Join us for our next youth group gathering this coming Sunday, 12/8, from 12-2pm. Pizza will be served for lunch and we’ll have advent programming. St John’s Episcopal Church is hosting at 1707 Gouldin Rd, Oakland 94611. Lulu is available to give rides to St. John’s. Please let her know by Saturday night if your youth is attending. You can contact Lulu at office@lakemerrittumc.org

Grace Over Greed: Post Election November Update

Faith in Action

Now that the US Congress has returned from recess, The General Board of Church & Society of The United Methodist Church has recommendations on actions people can take and urges your elected officials to prioritize grace over greed. More information can be found here.

No Cookie Walk

December 15th

Thank you to everyone who signed up to bake and bring cookies for our beloved Cookie Walk Fundraising Event. Counting the number of volunteers and dozens of cookies, we decided that we would keep the wonderful memories of the Cookie Walk Fundraiser in our hearts and we will not hold the event this year. Many thanks to Shannon Bruce, one of our Fellowship Coordinators, for her effort to resurrect the Cookie Walk and those who signed up to volunteer and help bake the cookies. We give God thanks for the great ministry and memory of Cookie Walk in our beloved church.

Thanksgiving Lunch

November 28th, 12pm-1:30pm

Mark your calendars and note the time change for our Thanksgiving Community Meal from 12pm to 1:30pm on Thursday, Nov 28, 2024. We especially need pie donations! Sign up today to lend your support and spread the word! Please sign up here or go to https://www.lakemerrittumc.org/food-programs/ and scroll down to the sign up link.

Grace Over Greed: Post Election November Update

Faith in Action

Now that the US Congress has returned from recess, The General Board of Church & Society of The United Methodist Church has recommendations on actions people can take and urges your elected officials to prioritize grace over greed. More information can be found here.

November 17th, 12pm

We are gathering to celebrate our church’s ministry for the All Church Conference on Nov. 17, 2024.  Rev. Mei Na Ko from Oakland Chinese United Methodist Church is our Presiding Elder for the conference.

Sonos Handbell Concert

December 1st, 2pm

Sonos Handbell Ensemble is excited to perform again for the Lake Merritt community. Directed by LMUMC Music Director, Jim Meredith. “This is our most ambitious program so far. It includes the famous Borodin Polovtsian Dances No. 17 (from which the song, “Take My Hand I’m a Stranger in Paradise” was derived.) It’s with percussion and is thrillingI. hope all of you get to hear this free concert.”  Sunday, December 1, 2:00 PM.

Resurrection of Cookie Walk

December 15th

I heard about a cookie walk that had been going on for years until Covid closed down all personal gatherings. The stories tell me this event was a lot of fun, as an additional holiday doings. It was a means of raising funds for UMCOR. This time, however, we would like to raise funds for the school in Sierra Leone that is being sponsored by Joseph Koroma. Since this means that I would need to know how many volunteer bakers we will need, see me after church, and sign up to participate. Thank you, everyone, for your cooperation in helping support the school in Sierra Leone. Contact: Fellowship Coordinator, Shannon J. Bruce (510) 368-2426

Sunday Parking Update

The City of Oakland has started using the parking meters on Lakeshore Ave on Sundays. They have started ticketing at noon. Please plan accordingly to avoid getting a parking ticket!

Thanksgiving Lunch

November 28th, 12pm-1:30pm

Mark your calendars and note the time change for our Thanksgiving Community Meal from 12pm to 1:30pm on Thursday, Nov 28, 2024. We especially need pie donations! Sign up today to lend your support and spread the word! Please sign up here or go to https://www.lakemerrittumc.org/food-programs/ and scroll down to the sign up link.

MECA’s 21st Annual Palestinian Holiday Crafts Bazaar

November 16th, 10am-6pm

Support Palestinian artisans and keep ancient crafts alive! Purchase unique holiday gifts that support Palestinian children and families. Olive oil, ceramics, embroidery, jewelry, olive wood, cookbooks, keffiyehs, soap, stunning scarves & shawls, Palestinian Dead Sea products, children’s toys and books, kitchenware, t-shirts, and much more. Plus delicious Arabic food and coffee! Lunch tickets are available for 3 seatings: enjoy a taste of Palestine with Zaytoon’s mouthwatering selection of freshly made falafel, creamy hummus, smoky baba ghanouj, and fluffy pita bread. Paired with a refreshing, vibrant salad, each dish is crafted with traditional flavors and fresh ingredients, offering an authentic and satisfying culinary experience. Celebrate the rich food heritage of Palestine with every bite! Eventbrite info is here. Advance tickets at $5 for adults, children under 18 free. Ticket price helps support new venue costs, but this is first and foremost a Palestine solidarity event and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Purchase tickets here. This event is wheelchair accessible. For more info email meca@mecaforpeace.org, or call (510)548-0542

Berkeley Methodist United Church Choir Blast 2024

November 16th, 2pm

Pastor Sunae Away at Call to Wholeness Second Retreat

November 12th-14th

The Board of Ordained Ministry is inviting pastors to the “Call to Wholeness” every five years of their ordination for a time of reflection, rest, and rejuvenation. This year, Rev. Chris Adams from the Mental Health and the Church Initiative at Biola University’s Rosemead Graduate School of Psychology is joining them to guide their reflections on personal wellness and self-care as they make goals to balance their ministry. We invite you to pray for the pastors as they gather for the retreat.

If you need any pastoral care during Pastor Sunae’s time away, please contact Sue Dickey, our Congregational Nurturing Chair, at 510-410-3699, for assistance. She will contact our circuit Pastors covering for Pastor Sunae.

Send your prayers and gratitudes to be lifted up in worship to Pastor Sunae for the November 10th worship service.

Special Office Hours

Lulu Working Remotely November 12th-14th

Our Church Administrator, Lulu, has a prior commitment next week and will be working remotely November 12th-14th. Office hours will be as follows: 11/11 10am-2pm, 11/12 10am-2pm, 11/13 10am-11:30am, and 11/14 10am-2pm.

Charge Conference

November 17th, 12pm

We are gathering to celebrate our church’s ministry for the All Church Conference on Nov. 17, 2024.  Rev. Mei Na Ko from Oakland Chinese United Methodist Church is our Presiding Elder for the conference.

Resurrection of Cookie Walk

December 15th

I heard about a cookie walk that had been going on for years until Covid closed down all personal gatherings. The stories tell me this event was a lot of fun, as an additional holiday doings. It was a means of raising funds for UMCOR. This time, however, we would like to raise funds for the school in Sierra Leone that is being sponsored by Joseph Koroma. Since this means that I would need to know how many volunteer bakers we will need, see me after church, and sign up to participate. Thank you, everyone, for your cooperation in helping support the school in Sierra Leone. Contact: Fellowship Coordinator, Shannon J. Bruce (510) 368-2426

Sunday Parking Update

The City of Oakland has started using the parking meters on Lakeshore Ave on Sundays. They have started ticketing at noon. Please plan accordingly to avoid getting a parking ticket!

Thanksgiving Lunch Volunteers

Preparations have begun for our Community Thanksgiving Lunch. Sign up today to lend your support and spread the word! Please sign up here or go to https://www.lakemerrittumc.org/food-programs/ and scroll down to the sign up link.

Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir Event

November 10th, 3pm

We find ourselves in a new day. OIGC was created nearly 40 years ago to bring people of all walks of life together. To unite through the power of music and spread joy throughout the world. We will continue to share our message to inspire joy and unity among ALL peoples through black gospel and spiritual music traditions. In times like these, it is even more important that we reaffirm our commitment to our Mission. Whatever happens around us, we are a community. We got us. We can do hard things. Again. In the tradition of gospel music, we are resilient! We sing out our pain, our angst, our anger, turning it into joy, action, healing. Today, we want to send our love to each of you. And, we want to invite you to come together as a community to share a hug and lift our voices together. That’s what we do; We sing. Please join us this Sunday afternoon, November 10^th, 2024, 3:00pm at Lake Merrit Amphitheater. Wear your favorite OIGC swag. Bring a friend.

Love Over Fear Benefit Concert

November 12th, 6:30pm

Last November, over 200 people attended our first Love Over Fear benefit concert at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley. You can view the concert video and beautiful program book here.  This year’s Love Over Fear benefit concert will take place on November 12 at the Freight & Salvage performance venue in Berkeley.   This year we hope to fill the venue! “Love Over Fear” is our narrative campaign to project values of love, compassion, and connection as we build multi-racial solidarity, replacing fear, criminalization, and xenophobia with healing, inclusion, and shared humanity. In this election year full of anti-immigrant rhetoric, we need this message more than ever. You can find more information on the event, please visit our ticketing page.

MECA’s 21st Annual Palestinian Holiday Crafts Bazaar

November 16th, 10am-6pm

Support Palestinian artisans and keep ancient crafts alive! Purchase unique holiday gifts that support Palestinian children and families. Olive oil, ceramics, embroidery, jewelry, olive wood, cookbooks, keffiyehs, soap, stunning scarves & shawls, Palestinian Dead Sea products, children’s toys and books, kitchenware, t-shirts, and much more. Plus delicious Arabic food and coffee! Lunch tickets are available for 3 seatings: enjoy a taste of Palestine with Zaytoon’s mouthwatering selection of freshly made falafel, creamy hummus, smoky baba ghanouj, and fluffy pita bread. Paired with a refreshing, vibrant salad, each dish is crafted with traditional flavors and fresh ingredients, offering an authentic and satisfying culinary experience. Celebrate the rich food heritage of Palestine with every bite! Eventbrite info is here. Advance tickets at $5 for adults, children under 18 free. Ticket price helps support new venue costs, but this is first and foremost a Palestine solidarity event and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Purchase tickets here. This event is wheelchair accessible. For more info email meca@mecaforpeace.org, or call (510)548-0542

Berkeley Methodist United Church Choir Blast 2024

November 16th, 2pm

Pastor Sunae Away at Call to Wholeness Second Retreat

November 12th-14th

The Board of Ordained Ministry is inviting pastors to the “Call to Wholeness” every five years of their ordination for a time of reflection, rest, and rejuvenation. This year, Rev. Chris Adams from the Mental Health and the Church Initiative at Biola University’s Rosemead Graduate School of Psychology is joining them to guide their reflections on personal wellness and self-care as they make goals to balance their ministry. We invite you to pray for the pastors as they gather for the retreat.

If you need any pastoral care during Pastor Sunae’s time away, please contact Sue Dickey, our Congregational Nurturing Chair, at 510-410-3699, for assistance. She will contact our circuit Pastors covering for Pastor Sunae.

Send your prayers and gratitudes to be lifted up in worship to Pastor Sunae for the November 3rd worship service.

Daylight Savings

November 3rd

November 3rd marks the end of daylight savings! Please make sure to set your clocks back one hour.

Charge Conference

November 17th, 12pm

We are gathering to celebrate our church’s ministry for the All Church Conference on Nov. 17, 2024.  Rev. Mei Na Ko from Oakland Chinese United Methodist Church is our Presiding Elder for the conference.

Thanksgiving Lunch Volunteers

Preparations have begun for our Community Thanksgiving Lunch. Sign up today to lend your support and spread the word! Please sign up here or go to https://www.lakemerrittumc.org/food-programs/ and scroll down to the sign up link.

Election Day Prayer

November 5th, 4-7pm

Oakland Churches Together are gathering on Election Day, November 5th, 2024 from 4pm to 7pm at Lakeshore Baptist Church. Join us in praying for our country. The sanctuary will be open for anyone who wants to come and pray. Local clergy will offer a prayer each half hour and be available to pray with people as needed.

Love Over Fear Benefit Concert

November 12th, 6:30pm

Last November, over 200 people attended our first Love Over Fear benefit concert at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley. You can view the concert video and beautiful program book here.  This year’s Love Over Fear benefit concert will take place on November 12 at the Freight & Salvage performance venue in Berkeley.   This year we hope to fill the venue! “Love Over Fear” is our narrative campaign to project values of love, compassion, and connection as we build multi-racial solidarity, replacing fear, criminalization, and xenophobia with healing, inclusion, and shared humanity. In this election year full of anti-immigrant rhetoric, we need this message more than ever. You can find more information on the event, please visit our ticketing page.