Author: Pastor

Dear Friends: 1) This Saturday, 9/20, we will gather to celebrate the life of Lynn Leonard (Len) Williams. Service begins at 1 PM. We will need help with setup starting at 11:30 AM; if you can help and haven't yet told me, please drop me a line. 2) On Sunday, 9/21, the Singing Ensemble will start things off with rehearsal at 9 AM; then our regular Sunday School classes for children and adults will meet at 10 AM. We gather for worship at 11 AM, with our regular monthly extended time of open worship, and a special observance: welcoming baby Leila Remington Bowie into our meeting and dedicating her to the Lord! The Singing Ensemble will also offer ministry in music. The monthly potluck lunch follows worship; please bring a…

Dear Friends: Are you wanting to go deeper in your life with God? Have you ever been frustrated when it seems like you're not making progress? Would you like the opportunity to learn with and support others in the journey towards Christ-likeness? Ministry and Counsel is forming one or more small groups to engage in a quarter-long study this fall of The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith. Smith is a well-regarded Christian writer who teaches at Friends University (Wichita, KS) and has worked with Richard Foster's Renovare movement for many years. The Good and Beautiful God starts from the understanding that we all carry around with us many false narratives about God: “God wants me to try harder;” “God blesses me when I'm good and punishes me…

Dear Friends: Our busy August continues, with the following goings-on this weekend: 1) On Saturday, 8/9, we'll have the bimonthly Harvest Day for the Berkeley Neighborhood Food Project. All of the donations from the various neighborhoods will be coming in to the Food Pantry that morning. Volunteers are always appreciated to receive, weigh, sort and store the food! Please let Brian know if you can be there. You can come by as early as 10:00 AM and there will be things to do through 1 PM. And if you're participating in BFC's "neighborhood" and didn't bring in your bag last Sunday, you're welcome to bring yours by any time between 10:30 AM and noon. 2) Then on Sunday, 8/10, we will begin with Sunday School at 10 AM for children…

Dear Friends: It's a very full weekend at Berkeley Friends Church this time around--and much of August is going to be busy! 1) This Saturday, 8/2, we host the first of a two-part Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) workshop. AVP offers experiential, hands-on workshops that empower people to lead nonviolent lives through affirmation, respect for all, community building, cooperation, creative conflict resolution and trust. The workshop  is a full day; registration & snacks are at 8:30 AM, and the program begins at 9. The second workshop will be Saturday, 8/16. A sliding-scale donation is requested. For more information, see the attached flyer, and if you want to register, contact Dorothy Kakimoto ASAP. 2) Then, on Sunday, 8/3, don't forget that we are going to bring all of the church’s contributions…

It's another busy buzzing weekend at Berkeley Friends Church--here's the rundown:1) A reminder about registration for Quaker Heritage Day, which is a week from Saturday (4/12): if you would like lunch or child care on the 12th, please register by tomorrow, Friday, 4/4. The online registration is quick and easy, and you can pay at the door on the 12th. 2) On Saturday, 4/5, we'll have the bimonthly Harvest Day for the Berkeley Neighborhood Food Project. All of the donations from the various neighborhoods will be coming in to the Food Pantry that morning. Volunteers are always appreciated to receive, weigh, sort and store the food! You can come by as early as 9:00 AM and there will be things to do through 12:30 PM. And if you're participating in…

Dear Friends: This Sunday, 3/16, the Singing Ensemble will rehearse at 9 AM. Sunday School classes for children and adults, including the Quakerism class, meet at 10 AM. The Body gathers for worship at 11 AM, with shared song, prayer, and our monthly extended time of waiting upon the Lord in stillness. Our monthly potluck lunch follows worship; please bring a dish to share if you can, or a few dollars to help with the purchase of supplies. (If you are bringing something to eat, please also bring a list of ingredients so that people know what's in your dish.) Then at 1 PM, there will be the Monthly Meeting with a Concern for Business. Members should please attend, and all others are welcome. Note that while the Singing Ensemble…