Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
New Alarm System at LMUMC
As of this week, we are instituting the new alarm system at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church. This means that church meeting groups must have a designated security person trained on the alarm who will be the first person to arrive and the last to leave. Please contact Ken, our Church Administrator, at office@lakemerrittumc.org if you have any meetings that are not on the calendar, and if you need additional training on the alarm.
Food 4 Thought Begins New Lecture Series September 1st
The Food 4 Thought small group will gather on Sunday, September 1st for a potluck supper and to begin a new three month lecture series titled “When Christians Get It Wrong.” The DVD presenter is Rev. Adam Hamilton, founder and senior pastor at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Kansas, which is currently the largest UMC in the United States. He has written multiple books, including the one this series is based on. Everyone is welcome to attend! Please see
here for details.
Sound Bath
6:45pm Friday, August 9th
Sound Bath returns this Friday, August 9th with Egemen (Ege) Sanli. What better way to end your week than by slowing down and relaxing, surrounded by meditative vibrations and melodies? Be immersed in flowing sounds as you sit in a chair or lie on the floor with your own mat, blanket, and/or pillow.
Admittance for the church community is donation-based; $20 is suggested via cash, check, or Venmo. No RSVP needed. Doors open at 6:30 pm; please arrive by 6:45. Program begins promptly at 7:00pm. Download our flyer and share our Eventbrite page to invite family and friends!
Peace in Palestine Upcoming Events
LMUMC’s Peace in Palestine / Friends of Wadi Foquin Circle invites you to join them in hearing one or both of the following speakers. This Saturday 8/10-Sunday 8/11, the Rev. Munther Isaac, one of the most important Palestinian Christian voices of our time, will be in the East Bay on a national speaking tour addressing the U.S. church about its critical role in calling for peace and justice in Gaza and the West Bank. Rev. Isaac is pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, academic dean at the Bethlehem Bible College, and he directs the influential Christ at the Checkpoint conference held annually in Bethlehem. See the attached flyer for more details.
On Saturday, August 17th (3-5pm at Twin Towers UMC), join Adam Manasra as he discusses the many shifts and changes that have happened in Wadi Foquin and across the West Bank since his arrival in the Bay Area one year ago. See the attached flyer for more details and RSVP via the QR code.
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.
Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Dignity on Wheels Mobile Showers & Laundry
Tuesdays, 9am-1pm at E 12th St & 2nd Ave
WeHOPE’s Dignity on Wheels (DoW) mobile hygiene service is providing free showers and laundry for the unhoused every Tuesday, 9am-1pm, in our neighborhood at E 12th St and 2nd Ave. Comprehensive case management support may also be provided to address a variety of individual challenges including job loss, illness, and food insecurity. Other Bay Area locations are available throughout the week: view the full schedule here. Please share this information with our community members in need!
Support Needed for Food Fellowship Ministry
An enjoyable and important tradition at LMUMC is gathering after Sunday Worship to enjoy food and fellowship with both friends and visitors.
To continue this food fellowship ministry, volunteers are needed to prepare and provide food. Please see Sue Dickey or Laurel Williams after Worship to sign up; they will be glad to group you with other volunteers and make suggestions on what to bring.
Food 4 Thought Goes on Summer Break
The Food 4 Thought group will be taking a break for the month of August and will gather back together the first Sunday in September.
Keep an eye out later in August for eblast information about what Food 4 Thought is all about and what our new lecture series will be!
Sound Bath
6:45pm Friday, August 9th
Sound Bath returns next Friday, August 9th with Egemen (Ege) Sanli. What better way to end your week than by slowing down and relaxing, surrounded by meditative vibrations and melodies? Be immersed in flowing sounds as you sit in a chair or lie on the floor with your own mat, blanket, and/or pillow.
Admittance for the church community is donation-based; $20 is suggested via cash, check, or Venmo. No RSVP needed. Doors open at 6:30 pm; please arrive by 6:45. Program begins promptly at 7:00pm. Download our flyer and share our Eventbrite page to invite family and friends!
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.
Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Support Needed for Food Fellowship Ministry
An enjoyable and important tradition at LMUMC is gathering after Sunday Worship to enjoy food and fellowship with both friends and visitors.
To continue this food fellowship ministry, volunteers are needed to prepare and provide food. Please see Sue Dickey or Laurel Williams after Worship to sign up; they will be glad to group you with other volunteers and make suggestions on what to bring.
Food 4 Thought Goes on Summer Break
The Food 4 Thought group will be taking a break for the month of August and will gather back together the first Sunday in September.
Keep an eye out in August for eblast information about what Food 4 Thought is all about and what our new lecture series will be!
July staff schedule
Music Director Jim Meredith will be off from July 21-28. Ellen St. Thomas will be our guest accompanist.
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.
Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Food 4 Thought Goes on Summer Break
The Food 4 Thought group will be taking a break for the month of August and will gather back together the first Sunday in September.
Keep an eye out in August for eblast information about what Food 4 Thought is all about and what our new lecture series will be!
Office hours and staff schedule in July
Church Administrator Ken Schoon will be working remotely July 22-25 while visiting and assisting family. The office will be staffed by our volunteers, although our hours may be abbreviated. Please email office@lakemerrittumc.org and schedule an appointment if you need to stop by the office. Music Director Jim Meredith will be off from July 21-28. Ellen St. Thomas will be our guest accompanist.
California-Nevada Conference welcomes new bishop Sept 1st
Bishop Sandra K. Olewine, elected to the episcopacy on July 12th at the 2024 Western Jurisdiction Conference of the United Methodist Church, has been assigned to the California-Nevada Conference beginning September 1st. She currently serves as assistant to the bishop in the California-Pacific Conference. She comes to us with many years of experience as a pastoral leader in a variety of settings, including serving as a District Superintendent (2021-2024), senior pastor of Pasadena First UMC (2014-2021), United Methodist Global Ministries liaison to Jerusalem (1996-2006), and associate pastor at Los Angeles Holman UMC (1990-1995) under the leadership of renowned civil rights leader Rev. James M. Lawson Jr., who passed away last month. You can read more about Bishop Olewine here on the Western Jurisdiction’s website.
Bishop Olewine was the second bishop elected at the July 10-13 meeting, after the California-Nevada Conference’s own Rev. Dr. Kristin Stoneking, United Methodist Studies professor at the Pacific School of Religion, who has been assigned to the Mountain Sky Conference. More news and information from the 2024 WJ Conference may be found here.
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.
Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Sound Bath
6:45pm Friday, July 12th
Our Sound Bath returns this Friday, July 12th with special guest musician and sound healer Madhu Anziani. After a spinal cord injury that left him quadriplegic, Madhu used sound and energy healing to achieve a full recovery. He now offers the deeply healing modalities of music, vibration, divination, hypnotherapy and ceremony to communities around the world. You may learn more about Madhu by checking out his bio on our Eventbrite page.
Bring your favorite yoga mat, blanket, and pillow and take a deeply meditative sonic journey. Admittance for the church community is donation-based; $20 is suggested via cash, check, or Venmo. Doors open at 6:30 and close promptly at 7:00pm. Arrive by 6:45 to check in, find a spot, and get settled. Download our flyer and share to invite family and friends!
Western Jurisdictional Conference begins
The 2024 Western Jurisdictional Conference, themed “Love Without Limits,” is being held on July 10-13, 2024, in Spokane, Washington. Delegates will travel from the eastern edge of Colorado, the islands of Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan in the west, from Alaska in the north, from Arizona in the south, and all places in between to live out and model our vision: A home for all God’s people, gathered around a table of reconciliation and transformation, the Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church is multicultural and inclusive, engaged in the life of its communities, with confident, effective lay and clergy leadership who, in diverse ministry settings, form disciples who live out the Good News of Jesus as global citizens.
Delegates will elect two bishops. They will also celebrate retirements and consider legislation that moves us toward living into our values and vision. The conference will conclude on Saturday afternoon (July 13) with a Service of Consecration at 1 p.m. for the new bishops. You can livestream the proceedings, read about the episcopal candidates, view the proposed legislation and reports, and review the days’ results at the following website: https://westernjurisdictionumc.org/wjc2024/
Office hours in July
Our church office hours may be abbreviated, and staff working remotely, while re-roofing continues on the church office wing. Additionally, Church Administrator Ken Schoon will be working remotely July 22-25 while visiting and assisting family. Please email the office and/or schedule an appointment if you need to stop by the office.
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.
Please read ALL of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Sound Bath
6:45pm Friday, July 12th
Our Sound Bath returns this Friday, July 12th with special guest musician and sound healer Madhu Anziani. After a spinal cord injury that left him quadriplegic, Madhu used sound and energy healing to achieve a full recovery. He now offers the deeply healing modalities of music, vibration, divination, hypnotherapy and ceremony to communities around the world. You may learn more about Madhu by checking out his bio on our Eventbrite page.
Bring your favorite yoga mat, blanket, and pillow and take a deeply meditative sonic journey. Admittance for the church community is donation-based; $20 is suggested via cash, check, or Venmo. Doors open at 6:30 and close promptly at 7:00pm. Arrive by 6:45 to check in, find a spot, and get settled. Download our flyer and share to invite family and friends!
Western Jurisdictional Conference begins
The 2024 Western Jurisdictional Conference will be held on July 10-13, 2024, in Spokane, Washington. The theme is “Love Without Limits.” The conference will begin with missional engagement opportunities on Wednesday, July 10, at 9 a.m. PT. Opening worship, an episcopal address, and the first plenary session will follow at 1 p.m. The conference will conclude on Saturday afternoon (July 13) with a closing service at 1 p.m. If an episcopal election is necessary, this will be a Service of Consecration.
As we gather, we will have traveled from the eastern edge of Colorado, the islands of Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan in the west, from Alaska in the north, from Arizona in the south, and all places in between to reach this lovely region. We gather to live out and model our Western Jurisdiction vision: A home for all God’s people, gathered around a table of reconciliation and transformation: the Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church is multicultural and inclusive, engaged in the life of its communities, with confident, effective lay and clergy leadership who, in diverse ministry settings, form disciples who live out the Good News of Jesus as global citizens.
We gather to consider what values we share as a jurisdiction, celebrate retirements, possibly elect new bishops to serve in our jurisdiction, and consider legislation that moves us toward living into our values and vision. You can register today and learn more about the Western Jurisdictional Conference on the following website: https://westernjurisdictionumc.org/wjc2024/
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.
