Author: Pastor

First off, I neglected to mention at worship this past Sunday that I will be traveling today through Monday, attending the Friends of Jesus Fellowship Fall Gathering ("Confessing Jesus in a Chaotic World") near Washington, DC. Your prayers would be appreciated! If there is something you need while I am gone, please contact Dorothy for concerns of a spiritual nature, or Jean if it's related to administration. And then at BFC, Saturday, 10/8 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, 10/9, you all will begin…

Another new month begins this weekend, and here's what's happening at Berkeley Friends Church this Sunday, 10/2: First off, don't forget that it's BFC's collection day for our contributions to the Berkeley Neighborhood Food Project, so please bring your green bags with you to bring into worship! And then the order of things is: The Trustees get to work first, gathering at 9 AM. Sunday School classes for children and adults convene at 10 AM. We meet for Worship at 11 AM, coming together with song, silence, communal prayer, and a message from Steve Sims, "Beatitudes," based on Matthew 5:1-11. Then we pause for fellowship time and refreshments... Followed by the Missionary, Outreach & Christian Education Committee meeting at 1 PM. Hope to have you with us!

This Sunday, 9/25, there will be another Singing Ensemble rehearsal to start things off, at 9 AM. Then the Sunday School classes for children and adults continue, at 10 AM. Then we gather for Worship at 11 AM, with singing, group prayer, waiting worship, and a prepared message from Mark 10:46-52. Fellowship time follows worship, and at 1 PM, the Peace, Environment and Christian Social Concerns Committee will have their monthly meeting. Hope to have you with us!

This Sunday, 9/18, the Singing Ensemble rehearses bright and early, at 9 AM. Then we have our Sunday School classes, at 10 AM; note that the adults will meet upstairs in the fellowship hall, and the children's class will gather in the worship room to practice some songs for worship. Worship follows at 11 AM, with two new songs led by the children, prayer, and our monthly extended time of open worship, as we wait on God's living Presence together. A potluck lunch follows, and then our Monthly Meeting with a Concern for Business will convene at 1 PM. Hope to have you with us!

This Sunday, 9/4, the Trustees start things off, meeting with a concern for our building and grounds at 9 AM. Then our Sunday School classes for children and adults convene at 10 AM. We gather for Worship at 11 AM, with song, silence, and communal prayer and--rather than having one single speaker--we are again inviting everyone to share a well-loved Bible verse, saying, poem, or song. Tell us what it means to you, or why it struck you when you discovered it, or anything else significant to you. Again, this is so that we may build one another up, as with the Apostle Paul's words to the Corinthians concerning worship: When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation.…

This Saturday, 8/27, don't forget about the workshop and dinner, "Truth and Reconciliation: From Rwanda to the US" at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Father Didace Kamana, Catholic priest, justice worker, scholar and survivor of the Rwandan genocide will present a workshop from 2-5 PM, followed by dinner from 5-7 PM. Other events will follow on Sunday, 8/28, and on Wednesday, 9/7. For full details and to register online, go to http://www.fccb.org/events/truth-reconciliation-rwanda-us. Then on Sunday, 8/28 at BFC, we gather beginning at 9 AM, with a Singing Ensemble rehearsal. Then we have Sunday School classes for children and adults, meeting at 10 AM. Worship follows at 11 AM, with singing, praying, and waiting together on the Lord, accompanied by a prepared message. Fellowship time follows, and then…

This Sunday, 8/21, 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 our monthly extended time of open worship, as the Living Word instructs and prompts us to ministry as He wills. A potluck lunch follows, and then our Monthly Meeting with a Concern for Business will convene at 1 PM. Please join us!

It's been a great week at BFC, with our Vacation Bible School program having just concluded today. It was a blessing to be with this wonderful bunch of young people for four mornings! There are pictures on the church's Facebook page if you're connected with us there, and we'll get more on to the website as soon as we can. Tomorrow, Saturday, 8/13, is the bi-monthly "Harvest Day" collection for the Berkeley Neighborhood Food Project. If you'd like to help, please check in with Food Pantry Director Sara Webber. If you didn't bring in your green bag last Sunday, you can drop yours off any time between 10 AM and noon. Then on Sunday, 8/14, we begin with the Stewardship & Finance Committee, meeting at 9 AM. Our regular Sunday…