Church Council Meeting

Sunday, August 17th

Church Council will be meeting on Sunday, August 17th at noon in the sanctuary.  Since there are round tables already set up in the Worship space, fellowship food and drink may be brought in during the gathering. Leadership teams are reminded to send a team representative, and the meeting is open to all.

Many Ways to Help Our Food Ministry

Our food ministry program needs more help from the congregation. Please review and complete this survey (here) which includes a list of all the ways you can volunteer. There are many options and some can be done from home. You don’t need to make a long term commitment, just check out the experience and decide from there if and how you want to help.  Contact Rose Lynn Abesamis-Bell or Tom Huetteman if you have questions

Cooking Up Solidarity:  

Final Cooking Class and Fundraiser

Please join Friends of Wadi Foquin and Adam Manasra to cook, eat, and talk about food, culture, solidarity, and the taste of home.
Cost: $115. Click here to register. All funds beyond the cost of materials are tax deductible and benefit current FoWF programs. If cost is a barrier, please talk to one of our organizers about a scholarship. Email Deacon Ken Schoon (kenneth [dot] schoon [@] cnumc [dot] org) or any member of our Peace in Palestine small group.
  Wonderland Kids Festival  

? You’re Invited to Wonderland Kids Fest! ?

Alameda County is inviting our church to the Grand Opening Celebration of Wonderland Kids Fest—a fun, family-friendly festival happening Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 10 AM to 7 PM at the Laney College Parking Lot (510 Fallon St., Oakland).

Enjoy a day filled with rides, games, storytelling, karaoke, water slides, food, and more—all completely FREE for you, your family, and friends. Let’s celebrate a day of joy, learning, and community fun!

We just need a headcount!
Can’t make it on the 6th? Join us on Sept. 13 or 20 instead.

Please RSVP by Monday, Sept. 11. Contact: info@wonderlandkidsfest.com or call (510) 776‑7671.

 If you would like to submit an announcement for our weekly e-blast, please adhere to the guidelines found here. All submissions are due Tuesday by noon.

Embodying the Love of God –

Fellowship and Connection

 

In our world of constant busyness and endless scrolling, it’s easy to mistake digital connection for true community. We can “like” and “follow” in a moment, yet still feel unseen and alone. The early church in Acts 2:42 reminds us of a different way—gathering in person, sharing meals, praying together, and truly knowing one another.  Our reflection is guided by Bishop Israel Maestrado Painit of the Philippines Central Conference of the UMC. Join us.

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Sunday worship begins at 10:15AM.

Join us in person in our sanctuary or watch online via Zoom, Facebook or YouTube Live.

 

Bulletin & Sermon Transcript Link

 

 8.17.25 Bulletin

Week 6 – Fellowship and Connection Sermon Transcript

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You may give your Tithes & Offerings by mail, or click here to give online.

 

Watch Online

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87993979913
Meeting ID: 879 9397 9913
Passcode: 326043
Or dial the following number: 1(669) 900-6833.
When prompted, enter the meeting ID & passcode above.

To join Sunday Worship via Facebook, click here and look for the live video at the top of the page.

To watch the livestream of our service on YouTube, click here.

 

Upcoming Sundays

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August 24, 2025

Embodying the Love of God – Compassion & Justice

Matthew 25:31-46

 

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August 31, 2025

Embodying the Love of God:  Healing – Brokenness and Wholeness

Philippians 2:1-11

Embodying the Love of God – Embracing Diversity

 

This Sunday, we are blessed to reflect on the theme “Embracing Diversity”, guided by the words of Bishop David Wilson of the Great Plains Annual Conference. Rooted in Philippians 2:1-4, we are reminded that unity in Christ is not about sameness, but about humility, love and shared purpose.

Diversity is a gift from God – woven into our cultures, experiences, and communities. Like a tossed salad, each of us brings our unique flavor, identity, and story to the table. Together, we create something beautiful.  As Pentecost people, let us seek harmony not by erasing difference, but by celebrating it – living as one body, many members, united in Christ. Join us!

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Sunday worship begins at 10:15AM.

Join us in person in our sanctuary or watch online via Zoom, Facebook or YouTube Live.

 

Bulletin & Sermon Transcript Link

 8.10.25 Bulletin Final

Embodying the Love of God –Week 5. Embracing Diversity. Bishop David Wilson Sermon Transcript

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You may give your Tithes & Offerings by mail, or click here to give online.

 

Watch Online

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87993979913
Meeting ID: 879 9397 9913
Passcode: 326043
Or dial the following number: 1(669) 900-6833.
When prompted, enter the meeting ID & passcode above.

To join Sunday Worship via Facebook, click here and look for the live video at the top of the page.

To watch the livestream of our service on YouTube, click here.

 

Upcoming Sundays

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August 17, 2025
 
Embodying the Love of God – Fellowship & Connection
Acts 2:42

Galatians 6:2

 

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August 24, 2025

Embodying the Love of God – Compassion & Justice

Matthew 25:31-46

Church Administrator Out of the Office

Horacio Cervantez will be out of the office from August 1st through August 15th. The office hours will remain the same, 10 am to 2 pm, and will be staffed by our reception volunteers. If you require assistance, you may reach out to any of the Trustees or Pastor Sunae.
questions

 Circuit Wide Collaborative Back-to-School Blessings,  

BBQ/Picnic and Celebration

Theme: God is With You

August 9th, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

All families with children and youth of all ages and all parishioners in the Alameda-Oaklnd UMC circuit are invited to Back-to-School blessings and BBQ Fellowship. Please click below for the flyer and further details.  Please RSVP and also Volunteer sign-ups for this wonderful and fun event: https://twintowersumc.org/ao-circuit-event-volunteer-signup/

Back to School AO Circuit Event

Many Ways to Help Our Food Ministry

Our food ministry program needs more help from the congregation. Please review and complete this survey (here) which includes a list of all the ways you can volunteer. There are many options and some can be done from home. You don’t need to make a long term commitment, just check out the experience and decide from there if and how you want to help.  Contact Rose Lynn Abesamis-Bell or Tom Huetteman if you have questions

Church Council Meeting

Sunday, August 17th

Church Council will be meeting on Sunday, August 17th at noon in the sanctuary.  Since there are round tables already set up in the Worship space, fellowship food and drink may be brought in during the gathering. Leadership teams are reminded to send a team representative, and the meeting is open to all.

Food 4 Thought Extends Summer Break

The Foof 4 Thought small group will be taking one more month of summer break and will gather again the first day Sunday of September.
  Wonderland Kids Festival  

? You’re Invited to Wonderland Kids Fest! ?

Alameda County is inviting our church to the Grand Opening Celebration of Wonderland Kids Fest—a fun, family-friendly festival happening Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 10 AM to 7 PM at the Laney College Parking Lot (510 Fallon St., Oakland).

Enjoy a day filled with rides, games, storytelling, karaoke, water slides, food, and more—all completely FREE for you, your family, and friends. Let’s celebrate a day of joy, learning, and community fun!

We just need a headcount!
Can’t make it on the 6th? Join us on Sept. 13 or 20 instead.

Please RSVP by Monday, Sept. 11. Contact: info@wonderlandkidsfest.com or call (510) 776‑7671.

 If you would like to submit an announcement for our weekly e-blast, please adhere to the guidelines found here. All submissions are due Tuesday by noon.

Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!

Celebrating June Birthdays  

Sunday, June 1st 

This Sunday, June 1st, we will be honoring everyone who will be celebrating their birthdays in June.  There will be birthday cake for all to share during Fellowship time immediately following Worship.

Special Charge Conference 

Sunday, June 1, 1pm

A Special Charge Conference will be held on June 1, 2025 at 1:00 PM to approve the pastor’s compensation.  Church Council members are invited. Rev. Vathanak Heang will preside over the conference.

Summer Volunteering

With summer approaching, we look forward to beautiful walks around the lake greeting our neighbors with food and a smile not to mention prepping lunches with a jolly team and sunbeams coming through the expansive Stark Room windows. Did we say how blessed we feel after our monthly Saturday food giveaway knowing that even that brief bit of time and effort means free food is made accessible to our community?  We are meeting a new people each month. Get out your calendars and pick some dates to come out to be blessing and even more so to be blessed!

Contact Rose Lynn, Tom, Kathleen, Liz and Horacio for any questions.  All are welcome!

Theater in San Francisco: The Radicalization of Rolfe

The show runs Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm, with Sunday Matinees at 3pm, through June 1

Dan Strauss’ spouse Joe Tally is presenting a timely and somewhat humorous theatrical production, The Radicalization of Rolfe.  It centers around Rolfe, the telegram boy who courts Leisel Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, singing “You are sixteen, going on seventeen”.  In this play, Rolfe is actually gay, but is wooing Leisel to gain prestige with the Nazi party.  As Rolfe walks a tightrope between his secret life and spying for the Third Reich, his safety hangs in the balance.  Come and see how it turns out!!

Tickets available at: https://www.queertheatrebayarea.com or contact Dan Strauss at danjeffstrauss@gmail.com or 510-504-4765.

Right of Return Pilgrimage

Sunday, June 8, 7am – 7pm

Join the PIP-FOWF small group in participating in the second interfaith pilgrimage in conjunction with the global movement of ceasefire pilgrimages. Organized by Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity and partners, this 22 mile journey – from Alameda to Berkeley – the reverse of last year’s pilgrimage route, will be held in prayer and solidarity symbolizing the distance from Rafah to Gaza City.  Please contact Elliot Bernadel-Huey (elliotghbh@gmail.com) or Rose Lynn Abesamis-Bell (roselynn20@gmail.com) for more information and register here.

Reserve Your Spot for Free YMCO Concert

Saturday, June 14, 7:30pm

Join the Young Musicians Choral Orchestra on June 14th for a free concert titled “On the Wings of Song”. The concert will be held at Littlefield Concert Hall on the Mills College/Northeastern University campus at 5000 MacArthur Blvd. in Oakland.  The concert is free, but please reserve your seat by contacting YMCO at 510-845-1403 or online at www.youngmusiciansco.org

All-Church Conference 

Sunday, June 11, 5:30 pm

A Special Charge Conference will be held on June 11, 2025 at 5:30 PM for approval of the Affordable Housing Development Project at Lake Park Church Campus of Lake Merritt UMC and approval of hiring the Owner’s Representative. All church members are invited to attend in person. Bay District Superintendent Rev. Sun Hee Kim will preside over the conference.

If you would like to submit an announcement for our weekly e-blast, please adhere to the guidelines found here. All submissions are due Wednesday by noon.