Lent Series on Faith, Peace & Justice to Begin in March
FCCB presents an adult education series on Faith, Peace and Justice as part of the journey of Lent. As we all make our way to Easter, we make decisions on actions, large and small, that reflect our values as people on a journey. This series will look at peace and justice issues through the eyes and experiences of people sharing their journeys. The series will take place in the Small Assembly during “Second Hour” after the Sunday morning service.
On March 14, Ken Preston will share his work with Pace e Bene working for non-violent solutions to the problems of the world, one person at a time.
On March 21, three FCCB members will share their faith journeys and the ways this interacts with their activism and calling: Phil Porter will share more of his journey of using InterPlay and body wisdom as peacemaking tools; Louise Specht will share the way her choices have led her to work against torture and to organize activities with Bay Area Religious Campaign Against Torture (BARCAT), the local chapter of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT). Cynthia Lloyd will share her work as an economist for the Population Council working for improving the lives of girls and young women thoughout the world.
On March 28, the series will conclude with three short film clips on peace and non-violence from far and near: Mahatma Gandhi’s march to the sea during the Indian Independence Movement (pictured above); Martin Luther King, Jr., and the march to Selma during the Civil Rights Movement; and Cesar Chavez and his non-violent work with the United Farm Workers.
In each act we take we are making decisions that reflect our values. Each of these presenters will be sharing some of their stories and perspectives. In small group discussions at each of these events, the community will also have a chance to share stories and reflect together on how we can better hear God’s voice in our lives.
Holy Week Provides an Array of Opportunities for Depth and Connection
Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday on March 28 and concluding with Easter Sunday on April 4, presents the full range of experiences that bring Lent to its powerful climax. Each service celebrates an important step in Jesus’ journey through the last days of his life on earth and triumph over death. Each provides an opportunity to connect—with the depth of tradition, the potency of spirit and the coming together of the community of faith. Join us for this week of services in a variety of moods and styles.
Palm Sunday, March 28
We recreate the grassroots excitement that Jesus created when he entered the city of Jerusalem for Passover. Gather at 9:30 am in the Large Assembly to follow five larger-than-life puppets into the Sanctuary for the 10 am service.
Maundy Thursday, April 1
Share a simple but delicious meal in the Large Assembly at 6 pm, followed by the ritual of hand and foot washing that has become a powerful tradition in this community.
Good Friday, April 2
Gather in the Sanctuary at 7:30 pm for a quiet and meditative “Tenebrae” service, centered around the last seven words Jesus spoke on the cross and the ritual of extinguishing candles one by one.
Holy Saturday, April 3
Come walk the labyrinth at any time between 6:30-8:30 pm in the Hall of Entrance for a time of quiet meditation.
Easter Sunday, April 4
Sunrise Service Gather at sunrise (6:30 am) in the parking lot of the Lawrence Berkeley Hall of Science overlooking the Bay Area to greet the new morning and the promise of new life.
Jazz/Gospel Communion Gather in the Large Assembly at 9 am for a brief but powerful celebration as we sing, move and pray together to celebrate the triumph of love over death. Communion will be served during this service (rather than in the service at 10 am).
Easter Celebration At 9:30 am special music will begin in the Sanctuary and the A-----a banner will be “unburied” in the courtyard. The service begins at 10 am with a spectacular procession of banners and puppets and voices raised high. Special fellowship time and Easter photos to follow.
Lent Sermons to be Based on Barbara Brown Taylor Book
This year First Congregational Church borrows its theme for Lent from a new book An Altar in the World by noted preacher, author and theologian Barbara Brown Taylor.
In the book Taylor shares how she learned to encounter God beyond the walls of any church. From simple practices such as walking, working, and getting lost to deep meditations on topics like prayer and pronouncing blessings, Taylor reveals concrete ways to discover the sacred in the small things we do and see.
Something as ordinary as hanging clothes on a clothesline becomes an act of devotion if we pay attention to what we are doing and take time to attend to the sights, smells, and sounds around us. Making eye contact with the cashier at the grocery store becomes a moment of true human connection. Allowing yourself to get lost leads to new discoveries. As we incorporate these practices into our daily lives, we begin to discover altars everywhere we go, in nearly everything we do.
The sermons during Lent will be based on some of the practices in Taylor’s book.
Sunday, Feb. 21 Phil Porter “Carrying Water”
Sunday, Feb. 28 Patricia de Jong “Saying No”
Sunday Mar. 7 Patricia de Jong “Feeling Pain”
Sunday Mar. 14 Adam Blons “Getting Lost”
Sunday Mar. 21 Patricia de Jong “Being Present”
Lent Devotional Available Online
Click here to download the 2010 Lent Devotional. This year’s edition includes writings for each day of Lent. New pieces sit side-by-side with previously published reflections by FCCB faithfuls. These daily reflections are also being sent out each day by email. If you are not receiving these, let Louise Halsey know and she can include you on the email list.
Walk the Labyrinth During Lent
Come experience the spiritual practice of walking the Labyrinth during Lent. The labyrinth has been set up on several additional days during this year’s season of Lent, and will be available on March 17 from 6:30-8 pm in the Hall of Entrance. It will also be used as part of our observance of Holy Saturday, April 3, from 6:30-8:30 pm in the Hall of Entrance.
You are invited to come and experience this ancient religious practice. It is open to the community at large. The Labyrinth is regarded as a metaphor for life. It is a contemplative walk, requiring no previous knowledge, skill or experience. Facilitators will be present if you have questions, concerns, or would like to share your experience. Many people find this a way to relieve stress, to pray, to be open, to connect to God, and/or their own deep core. Come. This is a new way to experience your own journey, no matter where you are, you are welcome here. P.S. Please bring a pair of socks to wear.
The Labyrinth was made possible by a gift from the Cellar Thrift Store.
Documentary on Artist and Mystic Meinrad Craighead to be Screened
Meinrad Craighead: Praying with Images, a new documentary about mystical artist and teacher, Meinrad Craighead, will be screened at First Congregational Church of Berkeley on March 23 at 7pm in the Large Assembly.
The documentary includes nearly 100 of Craighead’s paintings, shown in beautiful detail. Viewers will see images that have flowed from her dreams and visions of the Divine Feminine over the last 50 years. Her influences include Native American art and spirituality, the Catholic church and the natural environment, which she has merged into a vivid and unique images that are dramatic and imaginative.
This screening is endorsed by the Arts Ministries at FCCB and is highly recommended by Katharine Kunst and Phil Porter. The documentary was produced by Amy Kellum. You will find more at www.meinradproject.org including a 10 minute excerpt of the film.
More News from Haiti
More powerful photos taken by photojournalist René Merino.
Margaret Trost, who has many ties to our congregation, continues to send our reports from her contacts Port-Au-Prince. She has been active in the area through her non-profit organization, the What If Foundation. She sent out this report on March 2:
“ I am excited to let you know that our partners at St. Clare’s just launched a special education program for children that takes place every afternoon before the food program meals are served. With schools closed in Port-au-Prince and no date set for their reopening, this two-hour gathering is treasured by the hundreds of kids who attend. Members of the education staff are teaching the children songs, providing materials for arts and crafts, and leading group discussions. Lavarice Gaudin, our earthquake relief coordinator, told me the teachers choose one subject a day to explore with the children. Topics have included the earthquake and related fears, courage, service to others, life skills and values.”
Margaret also shares some photos some extraordinary photos taken by photojournalist René Merino during his recent trip to Port-au-Prince, including some of the food program at St. Claire’s and the one above.
Make a contribution to disaster relief through the United Church of Christ.
Make a donation through the What If Foundation.
Make a donation through Church World Service.
“One Great Hour of Sharing”
Donate online to this offering.
On Sunday, March 14, members and friends of FCCB will have an opportunity to contribute to One Great Hour of Sharing a collective response to people in need around the world. Resettling families from Somalia to Ohio, offering humanitarian assistance to people in North Korea, setting up community camps in Darfur, giving pigs to families in the Democratic Republic of Congo—these are just a few of the 80 projects that are funded through the United Church of Christ and its partner organizations. You can respond by contributing this Sunday morning during worship or by donating online. Click here and type in “OGHS” in the “other” line of the donation form.
Brock to Help Lead “Truth Commission on Conscience in War”
On March 21, over eighty leaders—evangelicals and mainliners, Muslims and Jews, Buddhists, Unitarian Universalists—plus veterans of all military branches, just war proponents, and pacifists, will gather for the first Truth Commission on Conscience in War at Riverside Church in New York City. Rita Nakashima Brock has been working with three other people in the Bay Area for the past two years to create this event. The gathered leaders will listen to veterans testify to the moral struggles of serving in war Afghanistan and Iraq and learn about the tragedy of moral injury in veterans (who are 20% of all suicides in the US.) The group will examine how we as citizens can better protect moral conscience in the military. On Sunday, March 14, the congregation will add their blessing to Rita Brock and her colleagues as they prepare to leave for this event.
Read more from Rita about the Truth Commission.
Read Rita Brock’s piece “Another Hurt Locker” in the Huffington Post on March 9, 2010.
“Embodying the Journey”—Rev. Katharine Harts to Lead Lenten Worship Series
Rev. Katharine Harts, a UCC minister with an expertise in worship and the arts, will lead a 5-week series of embodied worship experiences on Sunday evenings during Lent (February 21-March 21, 5:00-6:30 pm in the Large Assembly.) Katharine will create time and space for being embodied spiritual creatures through movement and sensory awareness practices. Come gather each week through the season of Lent to practice listening and responding to the Spirit through our body wisdom. This will be a place to gather, to experience worship without so many words and to let go, a place to remember and to release, and a place to return to who we are. This series is informed by“The Practice of Wearing Skin,“ a chapter in the book An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor. A free-will offering will be taken. This is a “drop-in” group, so come even if you can’t attend all the sessions.
To participate fully, wear loose, comfortable clothes, bring a willingness to move and be moved, and remember what the mystic Meister Eckhart said: “The soul loves the body!”
For over 30 years, Katharine has had a specialized ministry in worship and the arts and has served at Scottsdale Congregational U.C.C. and as Campus minister at the University of Arizona. Rev. Harts attended Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley and also holds a M.F.A. in Dance/Theatre Arts from the University of Arizona and an M.A. in Creation Centered Spirituality from Holy Names College in Oakland, California.
Campus Spirituality Study to Begin
An exciting research project called lifeMAPS will investigate leadership development among UC Berkeley undergraduate students, and the role of meaning, purpose, spirituality, religion and faith in their lives. It will help community-based organizations, especially those that are faith-based, understand how they can support students in their spiritual development. Jenn Morazes, MSW, M.Div., is the Project Director. She is a doctoral candidate in the School of Social Welfare, and her dissertation work focuses on stress, coping and college students. She is a seminary graduate of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA. The study is being underwritten by the Fund for Development which is committed to furthering campus ministry at FCCB.
Celebrating Troop Five’s 90th Birthday
During Fellowship Hour following worship on February 21st, the church celebrated Boy Scout Troop Five’s 90th Birthday. Several men who had been involved as members or leaders of the troop attended the worship service. Jim Spitz, who had been actively involved in the troop for many years, spoke movingly about the Troop’s history, including its policies of inclusion (see last paragraph). A display of memorabilia graced the Large Assembly after the service and cake was served to celebrate Troop 5.
FCCB has sponsored Troop Five since 1919 and many long-term members of our church have served as its Scoutmaster, including Herb Blasdale, Ted Broyer, and Ed White. For many decades, Troop Five was among the largest and most active troops in this area with its own four-week Summer Camp in the High Sierra near Ebbett’s Pass and, during the school year, a continual program of overnight hikes, snow trips and various community service events. During World War II, Troop Five collected many thousands of tons of scrap paper for the war effort. Over its distinguished ninety year history, the troop awarded perhaps over a hundred Eagle Awards—with the recipients now serving as judges, hi-tech entrepreneurs, and as leaders in many Northern California business and civic enterprises.
We note with sadness that the troop is no longer active. While its alumni continue to meet annually at its old Summer Camp site, the troop itself is now passing from the scene. We celebrate and thank it, its members, and its leaders, for its ninety years of service to our church and our community.
Because of FCCB’s “Open & Affirming” statement welcoming gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, the church and members of the troop have resisted the sometimes anti-gay stances that the Boy Scouts have taken over the years. Church leadership and Troop 5 leaders have challenged Boy Scout policies through letters and meetings. Read letters written to regional and national Body Scout leaders on this issue.
“Connection” During Lent
Sign the C2C pledge online here.
The “Call to Connection” Campaign, inaugurated in September of 2009, enters a new year of involvement and activity in 2010. You are invited to connect during Lent. The church offers a wide variety of experiences including special worship services, Bible study, a new movement-centered worship experience called “Embodying the Journey”, a series of sermons based on the Barbara Brown Taylor’s book An Altar in the World, walking the labyrinth, Berkeley Arts & Letters, the Journey Home series, events designed specially for the campus community and more!
Check out upcoming events during Lent!
Over 100 people have signed the Call to Connection pledge. You can sign the pledge online here.
This campaign grows out of the work of the Identity Study Team and is spearheaded by the Call to Connection Planning Team formed by the Church Council which includes Amy Hiestand (chair), Adam Blons, Milton Fujii, Anne Rowe, Becky Smith, Paul Tomasiello, Phil Porter and Betsy York.
Read more on the “Call to Connection” newspage, including an article by former Moderator Milton Fujii and reports by the Identity Study Team which led to the creation of “A Call to Connection.”
Share Your Connection Stories!
Email us your stories about the connections you are making as part of the “Call to Connection” Campaign. Who have you met? What events have you attended? What ways have you found to serve? You can email your stories to Call2Connection@gmail.com. Let us know if you are willing for your story to be shared.
“Garage Door Nativity” Run a Huge Success
The Garage Door Nativity performances on December 18-20 were a great hit with audience members of all ages. This poignant, humorous and unique take on the Christmas narrative was told without spoken words but included angels, Herod, bluegrass music, Mary, latin rhythm, sheep, puppets, three kings on motorcycles, a dancing star, travelers, Gabriel, and, of course, a garage—an unexpected but perfect place for a savior to show up.
This unique and original production was created by Patty Contaxis, Adam Blons, Phil Porter and a cast and crew of almost 70 FCCB members and friends. The production is supported in part by the.
Learn more about the creators of the Garage Door Nativity: Patty Contaxis, Adam Blons & Phil Porter
Berkeley Arts & Letters: FCCB Hosts Lively Author Series
Check out the Berkeley Arts & Letters webpage.
Berkeley Arts &s Letters is a new series of presentations by exciting contemporary authors. First Congregational has teamed up with Melissa Mytinger, formerly of Cody’s Books and Praveen Madan, co-owner of The Booksmith to present a full line-up of authors addressing issues and sharing ideas that will help us understand more about where we have been and where we are going as progressive people of faith.
2010 will bring with it these exciting events:
The Things They Carry
On the twentieth anniversary of its publication, The Things They Carried returns. A classic work of American literature that has not stopped changing minds and lives since it burst onto the literary scene, The Things They Carried is a ground-breaking meditation on war, memory, imagination, and the redemptive power of storytelling.
Full details at Berkeley Arts & Letters at First Congregational Church of Berkeley.
Cellar Thrift Shop Spreads the Love Around
The Cellar Thrift Shop is an FCCB institution that first opened in 1986. It offers a wide range of attractive bargains that anyone could afford. It is open on Wednesday from 10 am-4 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm, and before and after the Sunday morning worship service which is at 10 am. The Shop is staffed by a helpful and committed group of volunteers who sort, price and display thousands of items each month. Each quarter the proceeds of the Cellar Thrift Shop are given away: more than $1,500 a month goes to outreach projects, more than $300 a month goes to the church’s operating budget, and over $1000 goes to special projects. A few of the organizations that have benefitted from Cellar Thrift Shop donations are Berkeley Emergency Food and Housing, Berkeley Chaplaincy to the Homeless, the Haiti Food Program, and Berkeley Free Clinic.
You can help this effort by checking out a list of popular items that you might donate. Donations can be brought to the church during regular business hours.
More about the Cellar Thrift Shop and other First Congregational Church Ministry Teams.
All-Church Camp at Cazadero
FCCB folk of all sorts gathered for the annual All-Church Camp at Camp Cazadero the first weekend in October. There was singing, dancing, hiking, marshmallow-roasting, face painting, worship and hanging out, enjoyed by all. This annual event continues to be a marvelous opportunity to connect in the beauty of nature. Slideshow below! Also you can see all the photos that Dave Sutton took.
GTU President Addresses InterFaith Issues
On Sunday, September 6, Dr. James A. Donahue, president of the Graduate Theological Union was our guest preacher. The GTU is an ecumenical and interreligious crossroads, building bridges among Christian denominations and other faith traditions, and dedicated to educating students for teaching, research, ministry, and service. He addressed interfaith issues and the ways that we can approach dialog with people of other faiths.
Many members of First Congregational Church of Berkeley have ties to Pacific School of Religion and the Graduate Theological Union as students, faculty, staff, and as alums.
Listen to Dr. Donahue’s sermon, “Interreligious Dialogue: Understanding Our Own Otherness.”
Stringfellow Visits FCCB
Rev. Roland Stringfellow shared the message with FCCB as guest preacher on Sunday, August 23. Currently Rev. Stringfellow is working to create dialogs on the topic of lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender equality with church congregations and in religious institutions. He is the program coordinator at Pacific School of Religion’s Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry. Rev. Stringfellow earned his Master of Divinity with a certificate in Religion and Sexuality from PSR.
Read Rev. Stringfellow’s sermon, “The Love You Save May Be Your Own.”
Listen to Rev. Stringfellow’s sermon.
Winthrop Work Camp on the Farm
Eight Winthrop youth and four leaders took part in this summer’s Work Camp this year at the Farm Sanctuary in Orland, CA (near Chico). The Farm Sanctuary works to end cruelty to farm animals and promotes compassionate living through rescue, education and advocacy. Currently, about 300 animals live comfortably at the sanctuary. Workcampers did various projects around the farm including building a goat jungle gym and rabbit activity centers. At the same time, they were learning more about where their food comes from and the stories of the animals at the sanctuary. They stayed at the First Christian Church of Chico and returned home on June 28. The group will be commissioned in worship on June 21 before they leave. Please pray for them!
Read about the adventures of this group on the 2009 Work Camp Blog.
Sign up for eScrip; It’s Free!
On Sunday, June 7 and 14, the Ministry of Stewardship, Finance and Administration (SF&A) will sponsor on-site assistance in signups for eScrip in the Large Assembly after worship. eScrip.com is a national organization that enables non-profit groups to generate significant additional funding streams by means of a simple concept: by registering with eScrip, at no cost to you, FCCB will get a percentage of your purchase amount whenever you shop at an eScrip merchant, such as Safeway, Macy’s, Cal Mart, Andronico’s, etc.
You can enroll after worship on June 7 and 14, or you can sign up at home by going to www.escrip.com and registering your credit, ATM and Safeway cards, specifying “First Congregational Church of Berkeley” as the organization to support. This program has the power to generate a significant addition to our operating budget. Contact SF&A co-chair Allison Addicott with questions.
Read a list of all the eScrip merchants.
FCCB Actively Promotes Marriage Equality
Read more stories on the Marriage Equality Newspage.
First Congregational Church took a firm stand in favor of Marriage Equality, based on a 1994 decision to become and Open and Affirming church welcoming lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. The church voted as a congregation to oppose California State Proposition 8 which would deny the right to marry to same-gender couples. It was the first time that the congregation had taken a congregational stand on a political issue.
Read more about the church’s powerful and transforming journey as it engaged this controversial topic in 2008 and 2009on the Marriage Equality Newspage.
Want to Get Married?
First Congregational Church of Berkeley welcomes all couples who wish to marry, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or heterosexual. Our ministers have performed several weddings for same-gender couples over the past decade, and will continue to do so. Please contact the church office at 510/848-3696 or info@fccb.org for more information or to set up a meeting with one of our ministers.
Audio of Codys@FCCB Presentations Still Available Here
For over three years First Congregational teamed up with Cody’s Books to present wonderful authors reading from their works and discussing new ideas for our times. When Cody’s closed that series ended, but a new one is beginning.
Although the series has ended, you can still listen to audio presentations of Codys@FCCB events featuring Wangari Maathia (pictured), Parker Palmer, Paul Hawken, Michael Eric Dyson and John Dean.
Audio: Progressive Christians Approach the Creation/Evolution Debate
The cultural debate about creationism and evolution is an important one for progressive people of faith. In a series of talks, experts in the fields of Science and Religion presented their views. Listen to Dr. Ted Peters, seminary professor and co-author of Evolution from Creation to New Creation: Conflict, Conversation, and Convergence and Dr. Robert Russell, founder and director of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences at the Graduate Theological Union.
Listen to Dr. Ted Peters—Evolution vs. Creation: Who’s Fighting Whom for What?
Listen to Dr. Robert Russell—Science and Religion: What Does A Progressive Christian Believe?
More About Us
- Read a “Seekers Statement” recently composed by members of this community
- Read our statement of inclusive community (Open and Affirming)
- Read about some of the courageous actions of FCCB and the United Church of Christ
