Ten Things I’m Grateful For… In any list of gratitude, of course God will be at the top. Without God, none of the rest of this would be possible. But it’s good to get down to specifics once in a while and even though this is not an exhaustive list, here are ten things I’m grateful for this year: For our kids – Emma, Justin, Ethan, Tetsuo, Kazumi, Arlo, Cami, and Brandon. Thank you for just being you. Of all the people of our church who are feeling the effects of the pandemic, we have not been able to meet your needs most of all. For our staff – Naomi and Jill impress me every week. They have done so much to hold our church together and to keep coming up with new ways of doing things. I’m thankful for everything they do.For our Worship Team – Wow. We are … [Read more...]
Christmas Greetings
This festive service saves you time by sending a group Christmas card to each participant. If you would like to join in, please send $10 to BMUC with “Christmas Greeting” in the memo line by 12/6. … [Read more...]
Craig’s Corner 2020 November
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. – Colossians 3:15 May the peace of Christ be with you. By the time you read this, the election will be near or just completed. Either way, we likely won’t know yet who the President will be for at least a short while. Still, no matter which way you voted or who is elected, I hope we remember these two lessons from Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae – peace and thankfulness. As human beings, we are prone to sin – however you want to categorize that in your brain. And this sinful nature has been brought out in force (on both sides mind you) as some have become irreconcilable in their attitudes toward their fellow Children … [Read more...]
BMUC Supports the Black Community
THANK YOU! Because of your thoughtfulness and love of Christ, BMUC was able to raise $6,288 toward our support of the Black community! As we promised, 50% will go to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and 50% will go to OCCUR in Oakland and their Black Business Relief Fund. The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), established in 1987, is one of the largest organizations exclusively representing the Black College Community through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships. It distributes 98% of its assets exclusively to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Their web site is requesting donations to a COVID-19 HBCU Emergency Fund. OCCUR, founded in … [Read more...]
Craig’s Corner 2020 October
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” – Matthew 6:33-34 This may be the most important election of our lifetime. This coming November we will have the opportunity to vote for who we believe best represents our country. I will be in prayer over this and I hope you will, too. Our elected leaders should represent the values and ideals we hold as a country. They should reflect what we hope to achieve. And hopefully, that person will understand that the United States is one among many nations and we are dependent on one another to make the world a better place. … [Read more...]
Craig’s Corner 2020 September
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;2 for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. – Psalm 24:1-2 What does giving mean to God? I hope you’ve been following along with us this past month (August) as we have been exploring what giving if all about (Hint: It’s NOT about money). We realize that it already all belongs to God anyway and nothing is permanent in this world. The hope we have for the future lies in Jesus Christ and his promise for us of a life beyond this one. Giving is just one way to bring us closer to the life God wants for us. Giving is a discipline that helps us to let go of the material so we can focus on the spiritual. We’ve been talking about it for the past few … [Read more...]
Craig’s Corner 2020 August
What does giving mean to you? Giving is a central tenet of our faith. Not because “the church needs money” but because giving is part of our faith and trust in God. More than the amount we give (re: The Widow’s Mite), it’s really about our heart for giving. As Paul wrote to the church in his letter to Corinth, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7).” We’re going to explore that during the month of August as we challenge ourselves what it means to give. I hope we truly will embrace the challenge, not only in our personal giving to BMUC but more importantly to our heart for giving and letting go of the fear of not having enough. Back in … [Read more...]
Online Giving Now Available!
BMUC has partnered with Tithe.ly to bring you online giving! We are excited about this new opportunity for our friends and church family. Now, you can give conveniently from your phone or online from anywhere at any time. We are working on continually improving your experience with BMUC and hope this will be a big addition to the "plus" column. We have two new ways to give: On your mobile device (phone, iPad, etc.) or online from your computer (laptop or desktop). To access giving from your mobile device: Download the Tithe.ly App from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android). Once you've downloaded the app, search for Berkeley Methodist United Church and just follow the prompts. If this is your first time giving with Tithe.ly you will be prompted to … [Read more...]
Join the Discussion Against Racism – Mon 7/20 and Tues 7/21
We are on a journey together. Most of us have been deeply affected by the move toward racial justice that has swept our nation. Our church in particular, having its roots in the Japanese-American community, understands better than most how racism can rear its ugly, unjust head. While we are encouraged to do something about it, at the same time we are challenged to look within and see the ways we might be perpetuating systemic racism. If you're interested in joining us on this journey toward self-discovery, we invite you to join us for a free event with Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be An Antiracist. Sponsored by the Prince George's County Memorial Library System, this will be broadcast on multiple social media outlets on Monday, July 20 @4pm. It says 7pm on the website, … [Read more...]
Bay District Virtual Choir Project Begins Wednesday 7/22
Do you love to sing? If you answered "yes" then the Bay District Virtual Choir Project might be perfect for you. You've probably seen many of those virtual choirs online like the Bay Area Blessing. We're hoping to do something similar and want your participation. You don't have to be a professional singer, just someone who loves to sing and wants to lift up glory to God. Bay Area Blessing screenshot with voices from multiple churches Our Bay District is hosting this brand new virtual choir to offer hope through the gift of music. We plan to sing together the song "Rise Up" by Andra Day. Right now, a team of artists from our churches are laying down tracks to help you out and our own Naomi Sanchez will be the Musical Director. Along with Pastor Emily Lin and our own Deacon … [Read more...]
