Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Thanksgiving is Almost Here!
Volunteers for our Thanksgiving Lunch are welcome to sign up online via the food programs page on our church website. Please consider baking or buying pies for the meal. They can be delivered as early as 10 a.m. Wednesday if they are not perishable. Perishable pies, such as pumpkin, need to be delivered Thursday morning by 10 a.m.
For the community: Lake lunches will be delivered starting at 11:30, and the sit-down meal from 12-2. Guests may arrive by either the 1st Ave side or the Lakeshore side. Please spread the invitation to all in the community. No one will go hungry!
Questions can be addressed to Kathleen Bell 510-333-7480 or Margaret LeWright 510 967-1374
Please Donate to Our Building Campaign
And they shall make me a sanctuary so that I may dwell among them (Exodus 25:8)
After more than 30 years our beloved Lake Merritt UMC church is ready for a new coat of paint and much, much more! Between now and January 7, 2024 we are seeking to raise $50,000. A grant from the Oakland Methodist Foundation will almost triple this amount so we can make our church shine again!
Please donate by writing a check to the church (put “building campaign” on the memo line) or give online using a credit or debit card, or as a bank transfer. To give online, click HERE. For more information follow this link.
Cookie Jars
Cookie Jars will be available after worship starting this Sunday or even Delivered if you can’t make it to church! Cost will be $10 check, cash or Venmo accepted. These make lovely Christmas or hostess gifts over the coming holidays. They are lovingly assembled by some of our youth and Children’s Ministry team.
Christmas Pageant Invitation
Calling CHILDREN, YOUTH & ADULTS! The Christmas Pageant this year will be during Worship on Sunday, December 24th at 10:15 AM. All are welcome to help! Please let Susannah Wood know if you are available:
sweet.theater@gmail.com (510) 384-4905. PARENTS-especially – please let Susannah know ASAP if your child(ren) can participate.
Lake Park Community Engagement
Pastor Dale is on vacation from Nov 8th through the 24th. For any questions regarding Community Engagement programs at Lake Park, please contact Pastor Sunae. Questions on Yoga classes, please contact Kathleen Bell and Susannah Wood.
Save the Date for Your Churches’ Annual Charge Conference!
Lake Park UMC’s Charge Conference is on Monday, December 4 at noon via Zoom meeting. The Zoom link will be sent out a week before the Charge Conference.
Lake Merritt UMC’s Charge Conference is on Thursday, December 7 at 7 p.m. via Zoom meeting. All Church Council members are invited to each church’s Charge Conference with vote and voice but all are welcome to the Charge Conference. Trustees, SPRRC, and Membership Secretary, please submit your Charge Conference reports via People’s Portal by the end of November. Contact Pastor Sunae if you have any questions.
Friends of Wadi Foquin Teach-In
Saturday, November 18
12:30 Gathering time with refreshments
1:00 p.m. Program begins (ends by 3:30 p.m.)
Lake Park United Methodist Church
281 Santa Clara Ave., Oakland, CA 94610
Facilitators: Rev. Ken Schoon, Rev. Emily Lin, Dr. George Han
Are you concerned about the crisis in Gaza but don’t feel like you know enough to speak out? Join Friends of Wadi Foquin for this introductory teach-in covering the current crisis and what led up to this point. Click here to view the flyer and learn more about the co-facilitators. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/FOWF-Teach-In-Nov2023
Joyeux Noël: A French Christmas with Sonos
A French Christmas with the acclaimed Sonos Handbell Ensemble, featuring guest artist, mezzo-soprano, Ellen St. Thomas. Artistic Director, James Meredith has designed a new holiday program inspired by the Louis B. Comfort Tiffany mosaic triptych, Te Deum Laudamus, that is the centerpiece of the sanctuary at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church.
The concert includes carols from historical regions in and around France. A pre-concert lecture about the Tiffany panels will be given at 1:15 by Lake Merritt UMC historian Barbara Gannich. www.sonos.org
.
Free Admission!
Saturday, Nov. 25th, 2:00 p.m.
Community Church of Sebastopol
1000 Gravestein Highway N., Sebastopol
.
Sunday, Nov. 26th, 2:00 p.m.
Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
pre-concert lecture at 1:15 p.m.
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir Concert
The Oakland Interfaith Gospel, Youth, and Community Choirs will be singing their annual holiday concert back in the Paramount Theatre for the first time since pre-covid! It will be Saturday, December 2nd at 7pm. You’re guaranteed to get in the Holiday mood by this concert, and you may even see some faces you know from LMUMC singing up on stage (Dan Strauss, Bernard Dixon, and Juliet Hannafin).
PARAMOUNT HOLIDAY CONCERT
- OIGC, OIYC, and OICC are performing, and all are welcome! Check THIS LINK to download a flyer to share with friends and family!
- Holiday Concert Press Release – share with any press contacts!
Voci Women’s Vocal Ensemble Concert
For the 21st annual Voices in Peace concert, Voci will be embracing and exploring some of the transitions that define our existence. The program explores the changes from one season to the next, as well as transitions such as birth, marriage, leaving, and returning home.
.
Two venus to choose from:
Saturday, December 2, 2023 – 7:30 PM
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
1601 Mary Drive, Pleasant Hill
.
Sunday, December 3, 2023 – 4:00 PM
Montclair Presbyterian Church
5701 Thornhill Drive, Oakland
Buy tickets and learn more about Voci at VociSings.org
Now in its 32nd year, Voci Women’s Vocal Ensemble is recognized as one of the finest choral groups in the Bay Area. Voci is dedicated to musical excellence in the performance of new and innovative music, as well as treasured repertoire within the classical choral tradition. Comprised of 24-28 experienced choral singers, Voci has performed with a wide range of artists and choruses at concerts, festivals, and benefits and has commissioned and premiered over 30 new works.
Unsung Heroes of the Faith
We are journeying with some of the unsung biblical heroes who can teach us something important about our faith. Bezalel and Oholiab belong to this group of unsung heroes. They are endowed with wisdom, discernment, and knowledge, and their wisdom is not cerebral but practical. Their story teaches us that creating a home, the tabernacle or sanctuary, for holiness is human work! Come, friends, we will hear more about these two unsung heroes of faith in worship!
We are also celebrating a special baptism of Rosie and Renee Taharka this Sunday. Grace abounds! Join us!
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.
Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Sound Bath
Friday, November 10, 7:00-8:30 pm
In the midst of the busy-ness and stress of the world, would you like to slow down? Breathe and rest? Would you like to breathe peace and love in your body, mind and soul? We invite you to Sound Bath Meditation on November 10 at 7pm in our own sanctuary at Lake Merritt UMC.
(Click to open full size image with QR code)
Thanksgiving Lunch
The Annual Thanksgiving Lunch is approaching! Volunteers are welcome to sign up online via the food programs page on our church website. Please sign up as early as possible as these are favorite volunteer opportunities for the entire community. Please consider baking or buying pies for the meal. They can be delivered as early as 10 a.m. Wednesday if they are not perishable. Perishable pies, such as pumpkin, need to be delivered Thursday morning by 10 a.m.
For the community: Lake lunches will be delivered starting at 11:30, and the sit-down meal from 12-2. Guests may arrive by either the 1st Ave side or the Lakeshore side. Please spread the invitation to all in the community. No one will go hungry!
Questions can be addressed to Kathleen Bell 510-333-7480 or Margaret LeWright 510 967-1374
Cookie Jars
Cookie Jars will be available after worship starting this Sunday or even Delivered if you can’t make it to church! Cost will be $10 check, cash or Venmo accepted. These make lovely Christmas or hostess gifts over the coming holidays. They are lovingly assembled by some of our youth and Children’s Ministry team.
Lake Park Community Engagement
Pastor Dale is on vacation from Nov 8th through the 24th. For any questions regarding Community Engagement programs at Lake Park, please contact Pastor Sunae. Questions on Yoga classes, please contact Kathleen Bell and Susannah Wood.
Save the Date for Your Churches’ Annual Charge Conference!
Lake Park UMC’s Charge Conference is on Monday, December 4 at noon via Zoom meeting. The Zoom link will be sent out a week before the Charge Conference.
Lake Merritt UMC’s Charge Conference is on Thursday, December 7 at 7 p.m. via Zoom meeting. All Church Council members are invited to each church’s Charge Conference with vote and voice but all are welcome to the Charge Conference. Trustees, SPRRC, and Membership Secretary, please submit your Charge Conference reports via People’s Portal by the end of November. Contact Pastor Sunae if you have any questions.
Rev. Sun Hee Kim Appointed District Superintendent
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño announces the following new appointments. Effective November 1, 2023, Rev. Dr. Kristin Stoneking will assume the position of the Director of Ministry Innovation and Congregational Vitality in the California-Nevada Conference. Effective November 1, 2023, Rev. Sun Hee Kim will serve as the Superintendent of the Bay District. Read the announcement here to learn more about Rev. Stoneking & Rev. Kim.
Friends of Wadi Foquin Teach-In
Saturday, November 18
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
12:30 Gathering time with refreshments
1:00 p.m. Program begins
Lake Park United Methodist Church
281 Santa Clara Ave., Oakland, CA 94610
Facilitators: Rev. Ken Schoon, Rev. Emily Lin, Dr. George Han
Are you concerned about the crisis in Gaza but don’t feel like you know enough to speak out? Join Friends of Wadi Foquin for this introductory teach-in covering the current crisis and what led up to this point.
By this end of this teach-in you will be able to speak knowledgeably, faithfully, and compassionately about the current crisis in Gaza and the West Bank; you will be able to help friends understand the situation; and you will come away with concrete actions that you can take to advocate for the people of Gaza and Palestinians more broadly.
The teach-in is intended to be a space for learning as well as building relationships with other Christians who are interested in justice for Palestinians. It will be interactive, consisting of 3 sessions with time for breaks and break-out groups.
You are invited to gather at 12:30 p.m. for coffee, tea, and baklava (you are welcome to bring your own lunch). Program starts promptly at 1 p.m. and concludes by 3:30 p.m.
Please register below or at https://tinyurl.com/FOWF-Teach-In-Nov2023. Invite a friend!
*Friends of Wadi Foquin is a U.S.-based partnership established by members of the California-Nevada Annual Conference with the Palestinian village of Wadi Foquin, located in the occupied West Bank. For the latest update in the village, click here. For more information about Friends of Wadi Foquin, visit friendsofwadifoquin.com
IM4HI Benefit Concert
The Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI) is excited to announce its very first Love Over Fear benefit concert on Monday, November 13, 7:00pm at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley! This event features a lineup of talented Bay Area immigrants and BIPOC musicians inspiring us to build solidarity in the face of racism, replacing fear, criminalization, and xenophobia with healing, inclusion, and shared humanity. This concert is a benefit for IM4HI to help us achieve our end-of-the-year fundraising goal of $100,000 to support immigration advocacy, accompaniment, and leadership development.
Joyeux Noël: A French Christmas with Sonos
A French Christmas with the acclaimed Sonos Handbell Ensemble, featuring guest artist, mezzo-soprano, Ellen St. Thomas. Artistic Director, James Meredith has designed a new holiday program inspired by the Louis B. Comfort Tiffany mosaic triptych, Te Deum Laudamus, that is the centerpiece of the sanctuary at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church. This incomparable treasure is made of over two million pieces of iridescent favrile glass influenced by the French Art Nouveau movement. From an art critic at the time of their creation in 1923: “Of the many mosaics executed under the personal supervision of Louis C. Tiffany for the decoration of churches and public buildings, none equals in beauty of color and sublimity of subject the three symbolic panels.”
The concert includes carols from historical regions in and around France including Burgundy, Tarn-et-Garone, Catalonia, Provence, and Basque Country. Whether a Francophile or not, you will delight in hearing many well-known and engagingly beautiful French carols plus a few other Sonos favorites. A pre-concert lecture about the Tiffany panels will be given at 1:15 by Lake Merritt UMC historian Barbara Gannich. www.sonos.org
.
Free Admission!
Saturday, Nov. 25th, 2:00 p.m.
Community Church of Sebastopol
1000 Gravestein Highway N., Sebastopol
.
Sunday, Nov. 26th, 2:00 p.m.
Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
pre-concert lecture at 1:15 p.m.
Voci Women’s Vocal Ensemble Concert
For the 21st annual Voices in Peace concert, Voci will be embracing and exploring some of the transitions that define our existence. The program explores the changes from one season to the next, as well as transitions such as birth, marriage, leaving, and returning home.
.
Two venus to choose from:
Saturday, December 2, 2023 – 7:30 PM
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
1601 Mary Drive, Pleasant Hill
.
Sunday, December 3, 2023 – 4:00 PM
Montclair Presbyterian Church
5701 Thornhill Drive, Oakland
Buy tickets and learn more about Voci at VociSings.org
Now in its 32nd year, Voci Women’s Vocal Ensemble is recognized as one of the finest choral groups in the Bay Area. Voci is dedicated to musical excellence in the performance of new and innovative music, as well as treasured repertoire within the classical choral tradition. Comprised of 24-28 experienced choral singers, Voci has performed with a wide range of artists and choruses at concerts, festivals, and benefits and has commissioned and premiered over 30 new works.
Unsung Heroes of Faith
The Bible is filled with many people who, called by God, use their gifts to make a difference for God’s people. Like Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Peter, and Paul, they are big leaders whose names and accomplishments are well-known to us. But there are others whose names and or actions do not get much attention.
For the next three Sundays, we will reflect on some of those unsung biblical heroes who can teach us something important about faith. This Sunday, Pastor Dale will be preaching on the nameless widow of Zarephath who shows us that interfaith relationships provide God’s people with sustenance and blessing. Come and worship with us.
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.
Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Fall Back
Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 a.m. Our clocks go back an hour, and we will gain an hour of sleep. If your clocks do not follow the time change automatically, remember to turn them back on Saturday night. Enjoy this once-yearly opportunity to get some extra rest!
Sound Bath
Friday, November 10, 7:00-8:30 pm
In the midst of the busy-ness and stress of the world, would you like to slow down? Breathe and rest? Would you like to breathe peace and love in your body, mind and soul? We invite you to Sound Bath Meditation on November 10 at 7pm in our own sanctuary at Lake Merritt UMC.
(Click to open full size image with QR code)
Thanksgiving Lunch
The Annual Thanksgiving Lunch is approaching! We are excited to be returning to the treasured community time we enjoyed pre-pandemic with a seated meal, table service, sweet music, and more! Let’s do this together! If you would like to help out in any way, please contact Kathleen Bell or Margaret LeWright! Your interests will be matched with an amazing job! Kathleen (kathleenbell@gmail.com) Margaret (margaretlewright@gmail.com)
Save the Date for Your Churches’ Annual Charge Conference!
Lake Park UMC’s Charge Conference is on Monday, December 4 at noon. This is a Hybrid Charge Conference. The Zoom link will be sent out a week before the Charge Conference.
Lake Merritt UMC’s Charge Conference is on Thursday, December 7 at 7 p.m. via Zoom meeting. All Church Council members are invited to each church’s Charge Conference with vote and voice but all are welcome to the Charge Conference. Trustees, SPRRC, and Membership Secretary, please submit your Charge Conference reports via People’s Portal by the end of November. Contact Pastor Sunae if you have any questions.
Lake Park Community Engagement
Pastor Dale is on vacation from Nov 8th through the 24th. For any questions regarding Community Engagement programs at Lake Park, please contact Pastor Sunae. Questions on Yoga classes, please contact Kathleen Bell and Susannah Wood.
Gentle Yoga
As we enter the season of fall, Gentle Yoga for body and soul would be an excellent way to stretch and breathe tranquility into our mind, body, and soul.
Lake Park UMC, A Place for Community’s Gentle Yoga class begins this Thursday. Kathleen will be teaching the Thursday 12 noon classes from Oct 26 thru Dec 14. Susannah Wood will be teaching the second class on Saturdays from Nov 11 thru Dec 16 at 9am. All are welcome.
Friends of Wadi Foquin Teach-In
Saturday, November 18
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
12:30 Gathering time with coffee, tea, and baklava
1:00 p.m. Program begins
Lake Park United Methodist Church
281 Santa Clara Ave., Oakland, CA 94610
Are you concerned about the crisis in Gaza but don’t feel like you know enough to speak out? Join Friends of Wadi Foquin for this introductory teach-in covering the current crisis and what led up to this point.
By this end of this teach-in you will be able to speak knowledgeably, faithfully, and compassionately about the current crisis in Gaza and the West Bank; you will be able to help friends understand the situation; and you will come away with concrete actions that you can take to advocate for the people of Gaza and Palestinians more broadly.
The teach-in is intended to be a space for learning as well as building relationships with other Christians who are interested in justice for Palestinians. It will be interactive, consisting of 3 sessions with time for breaks and break-out groups.
You are invited to gather at 12:30 p.m. for coffee, tea, and baklava (you are welcome to bring your own lunch). Program starts promptly at 1 p.m. and concludes by 3:30 p.m.
Please register below or at https://tinyurl.com/FOWF-Teach-In-Nov2023. Invite a friend!
*Friends of Wadi Foquin is a U.S.-based partnership established by members of the California-Nevada Annual Conference with the Palestinian village of Wadi Foquin, located in the occupied West Bank. For the latest update in the village, click here. For more information about Friends of Wadi Foquin, visit friendsofwadifoquin.com
Berkeley Methodist United Church Choir Blast
Please come and enjoy the BMUC Choir Blast! The theme is “What the World Needs Now Is Love”. Saturday, November 11 @2PM, and Sunday, November 12@10:30AM. The concerts are free. Saturday’s concert will be followed by a food sale of Japanese Curry. We hope you will join us! Info at
bmuc.org/music. 1710 Carleton St, Berkeley CA 94703
Joyeux Noël: A French Christmas with Sonos
A French Christmas with the acclaimed Sonos Handbell Ensemble, featuring guest artist, mezzo-soprano, Ellen St. Thomas. Artistic Director, James Meredith has designed a new holiday program inspired by the Louis B. Comfort Tiffany mosaic triptych, Te Deum Laudamus, that is the centerpiece of the sanctuary at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church. This incomparable treasure is made of over two million pieces of iridescent favrile glass influenced by the French Art Nouveau movement. From an art critic at the time of their creation in 1923: “Of the many mosaics executed under the personal supervision of Louis C. Tiffany for the decoration of churches and public buildings, none equals in beauty of color and sublimity of subject the three symbolic panels.”
The concert includes carols from historical regions in and around France including Burgundy, Tarn-et-Garone, Catalonia, Provence, and Basque Country. Whether a Francophile or not, you will delight in hearing many well-known and engagingly beautiful French carols plus a few other Sonos favorites. A pre-concert lecture about the Tiffany panels will be given at 1:15 by Lake Merritt UMC historian Barbara Gannich. www.sonos.org
.
Free Admission!
Saturday, Nov. 25th, 2:00 p.m.
Community Church of Sebastopol
1000 Gravestein Highway N., Sebastopol
.
Sunday, Nov. 26th, 2:00 p.m.
Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
pre-concert lecture at 1:15 p.m.
