News and Reports to Members

On this page you will find the most recent issues of the Spotlight, the Annual Reports, and notes or Minutes from Church Council meetings. . . .

Meet Our New Members!

Four new members  will be joining Hollywood Lutheran Church on Reformation Sunday 2009 ~ October 25, all who are transferring from other Lutheran churches. Barry Kendall and Rick Wallin come to us from St. Andrew's in West Los Angeles.  Tom Scott comes form St. Matthew's in North Hollywood.  And Rev. Steve Fiechter, who is an ELCA pastor, is coming from Orange, California.  We are pleased to welcome these guys and hope that they are "at home" in our family as soon as possible. One new member joined Hollywood Lutheran Church on Pentecost Day, May 24.  Jerry Teigen, who lives in Los Feliz, asked to move his membership from his home church in Minnesota, after worshiping with us since February.  Welcome, Jerry! Eight people became members of Hollywood Lutheran Church on May 11, 2008. Coming from very different backgrounds and experiences, their participation enriches us all.   Three people have come to us from other Lutheran congregations. Connie Gill and Drake Lopez (mother and son) were most recently in a Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod congregation. Rick Eisenlord is a former Lutheran pastor and presently a graphic artist, running his own company, Pacific Western Media. In a great coincidence, while a seminary student in the 1970's, he served in a Lutheran parish in Streamwood, Illinois where Don Koepke was the young pastor!

And five people joined by Holy Baptism or Affirmation of Baptism after attending the Pastor’s Inquirers Class in April and May:

Joe McDermott was baptized on Sunday, but had been active much of his life in the Jehovah’s Witnesses while growing up in New Zealand; currently he is making a career change and studying to become a pharmacist’s assistant.

Kalani Bautista and Sal Moreno found our congregation after seeing the rainbow flag in front; between them they have backgrounds as diverse as Roman Catholic and Pentecostalist.

Charles Brockway has previously belonged to the Presbyterian Church, but is comfortable in many different Christian traditions (his partner is Roman Catholic).

Joe Christian also had a Roman Catholic background at one time.

Each of these wonderful people are an asset to our congregation, seeking to be involved in our mission to the community. Already, Connie and Drake have been absolutely indispensable in our hospitality ministry, especially for the first Hollywood Callback event in March.  Charles Brockway is  serving as a Lector; Joe Christian serves as presenter of the gifts during the Sunday offertory. 

American Catholic Church Ordains a New Deacon

Our friends in mission, Bishops Robert Clement and Adrian Ravarour, ordained a new Deacon to serve in their ministry on April 12, 2008.  The ordinand, Roberta Morris, is the first woman to join their community.

Morris, who lives in Los Feliz, is a native of Toronto, Canada.  She has two theological degrees (an M. Div. and a Ph. D.) from the University of Toronto and York University in Toronto, and presently wears several other hats in the community.  In addition to being a writer, novelist, and teacher, she is the Religion writer for the Los Feliz Ledger, and is a co-founder of Mediare, a center for mediation and peace education. She provides civil, community and family mediations, working with both healthy and troubled families who learn conflict resolution skills through mediation before conflicts spin out of control.

Morris' passion for this new Catholic ministry is to create a bridge from church to community in a "Deaconate for the Arts."  Morris is also a "gold mine" of contacts for the shakers and movers in our neighborhood and beyond.  So far, she has been helpful to Hollywood Church in our efforts to launch Hollywood Call Back for actors and other professionals in the Hollywood entertainment industry, and in our early research about increased affordable housing in the community.  Dr. Morris is also the mother of two grown children.  Her daughter Andrea is a film maker in Los Feliz.

The ordination ceremony was a splendid affair Saturday, April 12 with about 40 supporters and personal friends attending, in the Hollywood Lutheran Church Sanctuary.  More information will be forthcoming on the American Catholic Church website.

Handicap Access:  Elevator Passes Final Inspection

Yes!  On Monday, April 7, the Ctiy's Building and Safety Department inspection signed off on the installation of our handicap-accessible elevator.  All systems are running properly, and everybody involved is happy!  We had learned recently that there is only one inspector for the whole City of Los Angeles for this kind of elevator, and so there was a very long delay in getting the inspection scheduled. 

No matter!  What was only a dream three years ago is a functioning reality that brings people together.  No one needs to be isolated or shut out now form all activities of the church.  Both levels and all rooms within our buildings are accessible to persons with wheelchairs or physical challenges.  And both levels now have bathrooms which are completely accessible.

One small project is also contemplated that will enhance our full accessibility: a larger concrete stoop and ramp at the back of the Office/Classroom wing to make direct entry from the Parking Lot easier for anyone who cannot climb steps.  The design of this enlarged stoop is being planned now to coordinate with future improements in or adjoining the courtyard, such as French doors opening to the courtyard from the new Long Library (see below).  The stoop/ramp improvement is relatively inexpensive and will be made from poured concrete, with the required hand-rails.

Coming Soon!  The  Lawrence E. Long Memorial Library

Thanks to the generosity of the Estate of Larry Long, his theological library will be given to Hollywood Lutheran Church.  At its February meeting, the Church Council gratefully accepted the gift offered by executrix Paulette Hunnewell, and approved a general plan to place the library in what has been labeled Classroom 2 on the upper corridor and looking out over the courtyard.

Work began on Monday, March 17.  Mahogany bookcases, which were removed last year from the southeast corner of Durkee Hall, and an old mahogany dish cupboard which set in a storeroom for years, are being refurbished, built-in and varnished to match to hold the Library, which is estimated at some 250 volumes.  The room will be painted, and is being furnished so it can be used either for quiet study or for classes and small groups.  Eventually, it is hoped, French doors will open directly on to the rear Courtyard, making both the Library and the Courtyard more inviting and accessible.

Pastor Dan has already rounded up five boxes of books originally belonging to HLC's former library, which over the years had become scattered around the building.  To these, he is adding several hundred volumes from his own collection which are of more general interest, to round out Larry Long's collection. 

Larry's collection also includes a small collection of sacred music on CD, and a few selected pieces of art which will add to the ambience of the room.  Our video library will also be housed here.  We also have a number of very old Bibles which will be on display, including one printed in 1846!

The Library will include a selection of titles on the subject of faith and human sexuality, including resources for our ongoing ministry to sexual minorities.  Even in 2008, people have trouble reconciling their understanding of Christian faith with their attitudes about humans sexuality and especially homosexuality.  Very often, misundestandings disappear with education.  Hence, an easily-accessible Library of resources has a very positive effect in the community.

It is hoped that a new Library will give further impetus to study and education, especially for young people.

 Where are we on the Organ Project?

Marie Sorensen (bless her heart!) took it upon herself to send out letters to members and friends, including members from long ago who have relocated but still fondly remember Hollywood Lutheran Church.  As of Easter week 2008, we had received some $3,600 through this mail appeal.  Way to go! Praise God! The $5,000 cost to purchase the uased organ had previously been donated by several generous members. 

We are now less than 6 weeks away from the beginning of dismantling and removing the organ pipes, chests, console, blowers and motors, etc. from Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Beverly Hills.  Our target date to begin work is the Monday after Pentecost, May 14.  All the removal work is to be completed within three weeks.  Pipes and parts will be brought here and stored on the lower level until the work is done on the chamber.

You can follow the progress on the chamber and installation as it happens at www.neworgan.hollywoodlutheran.org.