’s version hit number loves to drive a big band. (See the March 28 Meth- one worldwide. McBroom’s songs have been sung by odist for more about Frank.) Leann Rimes, Barry Manilow, Judy Collins, among others. John Campbell is a jazz pianist, who has worked with numerous jazz artists, including Terry Gibbs, Growing audiences worldwide are now convinced that the Stan Getz, and was pianist for Mel Torme. John rec- best interpretations of McBroom songs are by McBroom orded as a soloist on Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, herself, and she is applauded in concert halls around the world. Vol. 29 and in various trios, such as After Hours with bassist Todd Coolman and drummer Gerry Gibbs, Tickets are $25/person, $7/student with ID. To purchase and Workin’ Out with bassist Jay Anderson and tickets, go to www.northridgeumc.org/fom or the church drummer Billy Drummond. Continued on Page 6 office. Page 1 The Preacher’s Part Remember summer camp? At the end of meal time One way to attenuate that strain is to build up a core of someone would sing out and then everyone would join in, capable Lay Pastors who could do a portion of the pastoral “Announcements, Annoucements, Annouuuuunnnnce - calling and care. Kennon Callahan in his classic book “12 ments!” Then some leader or counselor would stand and Keys to an Effective Church” lists adequate pastoral and deliver the day’s big events so everyone knew what to do lay calling as one of the very highest priorities in a growing and when to do it, and how it would affect them as it all church. happened. I have built successful programs like this in my last Well, today’s column is Announcements and how it four churches, and the response has been wonderful. Many might affect you. people have gone through the training and learned how to First and foremost, the Lay Leaders and I have nomi- provide simple pastoral care and calling, and come back to nated a new Long Range Planning Task Force, and last share with me that doing this ministry was one of the most week the Quarterly Conference approved their selection. fulfilling things they had ever done in their lives. They These are your visionary leaders: Daria Enfield, Marisol found they were making a difference in the lives of people Garcia, Kristal Grantham, Nick Mendoza, Robert Mosely, who had real needs. I have never had anyone come back Brian Shaffer, Tandy Wilson, Denise Woerner, and me. and say it was a waste of his or her time. Char Anderson Over the next ten months to a year, they will be thinking and Jenifer Hemstead will help me assemble and train “big thoughts” about the future of our church. people for this new ministry. These people will be looking at the community and its If you could give just two hours a month of your time, assets and needs, as well as Northridge UMC’s assets and you could make a tremendous positive impact on people mission, weaknesses and blessings. We hope you will take who have significant needs for simple human contact and the opportunity to share with the Task Force some of your caring. We will be asking for your help very soon. dreams and visions for our church. How do you see the Consider how you might be blessed by being a blessing to church? How do you see our mission? What things would others. you like to see more of or less of in the future? What The second new program is to develop a strong media programs have you seen at other churches that you feel team to significantly upgrade our media presence and min- might offer something for us here at NUMC? Let us istry. There is no doubt that we live in the media center of know; we are in listening mode to begin with, and we need the world: movies, theater, television, internet media, to hear lots of opinions and suggestions. broadcast and live, all happen at a very high level in the Second, but no less significant, is the announcement San Fernando Valley. Yet our media presence, our use of that we have hired Katie Kevorkian to assume the position media on Sunday mornings, our ability to proclaim the of Youth Director, in addition to her current position with Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ to the San Children. To do that, we have restored the position to a Fernando Valley is only slightly more advanced than full-time salaried position. showing 35 mm slides on a carousel projector, a la 1963. We are excited to have a person of Katie’s education, I, for one, think we can do better than that. This will take a energy, focus and drive taking over the education of our significant investment of money and people, but if we in- children and youth. Katie started full time on April 8th. tend to compete in this valley, on this playing field, we Please take a moment on Sunday mornings to seek her out really have no choice. Ric Wilson and Dusty Stiles will and introduce yourself to her. She will need lots of help help me assemble and train people for this new ministry. putting together the summer VBS program and the fall It’s time to move forward and do some new things. kickoff with new Sunday School programs. Where is God calling you to be involved? Third, I want to share two programs that I will be Love, giving special attention to this spring and summer: It is my intent to establish a Lay Pastors Ministry here at NUMC. There was a time in the not too distant past when we had two Associate Pastors on our staff. As the Sermon Series: congregation dwindled, and the finances became more con- strained, we made a tacit decision to spend more on our April 15 buildings and less on our ministry, so these positions were “Water and Wind” –– John 3: 1-10 gradually eliminated. This is a curious direction to travel, April 22 since I am not aware that the buildings have made a significant contribution to the finances or enlarging the “The Great North Road” –– Acts 4: 5-12 membership of the church. But the further result is that April 29 now one pastor must do the congregational care of three, Missionary Sunday –– “Being Church” while also preaching, teaching, leading and administering Preacher will be Wil Bailey the whole church program. Page 2 Thank Yous Thank you to all who participated in the March 10th Work Day. Bruce Keeler, Board of Trustees Liz Walker sends her heartfelt thanks for all those who have prayed for her, for the visits, for the gifts of love, for the many cards, and for the love shown her during these days of her illness. Our condolences and prayers for the family and friends of Martha Williamson on her death on April 7. Memorial service details are pending. Reminder: Delivery of The Methodist Prayers of healing for: We no longer deliver your Methodist by Bulk Mail. Margaret Aizenstat; Phil Alcorn; There are several ways to receive your Methodist: Emailed to you, Elizabeth Andersen; Marcia available on the website, paper copies available in the Narthex and the Leonhardt; Tony Mayhall; Sal church office on Sunday, or mailed to you by first-class mail — with Sciortino; Adelfa Stevens; Jean your sending the church a check to cover the postage.