Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Church Office Closed for MLK Day
January 20th
In observance of MLK Day, the church office will be closed on Monday. The office will reopen for normal office hours on Tuesday.
Food 4 Thought Begins New Study Series
February 2nd
The Food 4 Thought small group will gather on Sunday, February 2nd for a potluck supper and to begin a new 10-month study series titled “Living the Questions”. These sessions feature over 30 scholars, theologians, and other experts exploring and reflecting on various aspects of Christianity. It also includes spiritual practices, opportunities for social justice engagement, and original jazz interpretations of classic hymns. Everyone is welcome to attend, please see here for details.
Youth Gatherings
January 26th
Save the date for our upcoming youth gatherings! On January 26th, we’ll be having a pizza and mini-golf outing with the joint youth group from 12 PM to 2:30 PM. We’ll also kick off our Youth Sunday School program with a Bible & Boba series. To RSVP, please reach out to Lulu at office@lakemerrittumc.org.
Children’s Choir
Starting February 2nd
Lake Merritt UMC’s Children’s Choir launches next month in February 2025! Let’s try to bring our kids every first Sunday of the month (Communion Sundays) to this exciting new monthly program, led by parent volunteers. The 20-minute choir class will take place following the Children’s Moment in worship, just prior to Godly Play/childcare. We are excited to teach and sing together the songs of our faith, and we welcome children and youth of all ages! For questions, please contact Dr. Anne Hege at annehegemusic@gmail.com or Rev. Stephanie Gameros at singingchaplain@gmail.com.
LMUMC Visioning Workshops
On January 18th a team will embark on the first of two visioning workshops to help us discern God’s purpose for our church and shape our path forward (learn more here). A shared vision is the foundation for a thriving and impactful church. One way you may contribute is to write down your ideas and place them in a suggestion box located in the sanctuary. Please also hold our team and our church in your ongoing prayers.
Thank You Oakland Methodist Foundation
In the past year, we made enormous strides in improving the condition of our facility, including completing work on a new roof, exterior painting, new carpeting and wood floor refinishing, and many more projects. This work would not have been possible without more than $200,000 granted to us by the Oakland Methodist Foundation. We extend our deepest gratitude to the leadership of OMF and ask you to consider direct contributions to this important organization that supports our church and our community. Learn more at https://oaklandmethodistfoundation.org/.
Ways to Support Those Impacted by the Los Angeles Fires
Let us pray for our siblings impacted by the devasting fires in Los Angeles. We also pray for the firefighters, first responders, and community leaders. Here are a few ways to support financially:
1. Donate directly to the church. The funds will be used to help people who lost their homes cover immediate expenses and for the church’s eventual reconstruction. Donate here.
2. Donate to the Los Angeles Fire Recovery Fund through the UMC California Pac Conference. These funds will benefit all the Los Angeles communities suffering in the fires. Donate here.
3. Donate to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) for its disaster relief for all the California fires. Donate here.
4. Send donations of e-gift cards (amazon, target, grubhub. etc.) to palisadesmethodist@gmail.com. These will be given to community members who lost their homes and belongings.
If you would like to submit an announcement for our weekly e-blast, please adhere to the guidelines found here. All submissions are due Wednesday by noon.
Remember the Sabbath
In today’s world, with its relentless emphasis on success and productivity, we have lost the necessary rhythm of life, the balance between work and rest. Constantly striving, we feel exhausted and deprived in the midst of great abundance. Keeping the Sabbath practice allows us to break this restless cycle and focus on what is truly important: God, I, other people and all life as God intended it to be.
We begin the new year with a sermon series on “Sabbath”. This worship series will explore concepts from Walter Brueggemann’s Sabbath as Resistance and Wayne Muller’s Sabbath, Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in our busy lives. Join us.
Sunday worship begins at 10:15AM.
Join us in person in our sanctuary or watch online via Zoom, Facebook or YouTube Live.
Bulletin Link
January 12th, 2025
You may give your Tithes & Offerings by mail, or click here to give online.
Watch Online
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87993979913
Meeting ID: 879 9397 9913
Passcode: 326043
Or dial the following number: 1(669) 900-6833.
When prompted, enter the meeting ID & passcode above.
To join Sunday Worship via Facebook, click here and look for the live video at the top of the page.
To watch the livestream of our service on YouTube, click here.
Upcoming Sundays
Sabbath as Resistance
January 12, 2025
Remember the Sabbath
Exodus 20:8
*
January 19, 2025
Resistance to Anxiety
Exodus 20:12-17
*
January 26, 2025
Resistance to Coercion
Deuteronomy 5:12-14
*
February 2, 2025
Resistance to Multi-Tasking
Amos 8:4-8
*
February 9, 2025
Sabbath as Rhythm
Genesis 2:2-3, Ecclesiastes 3:1
*
Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Pastor Sunae Attending the Annual Gathering of Spiritual Leaders
January 14th to 16th
Bishop Sandra Olewine calls the Orders (active and retired) and assigned Spiritual Leaders to gather this January for a time of retreat, connection, healing, and embracing God’s preferred future with one another, as we continue on the journey of ministry with our congregations, our communities, and our conference. They are gathering at Asilomar Conference Center from January 14-16, 2025. The theme for this gathering “Trusting in God’s New Direction” (Isaiah 43:18-19). Please keep them in your prayers.
Youth Gatherings
January 12th & 26th
Save the date for our upcoming youth gatherings! Join us on January 12th from 12 PM to 2 PM for youth group at Montclair Presbyterian Church. Then, on January 26th, we’ll be having a pizza and mini golf outing with the joint youth group, also from 12 PM to 2:30 PM. Starting January 26th, we’ll kick off our Youth Sunday School program with a Bible & Boba series. To RSVP, please reach out to Lulu at office@lakemerrittumc.org.
Children’s Choir
Starting February 2nd
Lake Merritt UMC’s Children’s Choir launches next month in February 2025! Let’s try to bring our kids every first Sunday of the month (Communion Sundays) to this exciting new monthly program, led by parent volunteers. The 20-minute choir class will take place following the Children’s Moment in worship, just prior to Godly Play/childcare. We are excited to teach and sing together the songs of our faith, and we welcome children and youth of all ages! For questions, please contact Dr. Anne Hege at annehegemusic@gmail.com or Rev. Stephanie Gameros at singingchaplain@gmail.com.
LMUMC Visioning Workshops
On January 18th a team will embark on the first of two visioning workshops to help us discern God’s purpose for our church and shape our path forward (learn more here). A shared vision is the foundation for a thriving and impactful church. One way you may contribute is to write down your ideas and place them in a suggestion box located in the sanctuary. Please also hold our team and our church in your ongoing prayers.
Thank You Oakland Methodist Foundation
In the past year, we made enormous strides in improving the condition of our facility, including completing work on a new roof, exterior painting, new carpeting and wood floor refinishing, and many more projects. This work would not have been possible without more than $200,000 granted to us by the Oakland Methodist Foundation. We extend our deepest gratitude to the leadership of OMF and ask you to consider direct contributions to this important organization that supports our church and our community. Learn more at https://oaklandmethodistfoundation.org/.
Pray for the Los Angeles Fires
Let us pray for our siblings impacted by the devasting fires in Los Angeles. We also pray for the firefighters, first responders, and community leaders. Updates can be found on the Cal-Pac website.
Cooking Up Solidarity:
Cooking Class Series and Fundraiser
Please join Friends of Wadi Foquin and Adam Manasra to cook, eat, and talk about food, culture, solidarity, and the taste of home. Click here to register. All funds beyond the cost of materials will be considered tax deductible and benefit current FoWF programs, including Green Valley Soccer Academy (serving 100+ kids); Emergency Fund (for those food insecure); Green Valley Grocery Store (accounting system); Tomor al Amal (used refrigerator for date storage). Co-sponsored by the Lake Merritt UMC Peace in Palestine/Friends of Wadi Foquin Circle.
Registration will open to the community on Monday, Jan 13th. Sign up now to reserve your spot!
If you would like to submit an announcement for our weekly e-blast, please adhere to the guidelines found here. All submissions are due Wednesday by noon.
Covenant Service
On Monday, August 11, 1755, it was probably the first real celebration of the Covenant Service in the Methodist movement. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement and spiritual awakening, found the Covenant service rich and meaningful that he wrote in his journal, “Many mourned before God, and many were comforted.” (April 1756)
We begin our new year 2025 with a Covenant service renewing our hearts before God and one another. Join us. The heart of the service is focused in the Covenant Prayer which requires persons to commit themselves to God. See below for the prayer. We will be recognizing past laity leaders and new lay leadership in this service. May God be praised.
Covenant Prayer
I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, align me with whom you will;
put me to doing, put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,
let me be full, let me be empty,
let me have all things, let me have nothing:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen
– John Wesley
Sunday worship begins at 10:15AM.
Join us in person in our sanctuary or watch online via Zoom, Facebook or YouTube Live.
Bulletin Link
January 5th, 2025
You may give your Tithes & Offerings by mail, or click here to give online.
Watch Online
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87993979913
Meeting ID: 879 9397 9913
Passcode: 326043
Or dial the following number: 1(669) 900-6833.
When prompted, enter the meeting ID & passcode above.
To join Sunday Worship via Facebook, click here and look for the live video at the top of the page.
To watch the livestream of our service on YouTube, click here.
Upcoming Sundays
*
January 5th, 2025
Covenant Service
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Pastor Sunae Attending the Conference Core Team Retreat
January 10th to 11th
Pastor Sunae is attending the Conference Core Team Retreat with Bishop Olewine and leaders of Cal-Nev Annual Conference as a Convener of the Leadership Development Mission Focus Area. She is asking for your prayers for the Conference strategic leadership gathering.
Youth Gatherings
January 12th & 26th
Save the date for our upcoming youth gatherings! Join us on January 12th from 12 PM to 2 PM for youth group at Montclair Presbyterian Church. Then, on January 26th, we’ll be having a pizza and mini golf outing with the joint youth group, also from 12 PM to 2 PM. Starting January 26th, we’ll kick off our Youth Sunday School program with a Bible & Boba series. To RSVP, please reach out to Lulu at office@lakemerrittumc.org.
Cooking Up Solidarity:
Cooking Class Series and Fundraiser
Please join Friends of Wadi Foquin and Adam Manasra to cook, eat, and talk about food, culture, solidarity, and the taste of home.
Cost: $115/workshop or $300 for the whole series.
Click here to register. All funds beyond the cost of materials will be considered tax deductible and benefit current FoWF programs, including Green Valley Soccer Academy (serving 100+ kids); Emergency Fund (for those food insecure); Green Valley Grocery Store (accounting system); Tomor al Amal (used refrigerator for date storage).
Co-sponsored by the Lake Merritt UMC Peace in Palestine/Friends of Wadi Foquin Circle.
If you would like to submit an announcement for our weekly e-blast, please adhere to the guidelines found here. All submissions are due Wednesday by noon.
