Call Committee Article #5

Dear members of the Emmanuel and Laurel Hall Community,

This is the fifth in a continuing series of articles regarding the progress of our Call Committee. I am pleased to report that we have begun our first-round interviews. The synod has sent us some very good candidates. This is really just a start, but we have started. Please keep us in your prayers. We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us in this time of discernment.

Here is some of the information that our candidates have received. In a series of meetings which we called “Cottage Meetings” more than a year ago, the congregation informed us about their thoughts about who we are as a congregation:

Description of our community: Emmanuel Lutheran and its two schools (Laurel Hall School, TK to 8th Grade and Laurel Hall Preschool) are located in North Hollywood in the center of three zip codes, 91606, 91607 and 91601. Members and students are also drawn from the surrounding areas of the San Fernando Valley, assisted by proximity to two major freeways. The area is one of great cultural, economic, and housing diversity. The combined zip code population is 45% White, 38% Hispanic, 6% Black, 6% Asian and 5% other. Areas of poverty exist to the north of the campus, while middle class and greater affluence exist to the south. Many in the region are in the entertainment industry. Housing is a combination of single- family homes, condominiums, and apartment buildings. NOHO West, a large new development of mixed-use shops, restaurants, and residential units adjacent to the Laurel Hall property, opened in 2020.

Our congregation’s current programs for mission and ministry: Our primary mission focus continues to be Laurel Hall Preschool and Laurel Hall School (TK-grade 8), which have a current enrollment of about 387 students. Many of Emmanuel’s programs have now re-emerged following shutdowns during the COVID years. The church and schools collect food for distribution to area food pantries. Most Sundays, a Bible Study group meets before church and children attend Sunday School during part of the service. The ELC choirs and musicians enhance the Sunday morning worship services, and the Friends of Music Concert Series committee is again planning concerts open to the congregation and community. The Quilters group arrays the pews in the fall with both traditional size and children size quilts, for sale to the congregation and for distribution to domestic and international missions. The Emmanuel Lutheran Actors Theater Ensemble (ELATE) is again presenting plays in our Lincoln Steadman Theater. Finally, the Emmanuel Lutheran Foundation annually awards $12,000 or more in scholarships to Laurel Hall students and also funds selected grant proposals from the church and schools.

In my next article I will continue to update everyone on our progress and share with you more information from the MSP (Ministry Site Profile). Please keep us in your prayers as we continue our interview process. Back articles are on the web site https://www.elcnoho.org/call-committee383c96a4 You can reach us via email at: callcommittee@elcnoho.org

Marshall Bowen, Call Committee Chair