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
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
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...]
Pastor’s Letter 2024 April
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Siblings in Christ,Are there scripture passages, even chapters in the Bible that you find troubling, or confusing – out-of-date or, you may think simply ‘no longer apply’ to contemporary culture?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...]
Holy Week
Please do join us for worship throughout Holy Week! Palm-Passion Sunday, March 24, 10:30 am worship We remember the procession of Jesus into Jerusalem to palm branches waving branches and cloaks thrown before the donkey upon which he rode, even as political and religious zealots were plotting his arrest, conviction, and death. Good Friday, March 29, at 7 pm, we remember the unlawful conviction and death of our Lord, Jesus the Christ. Grieved we leave in silence to await God’s work. Easter Sunday, March 31, 10:30 am worship, we come to the tomb, surprised, and filled with joy that not only is the cross empty, so is the tomb and our Lord is risen!! And, of course, we welcome kids from all walks of life to an Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt, learning the journey of Jesus from his … [Read more...]
Easter 2024
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 (CEB) Greetings Siblings in Christ,A blessed and joyful Easter Season to you! Each year before I begin my Easter letter, I pray and think ‘what can I share about the amazing gift of Resurrection Sunday?’ As my faith grows, deepens, transforms continually, I always see something differently about God’s gift of the resurrection. This year is hope. We hear that we are living in an unprecedented time of upheaval in politics, in social relationships, in economy. I don’t know if this is fact as I, nor I am guessing most of us, have not experienced humanity’s acts since its inception. It is, we can say, a time of … [Read more...]
New Directory of Members and Friends
It's time to update our directory; let's keep in touch with each other! Please fill out this form by 3/17. The goal is to distribute a new directory on Easter, 3/31If you have a current photo of yourself and/or family you would like to include, please email it to Jill. Or see Jill Israels on Sunday to snap a photo. … [Read more...]
Lenten Bible Study
https://youtu.be/6VMgPtlAv_8 Register here <<<---CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for Dr. Chai's Spiritual Gifts study … [Read more...]
SAD Guided Journal for January/Feb Sermon series
click here to download https://bmuc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SAD-Guided-Journal-Simple.pdf … [Read more...]
Pastor’s Letter 2023 December
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Luke 2:15-18 (Msg) Greetings and Blessings Dear Siblings in Christ, It is an awesome thing that God determined to come and live among the humans that they created in their image. We might wonder what possessed God to decide to leave a place of security, of love, of justice and mercy, of kindness and compassion to live with humans – flawed, oftentimes more emotionally driven than spiritually led, sometimes overly confident, sometimes completely insecure, yet hungry for love and learning and, sometimes, a willingness to become something … [Read more...]
