Pastor

13Dec 2016 by Pastor

In Bethlehem a Babe Was Born…

Events

Angels! A Shepherd and a Wise One! Mary and the Baby! This past Sunday the children's class taught us a new song they have been learning, In Bethlehem a Babe Was Born (written by a Quaker, Barbara Bennett Mays!) They entered the worship room in costume, gleefully proceeding to gather around the mother and child at the front. Accompanied by guitar, flute, and a chorus of supportive adults, it was a moment to remember. The kids are already looking forward to next year! [caption id="attachment_1406" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Smiles during rehearsal[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1407" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Are you all ready to sing?[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1405" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The singers and Mary and the baby prepare for their grand entrance.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1404" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Singing the song with gusto...[/caption] Many thanks to the kids…

09Dec 2016 by Pastor

This weekend, 12/10-11, @BFC: Harvest Day, S&F, Sunday School, Worship, Singing Ensemble

Events

Tomorrow, Saturday, 12/10 is the bimonthly Harvest Day for the Berkeley Neighborhood Food Project, from 9:30 AM to noon. If you haven't brought in your green bag yet, you can do so anytime between 10 and noon. And if you'd like to help with the harvest, please contact Pantry Director Sara Webber. Then on Sunday, 12/11, we'll begin with the Stewardship & Finance Committee, meeting at 9 AM. Then the regular Sunday School classes for adults & kids follow at 10 AM. Then we gather for Meeting for Worship at 11 AM, with a special new Christmas song taught by the kids' group, prayer, corporate quiet, and a message from James 5. Fellowship time follows worship, and then the Singing Ensemble rehearses at 1 PM.

26Nov 2016 by Pastor

Tomorrow, 11/27, @BFC: Singing Ensemble, Sunday School, Worship, PECSC

Events

I hope everyone enjoyed this week's holiday with your loved ones, and considered all of the things for which we can give thanks. I am thankful for each one of you and the bonds that hold us together as the Body of Christ. This Sunday, 11/27, the season designated as Advent by the church begins: a time of preparation and expectation as we look towards the coming of Christ. At Berkeley Friends Church, we will begin with a Singing Ensemble rehearsal at 9 AM. Then our regular Sunday School classes convene at 10 AM. In Worship at 11 AM, we will gather in song, prayer and quiet, and hear a message based on Matthew 24:36:44. Fellowship time follows, and then the Peace, Environment and Christian Social Concerns Committee meets at…

18Nov 2016 by Pastor

This weekend, 11/18-20, @BFC: Colin Saxton, Berkeley Half-Marathon, Singing Ensemble, Sunday School, Worship & Monthly Meeting!

Events

It’s going to be a big weekend at Berkeley Friends Church–please join us! Here are the highlights: Meet Colin Saxton: this weekend we have a special guest, Colin Saxton, General Secretary of Friends United Meeting (FUM). FUM is the global fellowship of Friends that we are part of. Colin has served FUM since 2012, and has a vision for making FUM a resource to strengthen local Friends meetings. There will be several opportunities for you to meet Colin, hear more about the work of FUM, and share your ideas and hopes for the future of Friends: Saturday 10 AM: Ministry & Counsel meets with Colin at BFC to hear about the new "Flourishing Meetings" resource; others are welcome, or you can join us for lunch out at a restaurant afterward.…

18Nov 2016 by Pastor

Berkeley Half-Marathon: IT’S BAAAAACK

Events

The 2016 Berkeley Half-Marathon is scheduled for this coming Sunday morning, 11/20, from 7 AM to 12:30 PM. The race course is much the same as last year, which means that BFC is once again inside the race course, and anyone coming from outside the course will have difficulty crossing it in a car. If you usually come in a car or by bus, please walk, bike or take BART if you possibly can. If you absolutely have to drive: 1) Exiting I-80 at University Avenue is not an option. The off-ramps will be entirely closed. 2) If you're coming from the north: the Solano Avenue tunnel is a good way to get under the runners again this year. Take Solano east from The Alameda and through the tunnel. Continue…

11Nov 2016 by Pastor

This weekend, 11/12&13, @BFC: AVP, Stewardship & Finance, Sunday School, Worship, Singing Ensemble, Bias Workshop

Events

Here's what's going on this weekend at BFC: 1) On Saturday, 11/12, we host the second of two Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) workshops. The workshop is a full day, but not open to new registrants since it builds on last Saturday's session. 2) On Sunday, 11/13, the schedule is as follows: 09:00 AM Stewardship & Finance Committee 10:00 AM Sunday School for kids & adults 11:00 AM Worship: prayers, song & our monthly time of extended open worship 12:15 PM Fellowship Time 12:30 PM Singing Ensemble rehearsal—Note the early start time! 01:15 PM Implicit Bias Workshop Don’t forget the free two-hour workshop, "Finding the Roots of Bias to Foster Community Healing." Led by two professional facilitators, this experience is meant to help us begin to address implicit bias in…

04Nov 2016 by Pastor

This weekend @BFC: AVP training, FALL BACK, Trustees, Sunday School, Worship, QVS presentation!

Events

Lots of good stuff happening this weekend at Berkeley Friends Church! 1) On Saturday, 11/5, we host the first of a two-part Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) workshop. AVP offers experiential, hands-on training that empowers people to lead nonviolent lives through 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, 11/12. A sliding-scale donation is requested. For more information, see this flyer, and if you want to register, contact Dorothy Kakimoto ASAP. 2) Before you go to bed Saturday night, be sure to set your clocks BACK one hour for the return of Standard Time! And enjoy that extra hour of rest. 3) On Sunday, 11/6,…

28Oct 2016 by Pastor

This Sunday, 10/30, @BFC: Sunday School, Worship, Baby Dedication, Potluck!

Events

This Sunday is one of those special fifth Sundays when there are no scheduled committee meetings or other busyness... which this month gives us an opportunity for something really special: a baby dedication during worship and a potluck meal afterward! Here's the schedule: Sunday school classes for children and adults at 10 AM. Then Meeting for Worship at 11, which will include both a message based on Matthew 18 and a time to welcome Lucia D'Amato Contreras into our meeting and dedicate her to the Lord! Then afterward we'll share a meal together continue the celebration. Please bring a dish to share if you can!

21Oct 2016 by Pastor

THis Sunday, 10/23, @BFC: Sunday School, Worship, Fellowship, PECSC

Events

Here's what's on tap for Sunday, 10/23: Sunday School classes for children and adults convene at 10 AM. Then we gather for Worship at 11 AM, with singing, group prayer, expectant waiting worship, and a prepared message from Luke 10:25-37 (the Greatest Commandment and the Good Samaritan). Fellowship time follows worship, and at 1 PM, the Peace, Environment and Christian Social Concerns Committee will have an important meeting. Please join us!

14Oct 2016 by Pastor

Sunday, 10/16 @BFC: Singing Ensemble, Sunday School, Worship, Potluck, Monthly Meeting

Events

This Sunday, 10/16, we gather beginning at 9 AM, when the Singing Ensemble will rehearse. Then we have Sunday School classes for children and adults, meeting at 10 AM. Worship follows at 11 AM, with corporate song, prayer, and waiting worship, as well as a message that returns to the theme of vision, drawing from the stories of Abraham and Moses (Genesis 15 & Deuteronomy 3). A potluck lunch follows, and then our Monthly Meeting with a Concern for Business will convene at 1 PM. All members are expected to attend, and attenders and visitors are welcome as well.

Author: Pastor