Mission and Outreach Team(Pauline, Greg, Lee, Naomi, Pablo, Hailey, Pastor Pam)Following our weeks of preparing for our first mission project in worship, we finally did it! During worship this past Sunday, Sep 18, we made 50 Period Packs to be sent to our UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) distribution center, Sager Brown Depot in Louisiana.Setting up outside for worship and Period Pack making was not so challenging, especially with the many folx who came early for set up. The challenge came when it began to rain – do we stay outside, or to we head inside into the Fellowship Hall? By 10:00, the rain had stopped and we decided to stay outside. We were blessed with a few new folx joining us for worship and Period Pack making. Two people came following … [Read more...]
Holy Land Pilgrimage Opportunity in 2023
Meeting at BMU on Sunday, 9/25 at 1:30PM We’re happy and relieved to announce that Friends of Wadi Foquin are renewing our Holy Land pilgrimages beginning in spring 2023 after a break of five years (whew!). You’re getting this email because members of your congregation have expressed interest in the past in joining us. We have three possible departure dates. We’ll select the date that is most convenient to the most people and announce it around Labor Day. Here are the choices: April 17, 2023 May 1, 2023 May 8, 2023. Our current intention is to return either April 28, May 12, May 19, respectively. We might extend the trip one or two days, depending on pilgrim interest. Please announce this within your … [Read more...]
We are open!
WELCOME BACK! We are so excited to see you again! Unless there is another shelter-in-place order, we will be holding in-person AND online (hybrid) services each week, Sundays at 10:30AM. We hope to see you at BMU (or online)! Reminders, please: If you are not feeling well, please stay home and join us on ZoomDress warmly in layers. We will have windows and doors open for ventilationRead the COVID waiver below and sign in every week when you arrive at churchWear your mask at all times (we have a few available if you have forgotten yours) and physically distance. Clean hands often.1710 Carleton St, Berkeley 94703 MapThank you for being safe for yourself and others! COVID Waiver To Our Members and Guests: The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been declared a … [Read more...]
Pastor’s Letter 2022 August
Dear Siblings in Christ, I recently went to the movie theaters. Angled two rows behind me were two people chatting during the trailers for upcoming movies. I looked back to see who was talking; not annoyed at that moment, just curious and hoping (the wishful kind of hoping, not the faith kind of hoping) that they would stop chatting when the movie began. I like chatting to be kept to a whisper, if at all, so as not to distract from the movie experience, as it is a public space and not my living room. I also own that I am not very good at tuning out extraneous noise when I am trying to focus on something. I also noticed that the two folx appeared older than me. I gave a lot of grace - maybe hearing issues for at least one of them; this was their occasional … [Read more...]
Weekly Bulletin
4/21/24 Bulletin:https://mailchi.mp/299d0a03d533/bmuc-bulletin-16190299 … [Read more...]
Pastor’s Letter 2022 July
Hello My Siblings of Berkeley Methodist United, I am humbled and pleased to begin my pastoral ministry with you in July. I look forward to worshiping God in Christ with you; hearing your stories, the history of BMUC and what you are hearing from God about BMUC’s future ministry in Berkeley and in the world. I love all types of music and music styles and am pleased that BMUC is quite diverse in its music and music video styles for worship. I want to share a bit about myself so that you might have some context about who I am today and how I listen for God’s call on my life and my ministry as pastor. I have been a Christian for almost/most of my life, having been raised as a Catholic. I left organized religion for a few years in my latter university years. As I … [Read more...]
Craig’s Corner 2022 June
The Last Newsletter… Pam’s Pontifications? Pam’s Place? Pastor Pam’s Point-of-View? I have no idea how Pastor Pam will approach this opportunity to communicate with you, if she’ll use alliteration the same way, or even if she’s the newsletter writing type. But for me, I’ve been so glad to have this chance to share my thoughts and vision with you all these past four years. And it meant a lot to me that you took the time to read it. So I want to leave you with one Scripture. My favorite. 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35 Everything I’ve taught, everything message I … [Read more...]
Craig’s Corner 2022 May
Now it’s time…to say goodbye…to all our company…again… If you missed last Sunday’s worship (4/24) you may not have heard but the Bishop and Cabinet are appointing me to a new church. If this sounds like a flashback, it is. In an unusual circumstance, my appointment to Wesley UMC did not work out and instead I will be appointed to Evergreen Valley UMC, also in San Jose but on the East Side. My appointment begins July 1 so until that time, I will still be your pastor and will still be journeying with you in faith. If you’re unfamiliar with the process in the UMC, a pastor is only guaranteed to serve a particular church from year-to-year. BMUC was fortunate to have been under the leadership of Rev. Naomi for so long, but typically a pastor is at a church … [Read more...]
Craig’s Corner 2022 April
Craig’s Corner Now it’s time…to say goodbye…to all our company… If you missed last Sunday’s worship (3/13) you may not have heard but the Bishop and Cabinet are appointing me to a new church. I will be joining the people of Wesley UMC in San Jose (not too far) beginning July 1. Until that time, I will still be your pastor and will still be journeying with you in faith. We have some exciting things coming up (including Easter!) so it’s not over yet! As we reopen to the public, I hope you will take the opportunity to come by the church and take part in all we are doing. If you’re unfamiliar with the process in the UMC, a pastor is only guaranteed to serve a particular church from year-to-year. BMUC was fortunate to have been under the leadership … [Read more...]
