Office Hours

Hello Siblings of Lake Merritt UMC,

As the year comes to a close, I am reflecting on how much has transformed in the last two years.  Our roles as both volunteers and staff has transformed along with that.  It is hard to believe that one of those constants, for longer than two years, has been our Church Administrator, Neil Wade. 

There are times when it might have seemed to some of us that he was always here, serving and helping and answering questions.  However, in reality, Neil has for the most part followed his work schedule of 9 am – 3 pm, Monday through Friday. 

Neil has also graciously given his mobile phone number to some folks for ease of communication about our ministries or volunteer staffing.  There may be times when he is at LMUMC on other days, which is either for hosting, or volunteering to participate in our worship.

In honoring his time, I will ask that we all call, or text our Church Administrator during his office hours of 9 am – 3 pm, unless it is an emergency that must be managed before the next business day, and you cannot reach me, the pastor to handle the emergency.

I am so grateful to you all, for your continued mission work through LMUMC and from the work our Church Administrator has done as well.  Blessings.

Shalom, Salaam,

Rev. Pamela Kurtz, Pastor

She/Her/Hers

Letter on Methodist Worship Series

Blessings Siblings in Christ,

Last week we began a 3-week series on the United Methodist Church and its founder, John Wesley along with his brother Charles, who was instrumental in the formation of the Methodist Societies.

A few people have asked for a copy of my sermon and suggested that I publish it on our church webpage. I am attaching a copy of the first sermon in the series for your convenience. The remainder will be posted on our webpage following the Sunday worship of its offering.

In conjunction with this series, we have begun a small group gathering using, studying and learning from the book This Day: A Wesleyan Way of Prayer. You are welcome to join us in this 4-week gathering which is help via Zoom, Mondays from either 1-2 pm or 7-8 pm. The link is on our webpage under “Visit: Calendar and Events.” You can purchase the book we use on “Amazon” (“Amazon Smile” for charitable giving) in either Kindle or paper, or via our denomination’s bookstore “Cokesbury.”

I pray that this series will further aid or remind you of our formation and evolution over our two hundred plus years, the theology, doctrine, purpose and mission of the United Methodist Church and, of course, the passion and witness of John Wesley and his brother, Charles, along with the countless early leaders of our great denomination.

This series is not exhaustive by any stretch of the imagination as both John and Charles were prolific writers and missionaries of profound and inspiring Methodist works. There are also many books and publications that followed further elucidating the details of our theology, doctrine, purpose and mission. Our denomination, like our faith is a living, breathing and vital existence that, lived out passionately truly transforms the lives of many, making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

God’s peace and blessings be with you now and always.

Shalom, Salaam,

Rev. Pamela L. Kurtz, Pastor
Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, Oakland, CA

Oct 10 – Methodists – An Accidental Christian Denomination

Advent Worship Reflection

Siblings in Christ!

I have shared two trailers during our Advent worship that express how music is and has been used to overcome oppression and injustice. I will continue to show trailers in worship to three more documentaries which I pray you have begun to watch. I told you I would be sharing a trailer over the next three Sundays and the Sunday after Christmas about ways music was and can be used to resist that kind of darkness.  I also told you I would be sending you a guide about each of these 5 documentaries and links for you to be able to watch them in full.  Also included in the guide are individual reflection questions and prayers if you desire to go deeper about using music as an act of resistance and resilience.  That guide is attached.  I pray that you will be able to watch each documentary (use Amazon Prime  – or get Amazon Prime free for 30 days to watch most of the documentaries – just be sure to cancel before your 30 days free are up!) and consider how music is used as resistance and how you can use it.

Reflection Guide: click link –> 17c Film Festival – Individual Reflection Guide for Adults