Resonance presents Elizabeth Forsyth: Toccatas and Tunes on Dec. 5

NEW DATESaturday, December 5, 2020, 3:50 pmOn YouTube Join Elizabeth Forsyth for a melodic romp through the organ literature, with works by C.S. Lang, Peter Warlock, Adolphus Hailstork, Robert Schumann, and Richard Elliott! Half of your donations for this concert will go to HOPE (Homeless Outreach Program for Education), which is part of the Berkeley Public Schools Fund. They secure housing …

Secret Santa Round Robin!

Fill Out Form by Sunday, December 6 To make this strange Christmas season a little more festive in a socially distanced way, we are doing a Secret Santa Round Robin! To participate, fill out this form by this Sunday, December 6. By midweek, you will be given the name of someone else in church, and their preferences. Buy or make …

hummingbrid feeding on purple flowers

Postcards from the Mental Health Ministry

Faith, Hope, Love, and Beauty Look in your mailbox in months to come for real postcards being sent during this time of social distancing and virtual get-togethers. We all need messages of faith, hope, love, and beauty during this challenging time. May these postcards be an inspiration to you. If you do not wish to receive the postcards, contact Louise Halsey …

Advent Wreath Lighting: COVID Crafting Edition

Beloved, each week during Advent and Christmastide we’ll be lighting the Advent wreath at church, like always, in this time of preparation and anticipation. The Advent wreath, with its four candles (hope, peace, joy, love) and its ring of evergreen is a practice dating back to the Middle Ages, rich with symbolism of eternal life (the greens) and God’s light …

Welcome our Newest Members!

On Sunday, Oct. 25, the First Church Berkeley community welcomed these new siblings in Christ to our beloved church family. David & Jennifer A. (he/him/his) (she/her/hers) David and Jennifer are newer parents to toddler Theo and also have two cats and one dog that fill out their busy household.  They have been coming semi-regularly to First Church since Palm Sunday …

Praying Together in Advent

As COVID numbers are on the rise again and we need to stay more distant to stay safe, we are experimenting with ways to be together across the distance. One offering this Advent is the ancient practice of “praying the hours” together. Our updated version of this will be to sign up to receive texts at set times during the day with …

Transgender Flag

Trans Day of Remembrance

Tuesday, November 24, 2020https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85798996361?pwd=REZwdXREa3dqZU1LS0N0WDZOVDcwdz09Pacific School of Religions YouTube Channel As a faith community committed to recognizing and affirming the full dignity and blessing of those God has made trans, we honor Trans Day of Remembrance on Tuesday, November 24. Take some time next week to check in with and pray for the trans people in your lives, to pray for trans …

Yes on W

Measure W Passes

CONGRATULATIONS First Church Berkeley! We helped make this happen. Thanks to the longtime community organizing efforts of Moe Wright, and all those of you who made phone calls for Measure W with Home Together, had conversations with friends or family, and everyone who voted to support it! We are one step closer toward reality for our 5-year vision priority of …