Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
No Sound Bath in March
Due to scheduling conflicts, we regretfully have to cancel Sound Bath on March 8th. Sound Bath will resume on April 12th.
Spring Forward
March 10th
Go to bed early this Saturday night and set your clocks forward. Daylight Savings time begins this Sunday, March 10th!
Celebration of Service and Love with Larry and Kris
March 10th
Join us during fellowship hour as we share our gratitude and support with Larry and Kris for their kind, loving service with our Lake Lunches distribution. Sign up here to bring a potluck dish (appetizer, side, main course, salad, snack, dessert). For more information, contact your Connectional Ministries Team – Galia nutrigalia@gmail.com
Fellowship Food Volunteers Needed
Membership Class with Pastor Sunae
March 10th & 17th
Do you wish to become a member of this diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church? We invite you to attend a two-session membership class with Pastor Sunae on March 10 and March 17 in the Wesley Conference room. Would you fill out the membership form and give it to the ushers?
Oakland Marathon Information
6-10am Sunday, March 17th
The annual Oakland Marathon may affect our access to church on Sunday, March 17th between 6am and 9:30am. The race should be finished on our portion of the route between 9:30 and 10am. Click here for more details, including maps with the full route and information on how to access the church before 10am.
Interfaith Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage
Saturday, March 23rd
On Saturday, March 23rd, Lake Merritt UMC and other congregations across the Bay Area will be participating in an interfaith pilgrimage dedicated to calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. It will consist of a daylong, 22-mile walk (broken into shorter legs) from Berkeley to Alameda, representing the distance from Gaza City to the Rafah crossing refugee camp. LMUMC will be the gathering place for the 5th leg. From 2:30 – 4:00 pm we will open our doors to pilgrims to offer water, food, restrooms, and a place to pray and rest. Pastor Sunae reminds us that this is an opportunity to practice “radical hospitality” with our neighbors on this pilgrimage.
Members of LMUMC’s Peace in Palestine/Israel group are putting out a call for volunteers to help with various hospitality tasks on March 23. If you have any questions or would like to support, please contact Rose Lynn roselynn20@gmail.com, Becky rebecca.dean11@gmail.com, or Dan danjeffstrauss@gmail.com.
There will be options to participate for all ages and levels of ability including completing one or more 4-6 mile leg, a shorter walk (1.5 miles at noon along Lake Merritt), and other volunteer roles. This pilgrimage is part of a broader global effort taking place in over 145 cities in 18 countries. For more information, you can visit https://bit.ly/gcpeastbay. Please join us as we walk in prayerful solidarity with the people of Gaza and call for peace during this time of violence and suffering.
Voci Women’s Vocal Ensemble Concert
March 17th & 24th
Both timely and timeless, the theme of peace is often seen on choral stages. In this concert, led by Guest Conductor Ofer dal Lal, through sounds that are not only soothing but, at times, provoking, Voci will present a vision for a real peace–one that may require effort and even sacrifice. Peace on Earth requires a reconciliation of our rich and complex past, much the same way as a choir can only find harmony through mutual appreciation and collaboration among its members.