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Pastor’s Letter 2025 June
June 7, 2025 by
Pastor’s Letter Greetings Siblings in Christ, I truly give thanksgiving for our faith community that gathers at BMUC. I give thanks for the ministries and missions that we offer and the people we serve. I am grateful to be among you all and, with those of us who have been here for a season or more, to welcome new folx in to our community. Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow! We have been doing much these past several months from Winter Necessities Kits, to Lenten practices, to Easter celebrations, to our Bazaar, which is just completed and our upcoming Pentecost celebration on June 8, when we also welcome 3 new persons as members into our faith community (See article later in this newsletter.) After this period both I and our Lay Members to Annual … [Read more...]
Easter, 2025
April 4, 2025 by
A Blessed and Happy Easter Dear Siblings in Christ, I write this to you as we near the 5th Sunday of Lent looking toward the death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus the Christ. I pray that you are well during this Lenten season, fully immersed in your own reflections of faith, walking with Jesus toward Jerusalem and his last Passover meal. I look forward, knowing what the disciples did not know at this point in time on the journey – that Jesus was indeed resurrected; that we celebrate that resurrection over 2000 years later! Praise be to God for the resurrection of the Lord! This knowledge resounds in the church throughout the world, together with singing ‘Christ, the Lord is Risen Today. Alleluia!’ This Good News has been lit like a new flame in … [Read more...]
Announcements for March 2025
March 3, 2025 by
LentBegins 3/5 with Ash Wednesday at 7PM in our Issei Chapel. This service will involve a creative exercise. Therefore, we encourage silence for most of the service (excepting where there is communal singing or praying) to allow you to reflect and express yourself through drawing.Each Sunday, we will have a creative exercise. If you attend in person, we will provide materials: paper, crayons, etc. If you usually attend on zoom, you may make an appointment with Rev. Pam to stop by and pick up materials for the entirety of Lent, or request to be mailed a packet of materials. (Of course, you may use your own art materials if you wish) Bazaar 2025It's not too early to begin thinking about how you can help. We need you; many hands make light work! Please contact Greg Suzuki to sign up … [Read more...]
Christmas Letter 2024
December 5, 2024 by
The angels returned to heaven and the shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem. They found Mary and Joseph and saw the baby lying in the manger. The shepherds returned, awe and inpraising God for all they had heard and seen. --Luke 2:15-18 Dear Siblings in Christ, During the winter months when I was little, one of our outdoor activities was sledding, as there was lots of snow. We didn’t actually have hills so much as slopes to go sledding. I recall we had two Flyer sleds, and boy could they fly. We could get two, sometimes three of us, if we were smushed together, on a sled. A Flyer sled has a wooden ‘guide’ extending out at either side at the front of the sled (probably all sleds of that style did) that you either put your feet on to steer the runners, or tie a rope on each … [Read more...]
Bishop Sano and Kathleen Thomas-Sano Honored with Endowed Chair
November 15, 2024 by
Thanksgiving Offering Lee Marrs, CoM Chairperson and Rev. Pam, Pastor An endowed chair in Pacific and Asian American Theology has been created at Claremont School of Theology in L.A., in the name of Bishop Roy Sano and Kathleen Thomas-Sano. Bishop Sano has excelled in many positions in the church over the years. He made history in 1984 when he was elected as United Methodism’s first Japanese American bishop. Throughout his tenure, he organized and advocated for the rights of marginalized communities and for the full participation of all people in the life of The United Methodist Church. He was and still is instrumental in developing Pacific and Asian American Theology. Now retired, he has been affiliated with BMUC for decades. Mrs. … [Read more...]
Topaz short film screening
September 8, 2024 by
Topaz short film by Dave Tatsuno--------------------------- Screenshot from the film On 9/15 at BMU during our Sunday service at 10:30AM, we will show a short film, Topaz, by Dave Tatsuno, courtesy of David Fujita. "Businessman, community leader, and amateur movie maker. Dave Masaharu Tatsuno's (1913–2006) home movies of concentration camp life at the Topaz , Utah, camp constitute one of the most important visual records of the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans." -- from Densho Encyclopedia "Topaz is a 1945 documentary film, shot illegally by internee Dave Tatsuno (1913–2006), (though with the assistance of members of the camp staff), which documented life at the Topaz War Relocation … [Read more...]
BMUC at Oakland Pride Parade
September 6, 2024 by
This Sunday! 9/8/2024 Oakland Pride paradeupdated info------------ NO service at church on 9/8;please join us at the Oakland Pride Paradeor online on Youtube << click to watch online We are carpooling from the church at about 10:15 - 10:30 or folx can BART. Meet in Oakland at 15th and Clay Sts and text Rev. Pam if you get disoriented: (510)205-5294 .================================ INFO FROM THE PARADE ORGANIZERS: Contingent Name: Berkeley Methodist United Church Lineup Number: 064 Zone: D1 Assembly Time: 10:45 AM Share this link with every member of your contingent, and be prepared to show this on your phone on the day of the … [Read more...]
Bazaar 2025
April 26, 2024 by
Click poster to download and share! DEAR GUESTS: Thanks for your interest in our bazaar! BMUC Annual Bazaar 2025 is set for June 1st, Noon-4PM. The tradition continues, once again offering food, fun, and fellowship to the community. Save the date for sure! See you soon! Ordering your box dinner:1. Please visit this link to order your box dinner (Preorder IS OPEN TIL May 24): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4BA5AD2BABFDC43-55785906-bmuc#/ ------------------------------------------------------------------ MEMBERS AND FRIENDS: Please bring your family, friends & neighbors! We're counting on you! Poster: Please download (or pick some up at church) and share and post our awesome flyer, courtesy of Lee Marrs! Ask businesses if they would post our … [Read more...]
Pastor’s Letter 2024 April
April 3, 2024 by
Dear Siblings in Christ,Are there scripture passages, even chapters in the Bible that you find troubling, or confusing – out-of-date or, you may think simply ‘no longer apply’ to contemporary culture? Do you wonder how to respond when others bring up those scriptures and want, or ‘expect’ you to explain? Maybe you want to better understand those scriptures for your own growing relationship with God in Christ. You would not be alone. Many people, including clergy, find some scripture challenging to understand or interpret into contemporary life, even life we hope for when we pray ‘your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ Are there contemporary social behaviors, social mores, economic or political activities, or familial relationships or actions that you wonder … [Read more...]
