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Read the Mariposa Prison & Parole News June 2011 edition
December 21, 2011
Hollywood Food Pantry: Our Community is Blessed
Response to our requests for food in December has been wonderful, timely and almost overwhelming. We are deeply grateful to individuals in the larger community who, discovering that the Hollywood Food Pantry is entirely local—feeding needy families and homeless persons who come to our doors—have been thoughtful and generous. Especially helpful were food drives by the Hollywood Los Feliz Kiwanis Club, and The Oaks Homeowners Association, who helped to restock our shelves during the recent run of cold and wet weather. On Tuesday, December 20, Hollywood’s volunteers were able to give out food boxes to make the coming holidays a little brighter.
“Winter is coming,” said Pastor Dan. “I think people either crave comfort foods, or just are more aware of their hunger than when the days are long and warm.” Families with children continue to be hard hit by the endless recession, and as other costs continue to rise, the basic food budget gets squeezed. “People in our neighborhood are feeling especially blessed,” he said.
The need continues for frozen meals which can be microwaved quickly to feed homeless persons. Over the colder months, Hollywood Lutheran tends to see more homeless persons who have nowhere to turn.
December 15, 2011
Recent Community Events Successful
Two special events at the church in early December were well attended. On December 4, Hollywood Remembers held its annual observance of World AIDS Day, and premiered a new documentary, “Voices from the Fray,” for which our own Andrew Johnston was both videographer and editor. Dr. Joseph Cadden was producer and narrator. About 70 people attended the evening.
Hollywood Remembers, Inc. is an independent non-profit organization formed in 2008 by members of this congregation to provide education and advocacy about the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS.
The documentary, which tells the story of numerous early responders to the AIDS pandemic from 1981 onward, is one of the benefits of the collaboration between Hollywood Remembers and Hollywood Lutheran Church, with assists from several grants received in 2010-2011, which made it possible to purchase the equipment and software to record and edit our own videos. (The weekly posting of Pastor Dan’s sermons and other clips on You Tube by Andrew Johnston is another benefit.)
And on December 11, Hollywood Call Back–our outreach to people working in the film and entertainment industries, held its final event of the year and heard two producers talk about their latest film projects, including Thomas Moore (“a Guy a Girl a Ghost”). Some 27 people attended the reception, and Joshua Lim (“The Seminarian”), a number which grows each time. (The mailing list for Hollywood Call Back is now over 100.)
September 25, 2011
Celebrating 90 years of Ministry, Hollywood Lutheran Dedicates New Pipe Organ
September 1, 2011
Restored Sanctuary is Ready for Concerts, Worship and Other Uses
After more than four years of planning, construction and back-breaking volunteer labor, the pipe organ is virtually complete, and the entire Sanctuary is being dressed in new garb. Final details are giving this worship/ concert space an elegant finish which it has not enjoyed for many decades.
The Chancel (which also serves as a generous performance space) is now clad in travertine. The original fir flooring in the Nave has been revealed, which enhances the acoustics considerably.
Only the aisles have been clothed in a dense, formal dark red carpet with gold fleurs-de-lis, which serves to highlight other gold and brass elements in the sanctuary.
Above, top,the gilded light of late afternoon in the Chancel. Bottom,the beautiful Gemshorn rank of pipes bracket the Christ of Peace carving by Armenian-American sculptor Nishan Toor.
April 8, 2011
New Chancel Flooring a Reality
Many months after carpet removal began, our sexton and other volunteers were at last able to give attention to the Chancel floor beginning in late March, and the laying of natural stone has begun in earnest April 5 (the Choir tiers were completed before Christmas).
The entire Sanctuary, including Chancel and Nave, are effectively part of the pipe organ, and surfaces which do not dull or deaden music are required. As part of the voicing of the new instrument, it was agreed to remove all of the Chancel/Choir carpeting, including the area inside the apse where the original oak altar is still in place.
In four days, more than 200 feet of slightly-polished travertine marble have been expertly laid by our Sexton, Abilio Salguero, along with volunteer help to prepare the subfloor and to select and position the heavy stones.
Above, The original oak altar, paneling and built-in clergy stalls remain undisturbed as the stone flooring is installed arounf them.
In order to support the flooring and to make sure that creaking or flexing of the subfloor does not crack the stone, the entire Chancel floor is reinforced with an addtional layer of plywood, then .42" of "backer board" before the 1/2" of travertine marble is laid. Each layer is mortared into place to guarantee a permanent bond.
The resulting final floor will be approximately 3" thick and not have a hollow sound when walked upon.
The new 22-foot wide wrap-around step is designed to allow for large choral performances and live theatre.
In addition to sound improvement, the travertine floor is a light pink/beige color which makes the Chancel more "cheerful" even while retaining dignity and richness.
March 16, 2011
Organ Work Progresses Swiftly
With one nerve-wracking day of volunteer work doing "heavy lifting" and operating a "scissor lift," our multi-year pipe organ project is moving forward quickly. On March 16, all the major components for the front (west) chamber were replaced successfully.
Organ builder Weston Harris is pleased with the progress and so are we. With the components in place, Mr. Harris is installing more of the air lines, wiring and pipes to bring the next 13 ranks of pipes on lineabove the Choir area of the Sanctuary. Already usable is that portion of the organ in the rear (east) chamber, some 11 ranks, which were first heard on Christmas Eve 2010.
Now fully completed and in the final "voicing" stages, we have 30 ranks from five different pipe organs voiced and performing together to create a new sound at Hollywood Lutheran Church.
The pipe organ construction, which will give this part of Hollywood the first significant church pipe organ in many years, relies heavily on volunteer labor. Eight people volunteered to do the heavy lifting to place the weighty components in the front chamber, and Hollywood Lutheran Church is especially grateful for some of the strong men of the Wednesday night N.A. meeting who stepped up (literally climbing a steep ladder) to place a 200 pound chest on wooden legs high over their heads!
Volunteers are also needed to keep up routine cleaning and maintenance while our Sexton Abilio continues rapid work on refurbishing the Chancel flooring. All carpeting should be removed by Easter and replaced with travertine marble.
March 6, 2011:
Hollywood Call Back hosts Winter Reception
Hollywood professionals and hopefuls gathered Sunday, March 6 at the latest Hollywood Cll Back quarterly reception, to hear student film make Thomas Moore and see the premier of his pilot film "Razor."
Hollywood Call Back brings together writers, actors, musicians, producers, editors and tech people who benefit from networking and collaborating. The concept is not new in Hollywood, but very often it takes well-connected people in the industry to get invitations to such gatherings and parties. Hollywood Call Back was first launched in 2008, but is finally gathering momentum with a new wave of industry professionals.
Moore, who received helpful criticism of his pilot film, hopes to use the pilot to find funding for the full length feature film, with the screenplay already written. Also present were his producer, leading lady and several others who worked on the film. Several scenes in "Razor" were shot at Hollywood Lutheran Church.
February 21, 2011:
Hollywood Lutheran Enters Video World
At the prompting of several members of the congregation who work in the Hollywood film industry, our congregation is now busy developing a video program to tell our story on the web.
In December 2010, Council member Andrew Johnston urged the Council to approved funds for a quality camera and editing hardware/software to equip us to film events, news, inspiration and educational clips. Vice President Mike Mohr also endorsed the move. Both Andrew and Mike work in the film industry, and are instrumental in the mission of Hollywood Call Back.This month we have acquired a high-quality video camera and a high-end iMac computer capable of storing and editing video files. And last week, Andrew began recording “B-roll” footage (events and scenes of parish life that may form the background scenes for more focused video presentations.) Yet to come is the full Final Cut Studio, the leading post-production software suite.
Pastor Dan is developing concepts and scripts for several different video shorts. One thing not contemplated is the taping of worship services. “People are not likely to watch a whole liturgy on the web,” says Pastor Dan. “More effective are 4-5 minute clips that are engaging and thought-provoking to those outside our doors.”
It is hoped that producing short videos, for use on our web sites and on Youtube, can dramatically enhance our outreach efforts, especially in presenting our community services.
January 30, 2011:
ELM Approves Grant to Hollywood Lutheran
Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries has approved our grant proposal submitted last September, which is helping Hollywood Lutheran Church move forward on its goals to provide community and mental health services, and expand work with people in recovery from addiciton and with inmates in California prisons. Funds began flowing to us in January.
The $18,000, one-year "Concept Grant" will help move key programmatic initiatives forward. Although our request did not exactly fit ELM grant guidelines, the grant is the largest being awarded for 2011. ELM raises money from individual donors around the country to help fund new ministries and mission initiatives for members of its Clergy Roster, of which Pastor Dan has been a member since 2002.
The planning team for these grant proposals includes Pastor Steve Fiechter, Dr. Barry Kendall (a clinical psychologist), Dr. Roberta Morris (a professional educator and mediator) and several outside consultants.
Beginning in January 2011, the grant will cover stipends, materials and other expenses for outreach in three key areas: our emerging prison and parole ministry, new work with Christians in recovery programs, and ministry to the homeless and hungry in our neighborhood. The need and opportunity in these areas is almost overwhelming, and the infusion of both financial and professional support will make a huge difference in our congregation’s ability to respond, enabling it to stipend case management consultations and mental health screening, and launch a peer mentoring program.
A major part of the grant provides financial support to HLC so that Pastor Dan Hooper has time to write and test a significant new educational resource— a catechism for Christians who are incarcerated. The study format is being designed as a correspondence course for inmates, for use either alone or in small groups inside the prison walls, to read, study Scripture, discuss and respond to key questions of faith.
"Teaching inmates the basics of faith is very different from teaching teenagers," said Pastor Dan. "These adults already know the major doctrines of the Christian faith, that Jesus is Lord, and the Bible is God’s Word. They probably read more of the Bible than the rest of us.
"But many of them have come from fundamentalist or conservative Christian backgrounds that placed a heavier emphasis on law than gospel. So what inmates don’t always grasp is that God’s forgiveness and reconciliation is for everyone—including convicted felons—and that none of us ‘earns’ God’s love and forgiveness. We receive it as a gift."
Pastor Dan corresponds personally with at least a dozen inmates in California prisons, and several of them have written to ask what is required to become a member of this church. "That has prodded me to start writing materials for a course that can be completed over time to study and discuss key doctrines important to inmates."
He uses the rite of Confession and Absolution, when a pastor pronounces absolution following the Confession of sins. "Lutherans teach that absolution is given by the authority of Christ himself and absolves guilt for all sins, says Pastor Dan. "But we have a criminal justice system that does not include 'forgiveness' and never truly acknowledges that a convicted felon who has served the sentence has paid his debt to society."
In contrast, inmates who are paroled can be sent back to prison, not for committing a new crime but for simply violating one of the technical rules of parole. Then many employers do not want to hire an ex-convict, reinforcing the idea that one’s sins/crimes are not really forgiven, and one's past can never really be put behind.
Numerous adolescents have been convicted of a crime and given a life sentence "without possibility of parole." Such harsh sentencing implies that young people never really change as they mature, so that a terrible mistake they made as a teenager has indelibly stained them forever.
Also, Jessica’s Law (Proposition 83, adopted in 2006) treats a convicted sex offender as a life-long risk to the entire state, and severely limits where a sex offender may live. Right now, the residency stipulations of Jessica's Law are being challenged in court.
"The assumptions of the criminal justice system are at odds with the Bible and with the God who assures us that our sins are forgiven and forgotten—completely erased."
Pastor Dan is doing intensive writing for the first half of 2011 under the grant funding, and then expects to begin sending out materials to inmates by July for several months of testing and refinement. It is hoped that these materials may find a wider audience as various inmates work with them.
In the past year, since its first meeting in late November 2009, the Mariposa Ministry has grown from supporting one prison inmate to about 25 individuals, several of whom have been released on parole and transitioned to life in the community. Five more inmates involved with the ministry are expected to parole in the first three months of 2011.
NEW PIPE ORGAN TO PLAY CHRISTMAS EVE
The first phase of the newly refurbished pipe organ at Hollywood Lutheran Church will be heard publicly for the first time on Christmas Eve 2010. Organ builder Weston Harris is making great progress on the installation, and was tuning and adding pipes this week. Full story here.
Note: All Pipe Organ news stories are on the Pipe Schemes! page.
Lutheran bishop speaks out, because “our silence causes you pain.”
We were glad to receive word that even our national Lutheran bishop has joined the "It Gets Better" project which has sprung up on Youtube. the project seeks to gather the voices of people across the nation who are willing to speak directly to lesbian and gay, bisexual and transgender youth about the terrible tragedy of teen suicides in recent weeks.
This letter came in from Lutherans Concerned/North America on October 29:
Dear Members and Friends of Lutherans Concerned/North America:
The recent wave of media reports of teen suicides as an apparent result of anti-gay bullying has brought national attention to a matter which has affected LGBT people for generations. Video messages from cultural celebrities such as Lady Gaga, from governmental leaders such as President Obama and Secretary Clinton, and from the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA have provided crucial words of support and hope for millions of vulnerable youth. While anti-LGBT bullying has taken center stage of late, anyone who is perceived as "not like us" can and do become targets of both physical and verbal bullying. It's vitally important that parents, teachers, elected leaders, and clergy reassure all young people that they are loved and cared for just as they are.
In his video message, Bishop Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, speaks of the "pain and shock" of hearing of young people bullied "for being the people God created them to be." He says that he knows of the hurt that had been inflicted by the words of some Christian brothers and sisters and also that "our silence" had the power to hurt as well. He reminds lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people that they are "beloved children of God," for whom there is a place in this world and in this church.
To see the video, go to: http://lutheransconcerned.blogspot.com/2010/10/rev-mark-hanson-and-it-gets-better.html or http://tinyurl.com/BpHanson-on-bullying.
Arrayed in the red colors observing festivals of the church, the Sanctuary is ready for the 90th Anniversary party September 25, including a festive Dinner and Dedicatory Concert on the newly-completed 30-rank pipe organ. Download the Concert program for highlights of the church's history and the story of the pipe organ.
Hollywood Call Back Hosts Industry Mixer March 6
After delays for lack of funds, the next Hollywood Call Back mixer is set for 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 6 in Durkee Hall. Save the date!
For Hollywood professionals and hopefuls—people working in or trying to work in film, media and entertainment—the event will also host several speakers. Film maker Thomas Moore will premier his pilot film "Razor" and talk about his work. (Several scenes were filmed at Hollywood Lutheran.)
There will be food and libations, and plenty of time to meet others who may have an interest in your screen play, career, gig, or location.
Hollywood Call Back is the brainchild of :astor Dan and an energetic committee of people who are writing, editing, acting and filming in the neighborhood. Molre details will be posted at the main website, http://www.hollywoodcallback.org/. If you are not currently on the mailing list, send an RSVP e-mail to dan@hollywoodcallback.org and indicate how many people are planning to come!
Look for the Call Back banner on the front.
North New Hampshire Block Party to Become Annual Event
Sunday, August 15, 2010, we host an old-fashioned Block Party for the people living in the 273 homes and apartments in our block. Come join the fun 1-6 pm!
Taizé Contemplation Continues in Summer season
Midweek ecumenical contemplative services are offered again this spring on Thursdays beginning April 22. The beloved music of Taizé forms the core of the worship experience, with readings, silence and prayer (but no sermon).
Taizé is an ecumenical community in southern France which was established by Brother Roger during World War II. Because Brother Roger came from Catholic and Lutheran roots, since its beginning the Taizé community has always bridged this divide between Christians. We hope to model Christ’s concern that his disciples be united as one people, by welcoming Christians of any background to this simple form of prayer and worship, unencumbered by doctrine and religious expectations.
During Taize services in Lent the Chancel apse is filled with candlelight.
Pastor Durkee Has Died HLC's former Pastor Harry Durkee passed away on Wednesday, December 2, in Burbank, California, after a very slow decine in health. He had retired from Hollywood Lutheran Church and from active minstry in 1991. A memorial service is being planned for Saturday, December 12 at All Saints Lutheran in Sunland.
Durkee was a 1943 graduate of University of North Dakota. He left his journalism studies at UND in 1943 to join the U.S. Army, where he earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for valor while serving in France. The Abercrombie, N.D., native enrolled at Pacific Lutheran Seminary after the war. He served as pastor for Hollywood Lutheran Church from 1960 to 1991. During his long tenure there, he began a lunch program for the homeless. The East Hollywood Kiwanis named him “Clergyman of the Year” in 1987. He and his wife, Norma, raised three children."
Pastor Durkee was beloved by generations of members in this church and by the community around it. He will be remembered as a gracious, warm, caring and ever-present pastor who truly loved people.
Norma and Harry Durkee
In recent years, Hollywood Lutheran Church had renamed its downstairs social hall "Durkee Hall" in honor of the enormous contributions of Harry and Norma Durkee to the life of the congregation and the community.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them." - Revelation 14:13
Courtyard Dream a Beautiful Reality
Thanks to the enormous hard physical work of our Vice Pesident Ron Jahn and our faithful Sexton Abilio Salguero, the sod lawn went in July 23, after weeks of extraordinary efforts. Equal thanks are due to Marie Sorensen, Don Koepke and Scott Hill. The story is really amazing.
At left, Ron Jahn spreads soil amendment, and lays sod (middle). At right, Deacon Roberta Morris inspects the fescue grass sod.
After the Council's decision earlier this spring to remove the old concrete and to "green up" the Courtyard, Ron Jahn led the charge by arranging for workers and rental equipment to break up and haul away the concrete. Under it (as expected) was a lot of sand from the days when the whole area was a sand box playground for preschool children. But under the sand and dirt was another layer of asphalt from the days when the space was used for parking. All of this had to be removed.
As if that weren't enough, there were old broken parking blocks (tire stops) and other areas of more concrete under the asphalt. We could have called in an archaeologist to study the layers of development and use by the church dating back to the 1920s!
One more "unintended consequence" also happened. When the top concrete was removed, our big old elm tree, which slopes precariously, slumped down until it landed on the roof of the building. Although a friend to generations of children, who could walk up its trunk, the tree was suffering for water because the concrete kept all rain from soaking into the soil. Thin, thirsty roots had spread everywhere there was the slightest crack in the concrete! To solve this, the tree was jacked up with an automobile jack, and Abilio fashioned a permanent crutch to hold the tree up--a concrete pier base, wooden post and steel bracket holding a cross-arm (below, right).
Left, Don Koepke primes a classroom door. At right, the permanent "crutch" holds up an old friend!
Abilio and Ron also figured out and installed an automatic sprinkler system (watering will happen around midnight). And Don and Marie have done a wonderful job on painting—the stucco and the wooden posts, doors and windows, all of which still had tired preschool colors.
The three-tier fountain is now a reality as well. Abilio was able to run water and electrical lines under the existing paving, and Ron and Abilio have built a pedestal to which the fountain is anchored. (It held perfectly during the recent earthquake!) Ron re-plastered the fountain, sealed it, applied a base color, several colors of stain, gold leaf and another sealer coat. It looks terrific! This fountain was originally donated in 2006 by Prototypes, a program that runs women’s shelters and social services in Los Angeles County.
With the sod down and happily growing, our August 3 “picnic on the green” is only the first event to be held in the Courtyard. The first Los Feliz Art Walk is scheduled for September 5, and perhaps a wedding recpetion or two are in the works! The grass should be well-rooted before the Silverlake Children’s Theatre rehearsals in mid-September.
Long Library Opened in May 2009
A very new and fast project last spring is already in operation! Thanks to the Estate of Larry Long, and the quick and skillful work of our Sexton Abilio Salguero, our new Library has taken shape quickly and is already open for use!
The newly furnished Library is also an alternative meeting room for small groups.
The above photo is only one wall of the new Library, housed in the Office/Education wing. Yet to come: additional art work, French doors to the Courtyard, an internet desk, and cataloguing the collection.
The collection also includes books donated by Pastor Dan and other church members. The oldest book in the collection is the Illuminated Holy Bible, published by Harper & Brothers in 1846!
Contributions of other books, books on tape, CD's and other resources are encouraged!
Here’s a sample of the subjects in the collection:
In February, Paulette Hunnewell, executrix of the estate of member Larry Long who died last October, offered his theological library to Hollywood Lutheran Church as a memorial gift. The offer was enthusiastically accepted by the Church Council, which authorized the establishment of the Lawrence E. Long Memorial Library, utilizing Classroom 2 (upper floor).
During March, our Sexton, Abilio Salguero refurbished the mahogany bookcases that used to be in the corner of Durkee Hall, and matched them up with an old dish cabinet which held utilitarian plates and cups for more than 50 years!
Old shelves and a dish cupboard were reconstructed in March to form two walls of cabinets to hold books, CD's, videos and other resources.
Coming Again: E-News
Thanks to the impetus of Don Koeple, our e-mail news communication is coming to you twice a month! Four years ago, Raoul Tapia started this project, but Pastor Dan was unable to maintain it, even though many people have said they are interested in received updates by e-mail rather than by U.S. Mail.
Don is using the Constant Contact system to format and dispatch frequent mini-newsletters. If you would like to receive it, please make sure the Church Office has your e-mail address. You can always "opt out" at any time, if you don't wish to receive the newsletter.
Handicap Accessible Facilities Dedicated
Thanks to a generous bequest from the estate of Ruth Jensen received in 2006, Hollywood Lutheran Church is at last fully and completely handicap accessible. New facilities were dedicated with prayers and a ribbon-cutting on September 23, 2007.
A year earlier, voting members decided to move ahead with the construction of a new bathroom downstairs and an elevator connecting the Narthex and Sanctuary to Durkee Hall. This work was largely completed by September, and prayers of thanks and praise were offered to God for this wonderful moment. The elevator passed its final inspection in April 2008.
In addition to the financial gift, we are extremely grateful to architect Russell Johnson (photo above) who donated his professional expertise, as well as the time and patience necessary to help us get the appropriate building permits for these improvements.
Congregation Supports Los Feliz School Library
As part of our tithe of the Arlene Reed bequest (December 2006), the congregation voted to make a gift to Los Feliz Elementary School across the street from the church. (We've been neighbors for more than 80 years!). In early December, then-President Marie Sorensen and Pastor Dan Hooper presented a check to Principal Katharine Pilkinton, which will be used to beef up the schools Library with new books.
At right, School Principal Katharine Pilkinton and HLC President Marie Sorensen
