The Beatitudes
We reflected on “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) last Sunday. And this Sunday, we will reflect on “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)
Happy are the mourners? Really? We know better! Mourning is something to be avoided if at all possible. And if it proves to be inescapable, it is to be endured with stoic courage. We certainly don’t expect to find happiness in the place of mourning.
The late J.B. Phillips said that if we humans were to write this Beatitude to reflect life as we see it, we would have it say, “Blessed are the hard-boiled: for they never let life hurt them.” Most of us have been taught to keep a tough exterior and to be careful that we refrain from being unnecessarily open to emotional pain. Right? Come friends, join us as we reflect on “Happy are the mourners.”
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To join Sunday Worship via Facebook, log onto your Facebook account and search for the ‘Lake Merritt United Methodist Church’page or click here.
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Please read ALL OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Annis Beutke Celebration of Life, this Saturday, April 22
A memorial service for Annis Beutke will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 1pm with a reception following at our church. The service will be in person and via Zoom. Please see the zoom link below.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Lake Merritt UMC Food Ministries which she supported for years through her sales of African Violets.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89092141657
Meeting ID: 890 9214 1657
Passcode: 260187
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Join us as we celebrate the life our beloved sister Annis Buetke and let us continue to give God thanks for Annis’ life and witness and hold her family close in prayer.
Prayers & Gratitudes
Siblings, we will continue with the Prayer Stations during the worship service. Please email your prayers and gratitudes to Pastor Sunae or text them to 408-691-9215 by Saturday morning. “Be Still, and know that I am God”. – Psalm 46:10
LIFT Concert, April 29
Reserve your spot now – click here!
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Children and Youth Beach Day, May 7th at 12:30PM
LMUMC families (and others interested!) are heading out to Alameda Beach on May 7th after fellowship at the church. Bring snacks, drinks, towels, sunscreen, and beach activity items. We will meet at Randy and Laurel’s home at 12:30P and walk to the beach together. Detailed information will be sent to the parents via email soon.
LMUMC Choirs Information
To join the voice choir, contact the Music Director,
Jim Meredith jimmeredith@mac.com
To join the handbell choir, contact the Handbell Director,
Margaret LeWright margaretlewright@gmail.com
The Beatitudes
In chapters 5-7, Matthew records a sermon that Jesus preached early in his ministry, and the first part of that sermon are statements called The Beatitudes. Each of these eight statements begin with the words “Blessed are…” or “Happy are those ….”
Some people feel Jesus’ teaching on the Beatitudes does not apply to us today because they are found to be all too striking, mind blowing, and hard. G. K. Chesterton wrote, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” Is that so?
I don’t think we are intended to live the Beatitude reality alone but in the presence of the Risen Christ Jesus and fellow siblings of Jesus Christ to experience God’s kingdom or kin-dom here and now. By living out ,“Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted because of righteousness…”, I believe we will experience the Risen Christ in our lives together where we experience God’s beloved community here in Oakland.
Would you join us? This Sunday, we will be reflecting on the “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)
To join Sunday Worship via Facebook, log onto your Facebook account and search for the ‘Lake Merritt United Methodist Church’page or click here.
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Please read ALL OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Lasting Impact Study Group Fellowship Luncheon at Lake Park this Sunday
The Lenten bible study group are gathering in-person for a closing session today at Lake Park UMC. Pastor Sunae and Alex Banish are hosting and serving a Korean authentic dish, Bibimbop. Meet at LPUMC at 281 Santa Clara Ave at 1:30pm.
Annis Beutke Celebration of Life
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 1pm with a reception following at our church.
Join us as we celebrate the life our beloved sister Annis Buetke.
The service will be in person and via Zoom. Please see the zoom link below.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Lake Merritt UMC Food Ministries which she supported for years through her sales of African Violets.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89092141657
Meeting ID: 890 9214 1657
Passcode: 260187
Let us continue to give God thanks for Annis’ life and witness and hold her family close in prayer.
Prayers & Gratitudes
Siblings, we will continue with the Prayer Stations during the worship service. Please email your prayers and gratitudes to Pastor Sunae or text it to her at 408-691-9215 by Saturday morning. “Be Still, and know that I am God”. – Psalm 46:10
Lake Lunches Help, April 16th
On Sunday, April 16 after church, join us in carving and slicing meats we’ve acquired from the food bank for sandwich lunches. This work needs to be done before our Monday prep and many hands really do make light work so we’re scheduling a time for a group of us to have slicing and carving together. No experience needed! If you have a meat slicer or electric carving knife you can lend for this special day, please do!
LIFT Concert
Reserve your spot now – click here!
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Children and Youth Beach Day on May 7, 2023 at 12:30P
Save the date, family! We are heading out to Alameda beach on May 7th after fellowship at church. Bring snacks, drinks, towels, sun screen and beach activity items. We will meet at Randy and Laurel’s home at 12:30pm and walk to the beach together. Detailed information will be sent to the parents via an email soon. Contact Pastor Sunae or Margaret LeWright for any questions!
Russ Aubry Celebration of Life
Do You Have a Rocking Chair That’s Not Being Used?
Our Worship Vitality Team is looking to create comfortable seating for brand-new parents with their babies as they attend worship. Do you have a rocking chair you are not using? We would love to put it to good use in our worship. Let the office or Pastor Sunae know.
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LMUMC Choirs Information
To join the voice choir, contact the Music Director,
Jim Meredith jimmeredith@mac.com
To join the handbell choir, contact the Handbell Director,
Margaret LeWright margaretlewright@gmail.com
New COVID Masking Policy
After careful discernment, the Lake Merritt Church Council has decided to take another step in our evolving response to COVID-19. Effective this Sunday, March 19, we will implement a new COVID-19 policy that will include making the wearing of face masks optional.
The policy reflects local and state changes to masking requirements put in place last year while also working to continue to be responsive to those among us who are more vulnerable to COVID-19.
Based on the State of California and Alameda County COVID-19 guidelines for masking (here and here), and the current designation of “low” COVID-19 transmission rates in Alameda County, LMUMC is adopting the following COVID-19 policy for all church-sponsored activities, effective March 19, 2023:
- Wearing face masks is optional at Lake Merritt UMC while COVID-19 transmission rates in Alameda County are designated as “low.” If that designation changes, we will re-evaluate our policy based on State and County guidelines.
- Small groups, choirs, and the food ministry may elect to adopt more stringent masking policies.
- Persons who have been exposed to or contracted COVID-19 are expected to follow State guidelines for quarantining and masking found here when deciding to visit LMUMC.
- All persons should stay home when they feel sick to prevent the spread of contagious illnesses such as COVID-19.
We also recognize that people attending our church are at different levels of risk based on their age and health, and they need our compassion and support. For this reason, we will also take the following steps to support those who are more vulnerable.
- We will place additional chairs along the sides of our worship space, spread out at least six feet from each other.
- For the next two months, we will open a portion of the partition wall during worship services to increase ventilation. We will reevaluate this measure in two months.
- We will continue to have masks available at church and we ask everyone to be mindful of those people who continue to wear masks and their potential increased vulnerability. Please be conscientious and consider wearing a mask around someone at greater risk.
Please contact your Church Council co-chairs, Tom Huetteman, Joseph Koroma, or Pastor Sunae for any questions or feedback on this change.
April 9, 2023
Easter Sunday
We continue our journey from the Good Friday. The Easter story continues for the Good Friday’s ending song by our choir, “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”, and we enter the story of Mary’s witness account of the first Easter Sunday. What was Mary’s witness to that morning. Mary’s witness moves from a place of darkness and uncertainty to hope, joy and celebration. How about you? What is your resurrection story? What does Jesus’ Resurrection mean for you?
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Sisters and brothers in Christ, celebrate Easter worship with us. The Easter celebration is filled with gifts of guest musicians, our choir, spoken words, songs, prayers, celebration of baptism of Kiara Isabelle Iyengar and Atousa Daliri, and receiving a new member, Joyce Ann Thompson and a homily. An intimate time of followship will follow the services.
Please bring fresh cut flowers for children to decorate the Easter Cross this Sunday!
Children will remain in worship with their family and they will be dismissed to go Easter Egg hunt right after the service. The children will experience the Easter Sunday with our intergenerational families and will receive activity sheets and hands on materials to engage their minds and hearts in worship.
We are designating our Easter Offering towards building up our Children and the Joint Youth Program with our circuit churches. Help us empower our children and youth in their faith journey. Through your gifts, our children and youth will know the breadth of God’s love and grace. We bless them to be faithful disciples for the transformation of the world.
Come and join us.
To join Sunday Worship via Facebook, log onto your Facebook account and search for the ‘Lake Merritt United Methodist Church’page or click here.
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