Author Archives: Brian Young

This Sunday, 3/16, the Singing Ensemble will rehearse at 9 AM. Sunday School classes for children and adults, including the Quakerism class, meet at 10 AM. The Body gathers for worship at 11 AM, with shared song, prayer, and our monthly extended time of waiting upon the Lord in stillness.

Our monthly potluck lunch follows worship; please bring a dish to share if you can, or a few dollars to help with the purchase of supplies. (If you are bringing something to eat, please also bring a list of ingredients so that people know what’s in your dish.) Then at 1 PM, there will be the Monthly Meeting with a Concern for Business. Members should please attend, and all others are welcome.

Note that while the Singing Ensemble will rehearse this Sunday, there will not be a presentation until later this month.

Finally, I would appreciate your prayers for the Friends World Committee counsultation in Sacramento this weekend–for all those traveling, and that this would be an opportunity for God to open our hearts to one another in mutual listening and love.

I will be in the office on Monday and Tuesday of this coming week; please be in touch if you need anything.

First off, don’t forget to set your clocks forward one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night! Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 AM on Sunday.

Then later on Sunday, 3/9, the activities begin with the Stewardship and Finance Committee meeting at 9 AM. Then at 10 AM, our Sunday School groups for adults and children  will  meet, including the Quakerism/membership class. In worship at 11 AM, we will gather to sing, pray and listen together, with a message related to Mark 9:30-37. Fellowship time follows worship, and then the SInging Ensemble will rehearse at 1 PM.

And in case you missed it, the Knit & Crochet Fellowship will not meet this Saturday. Details about future meetings are TBA.

Here is what is going on this weekend at Berkeley Friends Church:

1) This Saturday, 2/15, the Knit & Crochet Fellowship will gather at 11 AM in the fellowship hall. Come and see what these crafty folks are up to!

2) Then, on Sunday, 2/16, the Singing Ensemble will rehearse at 9 AM. Sunday School classes for children and adults, including the new Quakerism class, meet at 10 AM. We gather for worship at 11 AM, including a message on Mark 8:34-9:1, and the Singing Ensemble presenting a special piece, “How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place,” by Johannes Brahms.

Our monthly potluck lunch follows worship; please bring a dish to share if you can, or a few dollars to help with the purchase of supplies. (If you are bringing something to eat, please also bring a list of ingredients so that people know what’s in your dish.) Then at 1 PM, we will gather for Monthly Meeting with a Concern for Business. Members should please attend, and all others are welcome.

Please join us as we gather for learning, worship, and business–all in the service of God.

Here are the happenings for this weekend at Berkeley Friends Church:

1) On Saturday, 2/8, we’ll have the bimonthly Harvest Day for the Berkeley Neighborhood Food Project. All of the donations from the various neighborhoods will be coming in to the Food Pantry that morning. Volunteers are always appreciated to receive, weigh, sort and store the donations! You can come by as early as 9:30 AM and there will be things to do through 1 PM. It looks like rain, so don’t forget your rain gear.

Also, if you’re participating in BFC’s “neighborhood” and didn’t bring in your bag last Sunday, you’re welcome to bring yours by any time between 10  AM and 12:30 PM.

2) On Sunday, 2/9, the morning begins with the Stewardship and Finance Committee, meeting at 9 AM. Then, at 10 AM, our Sunday School groups for adults and children  will  meet, including the new Quakerism/membership class. We gather for worship at 11 AM, which will include prayer, song, a message, and expectant waiting on the Lord. Fellowship time follows worship, and then the SInging Ensemble will rehearse at 1 PM.

We hope to have you with us for service, learning, and worship!

There is a lot on the agenda for this Sunday, 2/2, at Berkeley Friends Church. First, two reminders:

1) This Sunday we will be collecting the church’s contributions to the Berkeley Neighborhood Food Project. Please bring your green bags with you and bring them into worship so we can give thanks together and pray for those the food will go to.

2) This Sunday is also our day to participate in the FUM Chain of Prayer, between noon and midnight. If you’ve already signed up to participate, I will send out a reminder shortly. If you haven’t but would like to, there’s still time to sign up! Just contact me and I’ll let you know what’s available in the schedule. For more information and for a guide to FUM’s ministries which you can use to structure your time of prayer, see this link.

3) Here’s the actual schedule:

The Trustees Committee will start things off, with their meeting at 9 AM. Then, at 10 AM, our Sunday School classes for children and adults will meet. In meeting for worship at 11 AM, we will hear a message from Lucy Duncan, Friends Liaison for the American Friends Service Committee. Lucy will be available for informal conversation during fellowship time, which follows worship. Then the Missionary, Outreach and Christian Education Committee will meet at 1 PM.

Please join us as we gather for service, prayer and worship!

This Saturday, 1/18, at 1 PM, we will gather to celebrate the lives of Ellen & Gordon Hatcher.

We could still use some help with setup (setting up tables,  tablecloths and decorations). The meetinghouse will be open by 11:30 AM.

Then, on Sunday, 1/19, the Singing Ensemble will rehearse at 9 AM. Then Sunday School classes for children and adults meet at 10 AM. We gather for worship at 11 AM, seeking God’s presence together with an extended period of open worship, corporate prayer, and songs of praise from the Ensemble and the congregation.

Our monthly potluck lunch follows worship; please bring a dish to share if you can, or a few dollars to help with the purchase of supplies. (If you are bringing something to eat, please also bring a list of ingredients so that people know what’s in your dish.) Then at 1 PM, we will gather for Monthly Meeting with a Concern for Business. Members should please attend, and all others are welcome.

We hope to have you with us as we gather to remember, to give thanks, and to praise the God of all creation.

I was just talking to a Friend who observed how feverishly both motorists and pedestrians seem to rushing about lately. I know that I certainly have been, as I try and get everything on my list checked off. There are so many things to get done, I am finding it a real challenge to keep some things from dropping off of it entirely–especially finding regular time to seek God’s presence. It’s one of the ironies of our age that Advent, a season which is supposed to inculcate patient waiting and anticipation, has been so overwhelmed by gift-buying and party-attending and a frenzy of so many other things. It’s really difficult to refrain from doing and rushing, and simply wait.

What’s on your list this Christmas? I pray that it includes finding time to remember the coming of the Lord, in the midst of everything else, and to join in corporate worship.

And that’s what we’ll be about this Sunday, 12/22: the Singing Ensemble will rehearse at 9:30 AM (note the later-than-usual time).  Then, rather than our usual Sunday School classes, we will gather at 10:30 AM for carol singing in the worship room. In Meeting for Worship at 11 AM, we will read one part of the story of Jesus’ birth from the Gospel of Matthew, and consider together the mystery of the incarnation. The Singing Ensemble will also have some special music, and we’ll also sing some Christmas hymns together.

As always, fellowship time follows worship, and then the Peace, Environment, and Christian Social Concerns Committee will meet at 1 PM.

May the Light of Christ enlighten you in this season,
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