Please read ALL OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Annis Beutke Celebration of Life
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 or 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
Let us continue to give God thanks for Annis’ life and witness and hold her family close in prayer.
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.
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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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 2, 2023
Finally, Holy week is upon us. This Sunday is known as Palm-Passion Sunday which is a dual feast, Palm Sunday because Palm branches are carried in to commemorate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ riding the donkey, and Passion Sunday because the Passion Narrative is proclaimed.
We are with Jesus in Gethsemane this Sunday and he is about to be abandoned by those closest to him. Three disciples fall asleep; another disciple betrays him; Mark 14:50 tells us, “All of them deserted him and fled.” Jesus prays for the cup to pass, and we are reminded of the cup that “runneth over” in Psalm 23:5, and the cup that Jesus has just lifted to his disciples at the Last Supper. It is in the garden of Gethsemane that Jesus faces the biggest risk, the risk of temptation, as he prays, “Remove this cup from me”. (Mark 14:36)
Is there any risk for God in this story? Is there risk for the disciples? For us? Jesus is asking us to risk in order to love as he did.
We will celebrate Passion Sunday with Holy Communion as we conclude the Lenten Worship series, “Entering the Passion of Jesus.” 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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Please read ALL OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Lenten Worship Series (Feb 22, 2023 – April 9, 2023)
The Lenten journey began on Ash Wednesday and continues as we walk toward Easter together, which is April 9, 2023.
This year’s Lenten theme is “Entering the Passion of Jesus”. We invite you to prepare your heart for this year’s Lenten journey by walking with Jesus in his final days and hours on the way to the cross. See below for the Lenten Worship Series information and join us.
4/2, Sixth Sunday in Lent or Palm/Passion Sunday
Gethsemane: Risking Temptation
John 18:1-11
4/7, Good Friday: Tenebrae Service at 7 PM
4/9, Easter Sunday
Christ is Risen!
John 20:1-18
Joint Tenebrae Good Friday
Join us for a Joint Tenebrae Good Friday In-Person and Live stream service on April 7, at 7PM. It is a service with music, scriptures, shadow, darkness, and silence, adding to the mood of this day.
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Celebrate Easter!
Celebrate Easter with us on April 9 with flowers, music, choir, and celebration of baptism of Kiara Isabelle Iyengar, and receiving a new member! It will be a joyful and spiritual filled celebration! Please bring fresh-cut flowers for children to decorate the Easter Cross on Easter Sunday! Thank you.
The Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Dear Families, our annual Easter Egg Hunt has been resurrected! Children will be dismissed from worship (remember they are staying with you to celebrate Easter) at the end of the service beginning with the pre-school age children. Parents, please go with your children to the courtyard, picking up your Easter bag on the way (they will be on a table in the stark room). Elementary-age children will be dismissed next. If you didn’t get a chance to decorate a bag at our family gathering, don’t worry. We have extras for you and any visiting children!
Annis Beutke Memorial
A memorial service for Annis Beutke will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023 with a reception following at our church. The service will be in person only. Let us continue to give God thanks for Annis’ life and witness and hold her family close in prayer.
Russ Aubry Memorial
A memorial service for Russ Aubry will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023 with a reception following at our church. The service will be in person only. Let us continue to give God thanks for Russ’ life and witness and hold his family close in prayer.
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.
Food Ministries Updates
Thank you to several of you who have reached out and made the food ministries a part of your day! It’s a great lift! Here are some specific ways you can plug in:
Monthly Food Distribution
Would you like to help out this month at the Food Distribution? Come on Friday from 10-11 am to help set up or Saturday! We could use help with early set up between 7-8 am or during the distribution we are welcoming nearly 30 volunteers between 8 and 10:30. Join us or consider bringing some snacks for the crew to help us make this a welcoming space and show our appreciation.
Lake Lunches Prep
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
April 29 is our 8th annual Lift Concert to lift up the ways in which we build community and meet hunger in the food ministries through music! It is “lift” to make the Lift Concert happen each year so please consider lending a hand. We can match your interest and availability to the many tasks needed to make this beautiful event happen!
For info or to volunteer, please contact Galia, Tom, Rose Lynn or Kathleen.
–
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.
March 26, 2023
Last Sunday, all four gospels gave us four stories of the anointing unnamed woman, four variations on a theme. This Sunday, we have five variations of Jesus’ last meal with the disciples, the Last Supper. The Synoptic Gospels – Matthew, Mark, and Luke have the same emphasis as does Paul: Jesus gives thanks, breaks the bread, distributes it, and tells his followers that the bread is his body. Then he takes the cup and proclaims it the covenant in his blood. In John’s Last Supper story, Jesus does not speak of the bread and the wine as his blood and body as he had already done that in John chapter 6 but he washes the feet of his disciples.
Jesus risks misunderstanding, for his disciples cannot accept the fact that Jesus must die, despite his several predictions of his Passion. When we participate in the Lord’s Supper today, do we understand Jesus’ sacrificial language as we eat his body and drink the cup of the blood? Judas is at the table. The disciples are arguing over who would be the greatest among them. Jesus speaks the language of giving up his life for them and he wants that to be remembered. Do they understand this shocking language? Jesus is taking a risk, the risk of loss of friends. We are getting closer to the Holy Week. Come join us. Let’s listen to Jesus’ story at the Last Supper.
During the Lenten season, we are creating sacred space and time to be still before God in worship. Online community, please create your own altar or a prayer station at home. No words needed at the prayer stations. Come and be still. Quiet, still, be, let our God love you.
Please send your prayers and gratitude to Pastor Sunae via email by Saturday morning and she will lift up your prayer and gratitude as we pray together as a church.
Come as you are! Come and let us worship God together.
To join Sunday Worship via Facebook, log onto your Facebook account and search for the ‘Lake Merritt United Methodist Church’page or click here.
–
Please read ALL OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Lenten Worship Series (Feb 22, 2023 – April 9, 2023)
The Lenten journey began on Ash Wednesday and continues as we walk toward Easter together, which is April 9, 2023.
This year’s Lenten theme is “Entering the Passion of Jesus”. We invite you to prepare your heart for this year’s Lenten journey by walking with Jesus in his final days and hours on the way to the cross. See below for the Lenten Worship Series information and join us.
4/2, Sixth Sunday in Lent or Palm/Passion Sunday
Gethsemane: Risking Temptation
John 18:1-11
4/7, Good Friday: Tenebrae Service at 7 PM
4/9, Easter Sunday
Christ is Risen!
John 20:1-18
Joint Tenebrae Good Friday
Join us for a Joint Tenebrae Good Friday In-Person and Live stream service on April 7, at 7PM. It is a service with music, scriptures, shadow, darkness, and silence, adding to the mood of this day.
–
Celebrate Easter!
Celebrate Easter with us on April 9 with flowers, music, choir, and celebration of baptism of Kiara Isabelle Iyengar, and receiving a new member! It will be a joyful and spiritual filled celebration! Please bring fresh-cut flowers for children to decorate the Easter Cross on Easter Sunday! Thank you.
Annis Beutke Memorial
A memorial service for Annis Beutke will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023 with a reception following at our church. The service will be in person only. Let us continue to give God thanks for Annis’ life and witness and hold her family close in prayer.
Russ Aubry Memorial
A memorial service for Russ Aubry will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023 with a reception following at our church. The service will be in person only. Let us continue to give God thanks for Russ’ life and witness and hold his family close in prayer.
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.
Food Ministries Updates
Thank you to several of you who have reached out and made the food ministries a part of your day! It’s a great lift! Here are some specific ways you can plug in:
Monthly Food Distribution
Would you like to help out this month at the Food Distribution? Come on Friday from 10-11 am to help set up or Saturday! We could use help with early set up between 7-8 am or during the distribution we are welcoming nearly 30 volunteers between 8 and 10:30. Join us or consider bringing some snacks for the crew to help us make this a welcoming space and show our appreciation.
Lake Lunches Prep
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
April 29 is our 8th annual Lift Concert to lift up the ways in which we build community and meet hunger in the food ministries through music! It is “lift” to make the Lift Concert happen each year so please consider lending a hand. We can match your interest and availability to the many tasks needed to make this beautiful event happen!
For info or to volunteer, please contact Galia, Tom, Rose Lynn or Kathleen.
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.
