Sunday Fellowship Hour Volunteers and Meals Needed for December

We all enjoy Fellowship after our Church Service on Sunday morning. Currently, we are low on people to help in the kitchen and to provide food. If you would like to volunteer in the kitchen, please contact Sue Dickey at sed5455@gmail.com. If you would like to prepare and bring a main dish, salad, or dessert during the month of December, please sign up on the clipboard in the Fellowship Hall after worship on Sunday.

Donations Needed During Advent

Through the end of the year, there will be baskets under the Christmas Tree ready to be filled with items that will be shared with our friends and neighbors in need. Connectional Ministries is grateful to be able to distribute your donations of new and gently used warm socks, hats/beanies, gloves/mittens, non-bulky blankets, and sleeping bags. New Hot Hands brand hand warmers, rain ponchos, and individually wrapped chocolates are also welcome.

Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir Holiday Concert

Saturday, December 6 at 7 PM

Folks who attend Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir’s annual holiday concert find it to be one of their most joy-filled evenings of the year! Hope in Harmony is this year’s theme, which is something we can all use a dose of in these troubling times. It is also their 40th anniversary concert! Come see if you can spot LMUMC members Dan Strauss and Juliet Hannafin on the stage. Get your tickets soon. There’s no guarantee how long the discount will apply.

For additional event details, check out the flyer HERE. To purchase tickets, click HERE.

Celebrating December Birthdays

Sunday, December 7

This Sunday, December 7th, we will be honoring everyone who will be celebrating their birthdays in December. There will be birthday cake for all to share during Fellowship time immediately following Worship.

Steadfast Resistance: Community Market

Sunday, December 7, 3 PM – 6 PM

Did you miss the Holiday Market last week supporting the village of Wadi Foquin in Palestine’s West Bank? Here is another holiday solidarity shopping opportunity being held right in our church, organized by Interfaith for Palestine network. Steadfast Resistance will be held on Sunday, Dec 7, from 3-6 pm in the Stark Room. The event will include a Community Market and program, including a play and testimonies from a recent visit to the West Bank by Rev. Allison Tanner of Lakeshore Baptist Church. The event will wrap up with an outdoor communal ritual reminding us to be steadfast in our hope for Palestinian liberation.
To volunteer to support the event, email Rose Lynn at roselynn20@gmail.com.
Annual Children’s Christmas Pageant

Sunday, December 21

Advent is here! That means we are counting down the days until the annual Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 21. This is a no-rehearsal pageant titled “The Gifts of the Journey”. We will “journey” around the sanctuary looking for a special baby. All children are invited to participate, even visitors. So come to church in time to choose a simple costume representing a shepherd, a wise one, or an angel. The pageant will be during the children’s moment. Following the pageant, pre-schoolers will go to their regular class. The Godly Play group will stay in the service and hear the Christmas story and special music. Hope to see you all on the 21st.

Celebration of Life for Judi Ann Fabrizio

Saturday, January 17 at 11 AM

With grateful hearts for a life filled with love, generosity, and faith, we invite you to a Celebration of Life for Judi Ann Fabrizio on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church.
Together, we will honor Judi’s beautiful spirit, give thanks for her life among us, and commend her into God’s everlasting embrace. A reception will follow the service, and all are welcome to stay, share stories, and support the family.
For those unable to attend in person, a Zoom option is available. Zoom link and details will be shared closer to the date.
Please hold Judi’s family, Wayne and Julie, and loved ones in your prayers during this tender season of remembrance and grief. We hold our Judi’s loving spirit in our hearts and prayers.

Church Administrator Out-of-Office

December 15th to 31st

The Church Administrator will be out of the office from December 15 – 31. If you have any business that needs attending to from the Church Office, such as event announcements, reservation requests, etc., please try to submit that material by next Thursday, December 11.

Upcoming LMUMC Holiday Events

What’s happening at LMUMC this holiday season? How are we living into our core values of Christ, Community, and Cause? Find out here!

Sign-Up for Church & Society “Faith in Action” Newsletter

The UMC General Board of Church and Society invites you to subscribe to their Faith in Action newsletter, which includes insights into social justice issues, inspiring stories, and actionable steps to make a difference in our churches, communities, country and the world. It’s a meaningful way to stay informed and connected to efforts for justice and peace that are driven by our United Methodist Social Principles.

If you’d like to join this community, you can sign up HERE.

New Parking Permits for 1st Ave. Parking Lot

Friends, in order to ensure that the 1st Ave. church parking lot remains available for church staff, volunteers, and regular users of our church, we are instituting a Parking Permit system.

 

These permits only apply to long-term renters and LMUMC Staff. Members and periodic volunteers do not need a Permit; therefore, please do not be concerned if you see other cars with the bright, red Parking Permit while you do not have one.

 

I you often leave your car parked in our lot for extended periods of time, then please come by the Church Office to see if you should have a Parking Permit. We will begin distributing permits later this week.

Community Alert: Preparing Together for ICE mobilizations

May we stand in solidarity and peace amid uncertainty after 100 federal agents were dispatched to Coast Guard Base Alameda last month. Stay informed, stay united: Know Your Rights and Support our community.  See important information HERE.

 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

 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.