Please read ALL OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS!

 


Lenten Worship Series (Feb 22, 2023 – April 9, 2023)

The Lenten journey began on Ash Wednesday and continues as we walk toward Easter together, which is April 9, 2023.

This year’s Lenten theme is “Entering the Passion of Jesus”.  We invite you to prepare your heart for this year’s Lenten journey by walking with Jesus in his final days and hours on the way to the cross.   See below for the Lenten Worship Series information and join us.

 

4/2, Sixth Sunday in Lent or Palm/Passion Sunday

Gethsemane:  Risking Temptation

John 18:1-11

 

4/7, Good Friday:  Tenebrae Service at 7 PM

 

4/9, Easter Sunday

Christ is Risen!

John 20:1-18

 


Joint Tenebrae Good Friday

Join us for a Joint Tenebrae Good Friday In-Person and Live stream service on April 7, at 7PM.   It is a service with music, scriptures, shadow, darkness, and silence, adding to the mood of this day.


Celebrate Easter!

Celebrate Easter with us on April 9 with flowers, music, choir, and celebration of baptism of Kiara Isabelle Iyengar, and receiving a new member! It will be a joyful and spiritual filled celebration!  Please bring fresh-cut flowers for children to decorate the Easter Cross on Easter Sunday!  Thank you.

 

 


Annis Beutke Memorial 

A memorial service for Annis Beutke will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023 with a reception following at our church.  The service will be in person only.  Let us continue to give God thanks for Annis’ life and witness and hold her family close in prayer.

 


Russ Aubry Memorial 

A memorial service for Russ Aubry will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023 with a reception following at our church.  The service will be in person only.  Let us continue to give God thanks for Russ’ life and witness and hold his family close in prayer.

 


Do You Have a Rocking Chair That’s Not Being Used?

Our Worship Vitality Team is looking to create comfortable seating for brand-new parents with their babies as they attend worship. Do you have a rocking chair you are not using?  We would love to put it to good use in our worship.  Let the office or Pastor Sunae know.  

 


Food Ministries Updates

Thank you to several of you who have reached out and made the food ministries a part of your day! It’s a great lift! Here are some specific ways you can plug in:

 

Monthly Food Distribution

Would you like to help out this month at the Food Distribution? Come on Friday from 10-11 am to help set up or Saturday! We could use help with early set up between 7-8 am or during the distribution we are welcoming nearly 30 volunteers between 8 and 10:30. Join us or consider bringing some snacks for the crew to help us make this a welcoming space and show our appreciation.

 

Lake Lunches Prep

On Sunday, April 16 after church, join us in carving and slicing meats we’ve acquired from the food bank for sandwich lunches. This work needs to be done before our Monday prep and many hands really do make light work so we’re scheduling a time for a group of us to have slicing and carving together. No experience needed! If you have a meat slicer or electric carving knife you can lend for this special day, please do!

 

LIFT Concert

April 29 is our 8th annual Lift Concert to lift up the ways in which we build community and meet hunger in the food ministries through music! It is “lift” to make the Lift Concert happen each year so please consider lending a hand. We can match your interest and availability to the many tasks needed to make this beautiful event happen!

For info or to volunteer, please contact Galia, Tom, Rose Lynn or Kathleen. 


LMUMC Choirs Information

To join the voice choir, contact the Music Director,
Jim Meredith jimmeredith@mac.com

To join the handbell choir, contact the Handbell Director,
Margaret LeWright margaretlewright@gmail.com

 


New COVID Masking Policy

After careful discernment, the Lake Merritt Church Council has decided to take another step in our evolving response to COVID-19. Effective this Sunday, March 19, we will implement a new COVID-19 policy that will include making the wearing of face masks optional.

The policy reflects local and state changes to masking requirements put in place last year while also working to continue to be responsive to those among us who are more vulnerable to COVID-19. 

Based on the State of California and Alameda County COVID-19 guidelines for masking (here and here), and the current designation of “low” COVID-19 transmission rates in Alameda County, LMUMC is adopting the following COVID-19 policy for all church-sponsored activities, effective March 19, 2023:

  • Wearing face masks is optional at Lake Merritt UMC while COVID-19 transmission rates in Alameda County are designated as “low.” If that designation changes, we will re-evaluate our policy based on State and County guidelines.
  • Small groups, choirs, and the food ministry may elect to adopt more stringent masking policies. 
  • Persons who have been exposed to or contracted COVID-19 are expected to follow State guidelines for quarantining and masking found here when deciding to visit LMUMC. 
  • All persons should stay home when they feel sick to prevent the spread of contagious illnesses such as COVID-19. 

 

We also recognize that people attending our church are at different levels of risk based on their age and health, and they need our compassion and support. For this reason, we will also take the following steps to support those who are more vulnerable. 

  • We will place additional chairs along the sides of our worship space, spread out at least six feet from each other. 
  • For the next two months, we will open a portion of the partition wall during worship services to increase ventilation. We will reevaluate this measure in two months.
  • We will continue to have masks available at church and we ask everyone to be mindful of those people who continue to wear masks and their potential increased vulnerability. Please be conscientious and consider wearing a mask around someone at greater risk. 

 

Please contact your Church Council co-chairs, Tom Huetteman, Joseph Koroma, or Pastor Sunae for any questions or feedback on this change.