Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Fellowship Food Volunteers Needed
Our fellowship time after worship on Sundays needs an ongoing supply of volunteers to provide food. Nothing fancy—veggies and dip, fresh fruit, cheese and crackers are always popular. Please look for the clipboard on the food table every Sunday and sign up for your Sunday(s) of choice and what you are planning to bring. There are three signup opportunities for each Sunday. Please see Laurel Williams if you have any questions.
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. The pilgrimage will consist of a daylong, 22-mile walk (broken into shorter legs) from Berkeley to Alameda, symbolizing 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 practice radical hospitality by opening our doors to pilgrims to offer water, food, restrooms, and a place to pray and rest. Please sign up here if you would like to support with welcoming walkers, setting up the space, or donating food items (among other tasks). In addition, we encourage you to participate in a short prayerful ceremony at 3:45 pm at church before pilgrims set off on the 5th leg, whether or not you volunteer for hospitality.
Several from LMUMC will be joining a short leg, a 1.5 mile communal walk at 12:00pm, starting at the Buddhist Church of Oakland and ending at the First Congregational Church of Oakland – culminating in a community ritual and press conference. To register or find more information about the pilgrimage, 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.
7 p.m. Sunday, March 17th
Montclair Presbyterian Church, Oakland
7 p.m. Sunday, March 24th
St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, Berkeley
“The Beloved Disciple”
My message for this week centers around the mysterious “Beloved Disciple” in the Gospel of John. I take it that this character represents every one of us. Let us be embraced by God-in-Christ at the depth of our being. What kind of love claims us? Love that gets its hands dirty, gets involved, reaches out inclusively and experiences the essence of God. —Pastor Dale
Join us in person or via Zoom, Facebook or YouTube Live.
Sunday service begins at 10:15AM.
To join Sunday Worship via Facebook, log onto your Facebook account and search for the ‘Lake Merritt United Methodist Church’ page or click here.
To watch the live stream of our service on YouTube, click here.
2024 Lent Worship Series
Witness at the Cross
March 17, 2024
The Women
Mark 15:40-41
*
March 24, 2024 | Palm / Passion Sunday
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
Mark 15:42-46
*
March 29, 2024 | Good Friday
7 p.m. Tenebrae Taizé service
*
March 31, 2024 | Easter Sunday
Easter and Membership Celebration
Mark 16:1-8
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
Our fellowship time after worship on Sundays needs an ongoing supply of volunteers to provide food. Nothing fancy—veggies and dip, fresh fruit, cheese and crackers are always popular. Please look for the clipboard on the food table every Sunday and sign up for your Sunday(s) of choice and what you are planning to bring. There are three signup opportunities for each Sunday. Please see Laurel Williams if you have any questions.
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.
7 p.m. Sunday, March 17th
Montclair Presbyterian Church, Oakland
7 p.m. Sunday, March 24th
St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, Berkeley
“The Soldiers”
We continue our Lenten journey at the cross reflecting the witnesses’ stories at Jesus’ crucifixion. These witnesses help us spend time with Jesus’ suffering on the cross. This Sunday, we hear slightly different stories of the soldiers from each gospel. What was their witness? I wonder how their job impacted their lives. One of the soldiers, Centurion, at the cross claims, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”
Hearing their witnesses and experience of Jesus’ crucifixion invite us not only to remember Jesus’ sacrificial love on the cross but invite us to pick up the stories ourselves and allow it to shape us into the future. Come, friends, join us! We invite you to be witness of the Cross.
Join us in person or via Zoom, Facebook or YouTube Live.
Sunday service begins at 10:15AM.
To join Sunday Worship via Facebook, log onto your Facebook account and search for the ‘Lake Merritt United Methodist Church’ page or click here.
To watch the live stream of our service on YouTube, click here.
2024 Lent Worship Series
Witness at the Cross
March 3, 2024
The Soldiers
John 19:23-24
Luke 23:47
*
March 10, 2024
The Beloved Disciple
John 13:23
John 19:26-27
*
March 17, 2024
The Women
Mark 15:40-41
*
March 24, 2024 | Palm / Passion Sunday
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
Mark 15:42-46
*
March 29, 2024 | Good Friday
7 p.m. Tenebrae Taizé service
*
March 31, 2024 | Easter Sunday
Easter and Membership Celebration
Mark 16:1-8
Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
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
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?
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.
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.
7 p.m. Sunday, March 17th
Montclair Presbyterian Church, Oakland
7 p.m. Sunday, March 24th
St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, Berkeley
