The Carillon Goes Digital in 2020

As part of a series of strategic communications shifts at First Church, The Carillon will take on a new look and form beginning this January 2020. Our Communications Specialist Ben McKnight will launch a new, user-friendly format for the digital Carillon, highlighting church news and events in a weekly email blast that links to featured stories on our new website. …

Host a Neighborhood Caroling Mob!

Mob! Right around the corner are Advent and Christmas! We’re looking for a handful of folks to host neighborhood caroling parties throughout December to help us live into our vision of growing in intimacy as the weird and wonderful Body of Christ, and share some much-needed joy with our neighbors! We’re calling them “Caroling Mobs”: A potluck, with optional tree-trimming, …

Summer Small Group Book Group Continues

The First Church Summer Small Group Book Group decided to continue during the winter months, with meetings every other month. The next meeting is Sat. Jan. 11, 2020, 10 am–12 pm. They will be reading The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates, his first novel. All are invited to join them. If interested, contact Willem VandeKamp by Sat., Nov. 30. They …

Did You Know…?

…that as of Nov. 20, the church has received 142 commitments totaling $623,579 for 2020?

Sidewalk Sacred

The “hellstrip” of dirt between the turf lawn and the sidewalk on the Dana St. side of church is finally coming together as sacred space after the fire! Roger Bash has designed and fabricated a chalkboard designed to let us tell our community about upcoming events and let folks interact with us as they walk by. Look for prompts that …

YES & Winthrop News

[email protected]  YES & Winthrop  Sun., Nov. 24 & Dec. 1, 11:45 am, Tower Room  Sun., Dec. 15, 11:45 am, Lunch (at church), Caroling & Cookie Shine. Piedmont Gardens & Tower Room

Young Adult News

[email protected]  Thurs., Nov. 21, 9:30–11 am, Rev. Kit’s Office Hours, Highwire Coffee, 2049 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley  Sat., Nov. 23, 2:30–4 pm, Young Adult Book Group, Tower Room  Sun., Nov. 24, 5–7 pm, Young Adult Pizza Party, Durant Room  Wed., Dec. 3, 6 pm, Open Chapel: Dinner + Worship, Loper Chapel 

Protest March to Support the Homeless

Nichola Torbett, of First Congregational Church of Oakland, urges members of First Church to participate in a protest march on Sat., Nov. 23 to protest against housing speculators who keep homeless people from becoming housed. These speculators are buying up properties and then either sitting on them as tax write-offs, flipping them, or raising rents. There are currently four units …

Post-Thanksgiving Leftovers & Games

Enjoy a post- Thanksgiving time to celebrate community, play games, and eat on Fri., Nov. 29, 3-6 pm! Bring your Thanksgiving leftovers and/or a favorite game to play, or just bring yourself. Hosted by the young adult community at Rowan Peterson’s house. Open to all ages! 

Help Needed for Helping Hands Concert

Our opportunity to give back to the community is fast approaching! The Helping Hands Concert to benefit the disaster victims of our recent fires is Sat., Nov. 30, 6–8 pm and we could use some assistance. We need cookies for a light reception after the concert, a couple of people to manage the reception, and ushers to collect the goodwill …