Did You Know…?

… that the San Francisco Girls Chorus, Level IV, directed by Monica Baruch, will be performing during our 10 am worship service on Sun., March 5? … that the Ethiopian Village Schools Foundation (EVSF) inspires many to join them in their projects? Recently a First Church Friend worshipping with us in Vermont via YouTube donated to support EVSF hygiene pads …

Borrow a Book – Mental Health and Disability Library Cart

Every 3rd Sunday of the month The Mental Health and Disability Ministry Team’s Library Cart will be available every third Sunday of the month (during the After Party, beginning at 11:15 am) for you to peruse, and maybe find a book you would like to borrow. Printed catalogs for both the adult and children’s libraries will be available with descriptions of the …

Lenten All-Church Book Group!

Wednesdays, March 1, 15, 22 & 29, 5:30 to 6:30 pm, on Zoom Looking to dive into some juicy big spiritual ideas with practical implications for your life this Lent? Join us for an All-Church Book Group! We’ll be talking together about Rev. Molly’s book, How to Begin When Your World is Ending: A Spiritual Field Guide to Joy Despite …

Lenten Offering Recipient: Bethlehem Lutheran Housing

Dear First Church Berkeley,Thank you first of all for your generosity last year (2022)! Your gifts during Lent helped us construct the first affordable house for people living with HIV in our housing project at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. That house is complete, with a wonderful family living in it, and we have now moved on to the second house. As …

Lent Text Prayers Returns

For the 2023 season of Lent, Rev. Kelly will be writing and sending twice-daily text prayers again! Starting Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, every day at 10 am and 4 pm, you’ll receive a prayer by text so you can take a moment to breathe, pray, and connect to the season and your community.  If you were already receiving them, you’re …

2023 Lenten Devotionals

We have two Lenten Devotional booklets available for pick up on Sunday mornings before and after 10 am worship in the Hall of Entrance: “Running from Empty” by the UCC’s StillSpeaking Writers’ Group (Rev. Molly is part of this group!) and “Return to the Lord” by First Church member Ann Naffziger. Grab your copy on Sunday and throughout Lent while supplies last.

Did You Know…?

… that First Church guest preacher and teacher, local activist/author, and former Director of the Oakland Peace Center Rev. Sandhya Jha has a new book out? It’s called Rebels, Despots and Saints, and it’s partly about how we encounter the messiness (saint and sinner and a little bit of each!) of our biological ancestors, and partly about what we can …

Peggy Orenstein and Her New Book!

Sun., Feb. 26, 2023, 10 amSanctuary Berkeley (and bestselling!) author Peggy Orenstein, best known for her informative, touching, and often hilarious nonfiction hits Boys & Sex and Girls & Sex, has a new book out and we are one of the first stops on her book tour! Peggy will be with us in worship on Sun., Feb. 26 for a …