“Zaccheus at the IRS”
This Sunday, my sermon, “Zacchaeus at the IRS” will be a “first person” retelling of Luke’s account of the encounter of Jesus with a tax collector in Jericho. I am looking forward to having a little fun in becoming this minor character and sharing with you the light that he sheds on the meaning and nature of this Jesus who keeps on reaching out to the most unlikely recipients of grace: people like you and me. –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 January – February Worship Series
Fierce Love
Inspired by the tenets of ubuntu—the Zulu phrase, “I am who I am because we are who we are”, that we are each impacted by the circumstances that impact those around us, and that the world won’t get better until we all get better. In her book, Fierce Love, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis shares her own experience, of being the first female and first Black minister in her church’s history, of being in an interracial marriage, and of making peace with childhood abuse – illustrates that our human capacity for empathy and forgiveness is the key to reverse a world divided and broken.She lays out the nine daily practices in her book for breaking through tribalism and engineering the change we seek but in our worship, we will reflect on six practices. From downsizing our emotional baggage to speaking truth to power to fueling our activism with joy, it demonstrates the power of small, morally courageous steps to heal our own lives, and our larger communities.
Sharing stories that trace her personal reckoning with racism as well as the arc of her journey to an inclusive and service-driven faith, Dr. Lewis shows that kindness, compassion, and inclusive thinking are muscles that can be exercised and strengthened. She says, Fiercely Love! Love! Period!
Feb 4, 2024 | Black History Month
Find Joy Purposefully! It is the Water of life!
Feb 11, 2024
Have Faith in Love! Love is the way! Period!
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Leviticus 19:18
Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Confirmation Class 2024
2nd & 4th Sundays, January 28 – May 12
Buena Vista UMC & Lake Merritt UMC present Methodist Confirmation Class for High School aged students! Meetings will be held on 2nd & 4th Sundays, 10:45 am – 12:45 pm at Buena Vista UMC in Alameda, beginning January 28th. Lunch will be provided. See the flyer below for more information.
Film Screening of Local Documentary on Homelessness
6 p.m. Thursday, February 15
Thursday, February 15, all are welcome to LMUMC for a free screening of the documentary film “A Rising Tide, A look at homelessness in Alameda County.” We will have a free soup and salad meal at 6pm followed at 6:30 pm by a screening of the 90 minute film. At 8pm join a discussion on how we can respond in new ways as a church and community. Invite your friends and register at this
link.
Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Confirmation Class 2024
2nd & 4th Sundays, January 28 – May 12
Buena Vista UMC & Lake Merritt UMC present Methodist Confirmation Class for High School aged students! Meetings will be held on 2nd & 4th Sundays, 10:45 am – 12:45 pm at Buena Vista UMC in Alameda, beginning January 28th. Lunch will be provided. See the flyer below for more information.
Bake Sale Fundraiser
Hello! My name is Sofia Bell and I am a junior at Berkeley High School. I was recently accepted to take part in a service trip to Turrialba, Costa Rica this summer through the program Global Glimpse. The purpose of this program is to bridge gaps between people all over the world and to provide helping hands to communities that lack proper food, shelter, water, education, and health services. In the past, Global Glimpse has helped build aqueducts, sheds, furniture for community spaces, and more. Furthermore, Global Glimpse helps develop students’ leadership and teamwork skills through numerous workshops and projects both during and outside of the trip. I am looking forward to traveling, helping others, meeting people from all over the world, and being immersed in a new culture.
This is all to say that I will be running a bake sale in Fellowship Hour after the service on January 21, 2024, to help fund my trip. If you are interested in buying some baked goods, I will be prepared to accept cash and Venmo. If you are interested in donating digitally, the link here: https://globalglimpse.org/portal/donatestudent.php can be used along with my ID # 30850. I appreciate you reading this message and hope to see you there!
Pastor Sunae, Pastor Dale, and Deacon Ken will be attending the Gathering of the Orders in Livermore 1/23-1/25
“Downsize the Burdens You Carry and Travel Lightly”
Many of us carry our pain like bricks in a suitcase and it becomes part of our identity. Is anybody with me on this? Our life is a string of events and stories – a collection of both good and not-so-good. This Sunday, we invite you to reflect and hold your painful stories you carry. What lies beneath under your unexamined stories, your unforgiven wounds and the crippling weight of oppression? Could you let go? How do you begin to let go?
Archbishop Desmond Tutu says, “We are not responsible for what breaks us, but we can be responsible for what puts us back together again.” Let us stay where our pain is. Be still and know God is there. In that liminal space, we are invited to carry the cross of our own reality until God transforms us through it. Join us. Amen.
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 January – February Worship Series
Fierce Love
Inspired by the tenets of ubuntu—the Zulu phrase, “I am who I am because we are who we are”, that we are each impacted by the circumstances that impact those around us, and that the world won’t get better until we all get better. In her book, Fierce Love, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis shares her own experience, of being the first female and first Black minister in her church’s history, of being in an interracial marriage, and of making peace with childhood abuse – illustrates that our human capacity for empathy and forgiveness is the key to reverse a world divided and broken.She lays out the nine daily practices in her book for breaking through tribalism and engineering the change we seek but in our worship, we will reflect on six practices. From downsizing our emotional baggage to speaking truth to power to fueling our activism with joy, it demonstrates the power of small, morally courageous steps to heal our own lives, and our larger communities.
Sharing stories that trace her personal reckoning with racism as well as the arc of her journey to an inclusive and service-driven faith, Dr. Lewis shows that kindness, compassion, and inclusive thinking are muscles that can be exercised and strengthened. She says, Fiercely Love! Love! Period!
Jan 14, 2024 | Human Relations Sunday
Travel Lightly. Downsize the Burdens You Carry
1 John 4:16 – 19
Jan 21, 2024 | Christian Unity Week
Show Kindness and Affection Wildly
Luke 10:25-37
Leviticus 19:18 (Guest Preacher: Ken Schoon)
Jan 28, 2024
Think Inclusively! They are Your People, Too!
Luke 19:1-10
Galatians 3:28
Feb 4, 2024 | Black History Month
Find Joy Purposefully! It is the Water of life!
Feb 11, 2024
Have Faith in Love! Love is the way! Period!
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Leviticus 19:18
Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Sound Bath
6:45 p.m., Friday, January 12th
Take time out to breathe at our monthly Sound Bath Experience on Friday, Jan. 12th. Relax in a chair or on the floor with your own mat, blanket, and/or pillow as you are surrounded by meditative vibrations and melodies.
Admittance for the church community is donation-based. No RSVP needed. Doors open at 6:30 pm; please arrive by 6:45. Program begins at 7:00.
Youth Luncheon
Sunday, January 14th
On Sunday, January 14th, right after worship, Lake Merritt UMC will host a family luncheon about our new youth program and upcoming joint confirmation class with Buena Vista UMC. Lunch will be provided. This is your chance to offer suggestions and/or get involved!
Confirmation Class 2024
2nd & 4th Sundays, January 28 – May 12
Buena Vista UMC & Lake Merritt UMC present Methodist Confirmation Class for High School aged students! Meetings will be held on 2nd & 4th Sundays, 10:45 am – 12:45 pm at Buena Vista UMC in Alameda, beginning January 28th. Lunch will be provided. See the flyer below for more information.
Church Leadership Virtual Training
Saturday, Jan 20th, 9am – 12:30pm
The California-Nevada Conference is offering a virtual Church Leaders’ Training on Saturday, January 20, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. The event on Zoom will provide critical information and updates to help your church function well during these times.
There will be specific trainings for Pastors, Lay Leaders, Administrative Board Council Chairs, SPRC/PPRC, Treasurers, Finance Committee Members, Trustees, and Nominations Committee Members. We strongly encourage not only your attendance but also the participation of both new and returning church officers, committee members, emerging leaders, and others who may be thinking of serving in your church. This training is an excellent opportunity for everyone to stay informed and equipped.
To register, click here. If you cannot attend the meeting due to a scheduling conflict, please still register so we can send you the recordings when they are available. The deadline to register is January 15th.
Rabbi David J. Cooper in conversation at Twin Towers UMC
6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan 17 in-person and on Zoom
David Cooper is Rabbi Emeritus and co-founder of Kehilla Community Synagogue in the Oakland Piedmont area. The synagogue is dedicated to a progressive vision of social activism inspired by the writings of the Hebrew prophets. Rabbi Cooper has supported equal rights and dignity for all Israelis and Palestinians and has been active against the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
This event is brought to you by Twin Towers UMC and Alameda Friends & Family for Ceasefire. To participate on Zoom, register here.
Rev. Dr. Dale Tremper is on vacation through Jan 14, 2024.
The church office will be closed on Monday, Jan 16th in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
