Join Us for “Singing Hope” Online!

Saturday, February 27, 4 pmWatch Concert HereDonate Here Please RSVP and share widely on Facebook and set a reminder on YouTube! Join City of Refuge UCC and First Church Berkeley for our annual joint concert of music and spoken word. In this extraordinary time, we’re taking our concert online, with artists from near and far joining us in celebration! This year, “Singing Hope: Praise Through a …

Poetry Writing for All

Learning Hour with Rev. Christina Hutchins Sunday, February 28, 12:15 PMhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/88967740143?pwd=M1pqRE92SnZBbjZKNmpvelBKVTNRdz09ID: 889 6774 0143 Passcode: 261432 This experiential Learning Hour is for you if you have written poetry, secretly or publicly, for many years, if you haven’t written poetry since you were a teenager, if you can’t remember ever having written a poem, or have never thought about writing a …

Reparations: Going Deeper into the Question “What Do We Owe?”

If you would like to explore the issue of reparations for slavery and historical systemic racism, here are several opportunities:  Watch this recent offering from the national setting of the UCC on the topic of Church Based Reparations. Read Keeanga-Yamhatta Taylor’s short article, “The Consequences of Forgetting.“ Watch James Forman’s 1969 manifesto at Riverside Church to more current calls by …

Mental Health Ministry Memoir Lending Library Now Open!

The Mental Health Ministry has a library of books to help us relate to mental health challenges in ourselves and in other people. (These books are also available from booksellers and, often, the public library.) If you would like to borrow one of these books from us, email [email protected], and we will arrange to get the book to you!

Kitchen Community Ministry Team History

In the 1990s FCCB supported – with the leadership of Frances Townes and others – the founding of the Chaplaincy for Homeless Youth. The program offered daytime respite for the increasing number of unhoused youth in our neighborhood on Telegraph Ave. FCCB members prepared and served lunches during this period with the program being housed at FCCB for a time. …

Points of Connection

Wondering how you can be connected to church and to other people on any given day? Connection is as close as a Zoom link! Simply download this printable pdf. It lists every ongoing church activity: day, time, description, Zoom link, and contact person’s email address. Just download and get connected to love, joy, friendship, support, and spiritual sustenance—7 days a …

Sign Up for Lent 2021 Fast/Practice Groups

Deepen your journey this Lent by joining a Fast/Spiritual Practice Group (or two!). All are welcome – you don’t need to be local or a member of First Church. If you’re not sure which group to choose, pray and listen for which invitation especially draws or challenges you. (Or, start your own! Fill in “Other”)  Lent began Ash Wednesday, February 17, …