February 12, 2023
Professor Amy Jill Levine talks about her experience when she was asked by older women in the United Methodist Churches, “When did you have your horns removed?” You heard it right! When she told them that the Jews did not have horns, they were delighted! It’s pretty funny thinking about it!
Some Christians think Jews had horns and this misunderstanding comes from one of the difficult words of Jesus from the gospel of John. So this Sunday, we attempt to tackle another heavy theological issue regarding the problematic language about “The Jews” throughout John’s gospel.
In the gospel of John 8:44, Jesus says, “You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires.” You are from your father the devil? Jesus, what were you thinking when you said this to the Jews? How do we dehorn these difficult verses in the gospel of John which have led to the hatred of Jews even today?
Join us as we wrestle with these difficult words of Jesus!
Please read ALL OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Lenten Worship Series (Feb 22, 2023 – April 9, 2023)
Lenten journey begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023, and 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.
2/22, Ash Wednesday at 7 PM
“Render Your Heart to God, Yet Even Now”
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
2/26, First Sunday in Lent
Jerusalem: Risking Reputation
Matthew 21:1-11
3/5, Second Sunday in Lent
The Temple: Risking Righteous Anger
Mark 11:15-19
3/12, Third Sunday in Lent
Teachings: Risking Challenge
Matthew 22:15-22
3/19, Fourth Sunday in Lent
The First Dinner: Risking Rejection
Mark 14:3-9
3/26, Fifth Sunday in Lent
The Last Supper: Risking the Loss of Friends
Luke 22:14-27
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
LENTEN BOOK STUDY Group
LASTING IMPACT | CAREY NIEUWHOF
You’ve probably noticed …
Churches aren’t growing.
Young adults are walking away.
Volunteers are hard to recruit.
Leaders are burning out.
And the culture is changing faster than ever before.
No wonder that church leaders everywhere struggle with growth, and feel unequipped to lead their church.
In Lasting Impact, the author and pastor Carey Nieuwhof raises the questions and provides some possible answers, but ultimately leaves it up to the reader and their team to discover how their church can grow.
I invite Lake Merritt UMC members to join me in reading the “Lasting Impact” together during the Lenten season and invite us to reflect on questions together. The questions raised in each conversation are uncomfortable. And they are so because they require the leader(s) to look inwardly at themselves and look outwardly at the culture. All are welcome!
Hope Through Darkness: Art Exhibit
We would like to put out a call for submissions for our 2023 art exhibit: Hope Through Darkness
Please create an art piece for our exhibit and reception – it can be 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional visual art, a written piece, or any variety of performance art.
The exhibit and reception will be in the Edwards Room.
Here are some questions you may want to reflect on while creating:
What has given you hope during the pandemic?
How do you cope with adversity?
What gives you hope?
What is darkness to you?
Is darkness bad?
Submissions are due by February 24, 2023 and a reception will be held on Sunday, March 5. Please email vivianjromero@gmail.com with any questions.
Krishnan Dean Family Meal Train
Deepak and Becky welcomed baby Kiara Isabelle into the big wide world on 11/29/2022!
You are invited to give a little love to Deepak and Becky as they transition into parenthood!
Sign up here to help.
Meal Train for Judi and Wayne
Judi continues her treatment and we are adding more dates to the Meal Train to support them. We continue to keep their household in our thoughts and prayers. We love you, Judi and Wayne. Sign up here to help.
HAPPY 2023!
Thank you to everyone who volunteered last year for Lake Lunches or Food Pantry. We gave out nearly 20,000 lunches as well as critical hygiene supplies, socks, beanies, and other warming clothes to our unhoused neighbors and others in need. The monthly Food Pantry provided over 4,000 bags of groceries, primarily to our elderly neighbors.
None of this is possible without volunteers! We remain in need of volunteers for all our activities. Please consider signing up periodically. It will fill your heart and put a smile on your face.
Sign up for Lake Lunches here
and for Food Pantry here.
We met the $10,000 fundraising goal by the end of the year!
Thank you for contributing and spreading the word!
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
Please read ALL OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Church Council Meeting – Feb 8, 7PM via Zoom
LMUMC Church Council meets on Feb 8, 2023, at 7PM via Zoom. All Eight Focus Leadership Team Leaders are invited to attend. Thank you, Tom and Joseph, for leading us. The Eight Focus Leadership team leaders are Worship (Laurel), Children and Youth (Margaret), Connectional Ministries (Rose Lynn, Tom, Kathleen, Galia), Congregational Nurturing (Kate), Stewardship and Generosity (Linda, Kathleen, Patty), Trustees (Randy, Sherri), SPRC (Juliet), Nominations/Leadership Development (Phyllis), Lay Leader (Laurel), and Pastor Sunae. We ask your prayers for the work of the Church Council Committee and Pastor Sunae.
End-of-Year Contribution Statements
End-of-year contributions have gone out by snail mail or email. Please look them over carefully and communicate as soon as possible with Kathleen Bell if there are any adjustments, any time up until February 23 when she leaves for an extended trip. Please make a copy of the email (it notes that it is from Patty Staggs); keep that copy in a safe place until you are ready to do your 2022 tax return. The same holds true for mailed copies.
Hope Through Darkness: Art Exhibit
We would like to put out a call for submissions for our 2023 art exhibit: Hope Through Darkness
Please create an art piece for our exhibit and reception – it can be 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional visual art, a written piece, or any variety of performance art.
The exhibit and reception will be in the Edwards Room.
Here are some questions you may want to reflect on while creating:
What has given you hope during the pandemic?
How do you cope with adversity?
What gives you hope?
What is darkness to you?
Is darkness bad?
Submissions are due by February 24, 2023 and a reception will be held on Sunday, March 5. Please email vivianjromero@gmail.com with any questions.
Krishnan Dean Family Meal Train
Deepak and Becky welcomed baby Kiara Isabelle into the big wide world on 11/29/2022!
You are invited to give a little love to Deepak and Becky as they transition into parenthood!
Sign up here to help.
Meal Train for Judi and Wayne
Judi continues her treatment and we are adding more dates to the Meal Train to support them. We continue to keep their household in our thoughts and prayers. We love you, Judi and Wayne. Sign up here to help.
Want to be a part of the Audio/Visual team? Sign Up Today!
Please email Randi Hoy at the office office@lakemerrittumc.org to sign up and learn to operate the live stream program and PowerPoint.
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
