LMUMC January Office Hours

10 AM – 1 PM, Monday – Thursday

Throughout the month of January, the office will be limited to the hours of 10 AM – 1 PM (rather than the usual 2 PM) Monday through Thursday. If you are calling and unable to reach someone at the office, please leave a message or send an email to office@lakemerrittUMC.org

Office Closed on Monday, January 19

The office will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Pastor Sunae Attending the Core Team Conference Leadership Retreat with Bishop Sandy

Friday, January 16

Please note that Pastor Sunae will be attending the Core Team Retreat in Sacramento on Friday, January 16 all day. Pastor Sunae will be away from the office, participating in prayer, discernment, and leadership development for the wider church.

Celebration of Life for Judi Ann Fabrizio

Saturday, January 17 at 11 AM

TO RSVP CLICK HERE

For a PDF of the invitation, CLICK HERE

With grateful hearts for a life filled with love, generosity, and faith, we invite you to a Celebration of Life for Judi Ann Fabrizio on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church.

Together, we will honor Judi’s beautiful spirit, give thanks for her life among us, and commend her into God’s everlasting embrace. A reception will follow the service, and all are welcome to stay, share stories, and support the family.

Car pooling is recommended.

For those unable to attend in person, CLICK HERE to watch a livestream of our service on YouTube.

For a copy of the Bulletin for this memorial service, please CLICK HERE

Please hold Judi’s family, Wayne and Julie, and loved ones in your prayers during this tender season of remembrance and grief. We hold our Judi’s loving spirit in our hearts and prayers.

Thank you to Sue Dickey, Alex Banash, and Laurel Williams for helping to organize the reception. If you would like to assist with food, setup, serving or cleanup, please contact Laurel Williams.

Volunteers Needed: City of Oakland 2026 Point-in-Time Count

Thursday, January 22, 5 am – 12 pm

The City of Oakland is urgently seeking 500 volunteers for the vital 2026 Point-in-Time Count on Thursday, January 22, 2026. The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is a bi-annual estimated census of people experiencing homelessness in a 24-hour period. It helps to track changes over time, measure the scale of homelessness, and secure critical funding and resources to combat homelessness in our city. This count, conducted in partnership with Alameda County, is more than just a survey. The more accurate our count, the better we can serve our community.

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER: Here

Remember to select “OAKLAND” as your service location.

For more information visit their website at Oaklandca.gov/PITCount or contact them at pitcount@oaklandca.gov

The Palestinian Reality Post Gaza Ceasefire:

A Time for Faithful Solidarity & Action

Saturday, January 24, 10 AM

New Bridges United Methodist Church
1411 Oak Street
Alameda, CA 94501

The Bay District and Friends of Wadi Foquin invite you to attend this important lunch, fellowship, and community dialogue.

Since the United Nations approval of President Trump’s controversial 20-point peace plan for Gaza, Palestinians have continued to be killed there, and the West Bank experiences a slow, silent takeover of land. Although the administration has publicly criticized Israel for plans to annex Palestinian land in the West Bank, de facto annexation takes place on a daily basis.

This event will provide an opportunity to hear about Palestinian reality on the ground and ways we can engage in faithful actions for an equitable peace in the Middle East.

Register HERE

Tom Stoppard’s “Real Inspector Hound”

January 9 – 26

Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 PM | Sunday Matinees at 2:00 PM

Pinole Community Players

601 Tennent St.

Pinole, CA 94564

You are invited to enjoy Tom Stoppard’s “Real Inspector Hound,” playing at Pinole Players from January 9 to January 25. Carlene Coury stages it as a silly farce, with Stoppard’s plot focused on characters in a separate play watching the farce. (The metaphor for reality? Life can be chaos created by damaged, confused humans. Fun, mayhem & acceptance eventually turn up.)

Come and see a member of our church community, Susannah Wood, playing as Mrs. Drudge!

If you would like to submit an announcement for our weekly e-blast, please adhere to the guidelines found here. All submissions are due Tuesday by noon.