2008

February 10 -- March 23
Holy Eating: 40 Days of Practices Preparing for New Life
"Come, See and Taste"

For abundant and healthy life for all people, for the earth, for our selves, and for future generations, we need to make some changes. Lent, traditionally a season of fasting and prayer in preparation for Christ’s passion and resurrection, is a good season for making some changes.
EPWORTH LENT EVENTS:
Sunday Mornings Worship and Children’s classes 10:00 a.m.
Book Study: Holy Eating: Bodies, Bread, and Resurrection 11:30 a.m.
Sunday Evenings Covenant Cooking Group 4:00 p.m.
Soup Suppers for All 6:15 p.m.
Small Groups 7-8:00 p.m.
Fasting as Spiritual Practice Book Study In Defense of Food Food Stories of the Bible
Prayer and Support Groups
Children’s Heifer Project Play and Study (ages 5 and older)
Special Worship Services

2007

Third Annual
Not-So-Silent Church Auction
Supports Global and Local Ministries

Saturday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m., Tickets $10 in advance or at the door

The auction features live music by jazz ensemble The House Band, finger foods from around the world and auction items big and small – from homemade cakes to sailing excursions on the bay. “We are an outspoken community when it comes to politics and social justice issues,” explained auction committee member Sally Nasman when asked why the event had been given such an unusual name. “And, though we’re raising money for important uses, we expect the auction to be a lively and fun affair.”

The money raised by the auction will support the church’s global ministries including a network of community development workers, disaster relief, microeconomic and educational self-development project around the world; and local ministries including speaking and acting out for justice locally for children, elders and homeless communities.

Ride with Us!
Labor Day, September 3, 2007

View the Color Flyer (PDF) with Map - Print and Distribute Freely!

Join us forTour de Epworth 4 .   Renew body and spirit in a bike ride along the Bay.
Epworth UMC friends of all ages welcome you to Tour de Epworth 4, a family-friendly bicycle ride. Now marking its fourth year, the Tour welcomes bike riders from the greater community.The ride starts at 10 a.m. at the eastern end of the Berkeley Bicycle Bridge, just south of University Avenue, at the northern end of Aquatic Park. We'll ride over the bridge, then join the Bay Trail north to Golden Gate Fields racetrack. The ride continues through the racetrack's parking lot, turns right at Buchanan Street, then moves north again just before I-80, back on the Bay Trail. After passing Pt. Isabel's dog park, the trail meanders through wetlands into Richmond. You can turn around anywhere and return to the start, but we recommend riding at least as far as Shimada Friendship Park. For maximum fun, follow us as far as the Richmond Marina, where everyone will stop for a brief refreshment and head back. Maps will be available at the start, and we're requesting a $5 donation per rider ($10 per family). This tax-deductible donation will go to the Epworth Childrens' Ministries as well as Heifer International's Kids for Kids which benefits developing countries. Questions? Call Scott at (510) 258-2238. Join us for Tour de Epworth 4. It's a great ride.

Huge Rummage Sale Saturday, April 21st 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. It's Spring cleaning time and once again time for the annual Epworth Rummage Sale! Have stuff that you don't want or use, but that someone else would? Bring it to us! You can drop off donations to the church between Sunday, April 15th and Friday, April 20th. If you need help getting your stuff to the church, call Michele Arreola-Burl. The majority of the funds generated by the sale will be used to provide financial assistance to those who need it to attend the All-Church Retreat. If you have questions, call Michele or the Church Office (524-2921).

2006

Tour de Epworth 3
Junior riders are given the high five by Pastor Odette

Annual Church Retreat
April 28 - April 30 at Silver Spur Conference Center
Worship, Play and Fellowship in the Sierra Foothills
The adult study session will be facilitated by Jeff Cheifitz, who is interim minister at Old First Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, and affiliated with Interplay.  "Interplay is devoted to fun.  It teaches the language and ethic of play in a deep and powerful way.  It it the perfect antidote to stress and cynicism."  And, as a matter of fact, so is the Epworth Retreat! 

The Lenten Season at Epworth
Mask, Mirrors & Mystery

Join us for Passion Play.    Awaken your passion and compassion.
Masks hide and reveal identity, mirrors reflect and distort reality. Seeing in our stories the passion and compassion of Christ, we see the unseen, we are unmasked, known, and loved. Join us for Lent at Epworth. Awaken your spirit.

• Theater performances
• Mask making
• Prayer
• Workshops
• Worship services
• Soup suppers and Fellowship

Epworth United Methodist Church Presents Passion Play, A Lenten Series Featuring Three One-hour Theater Performances plus Art Workshops and Worship Experiences Wednesday, March 1 – Sunday, April 16. Activities for all ages; childcare for infants and toddlers is available. See calendar for a listing of all events.

The centerpiece of Passion Play is six consecutive Sunday evening events beginning at 5:30 p.m. and followed by a simple supper at 6:30 p.m. The one-hour events include three performances by writer/comedian Brian Wetzel, professional clown Derique McGee and actors from Word for Word. “Lent is traditionally a time of self-examination and solidarity,” explains Rev. Odette Lockwood-Stewart, Pastor at Epworth. “But with all the smoke and mirrors going on in our country, we felt we needed something different this Lent. What better source of honesty than the intersection of art and faith? Artists, comedians, and players reflect on our world and wake us up with beauty and truth.” Special events for children and youth will be offered along with childcare for infants and toddlers each Sunday evening.

On March 12, Brian Wetzel presents his autobiographical, one-man show Side by Side—Depression: A Funny Look at Serious Survival. Wetzel, an experienced comedian who has lived with clinical depression for 20 years, takes his audience on a journey of laughter, painful truth and, finally, hope. "I can attest to its powerful contribution to better understanding the topic of depression’” says Randy Seringen, Pacific School of Religion. “The show is anything but depressing, however, and provides a framework for meaningful discussion."

On Sunday, March 19, accomplished clown and hambone percussionist Derique McGee brings his unique understanding of the value of humor in life and learning. McGee, who has performed around the world as well as on Broadway, was last seen in the Bay Area in December in Cirque du Somethin’, his two-man show with Moshe Cohen that the East Bay Express called “pretty amazing’ and “hilarious.”

On March 26 six actors from Word for Word theater company present excerpts from Booker Prize-winning author Barry Unsworth’s novel Morality Play about roles, reality and faith. Hailed as “a bravura performance” by The New York Times, the book is set in the 14th century where a wayward cleric joins a band of players and stumbles upon a murder. The San Francisco-based Word For Word has been presenting short stories and excerpts from novels with “inventive flair” (San Francisco Chronicle) since 1993. Past performances include works by Tobias Wolff, Guy de Maupassant, Richard Ford and Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket), among others.

The Sunday evening series also includes two intergenerational art workshops on March 5 and April 2, and a workshop on April 9 with Dr. Andrea Bieler titled Inhabiting Scripture. Dr. Bieler directs worship at Pacific School of Religion and brings vast experience in ritual studies, feminist theology, inter-cultural exchange and Jewish-Christian dialogue to her work as a worship leader and professor on the histories, theologies and practices of Christian worship.

Other Lenten events include Ash Wednesday, March 1 worship service at 7:30 p.m.; weekly Monday evening worship services titled Reflections in Mystery at 7:30 p.m.; Holy Thursday, April 13 soup supper and worship service at 6:30 p.m.; an Easter sunrise service, April 16 at 6:23 a.m. at Chavez Park, Berkeley Marina; plus Easter service at 10:00 a.m. followed by an Easter egg hunt for children 5th grade and younger.

Except for the Easter sunrise service at Chavez Park, all other events are held at Epworth United Methodist Church, 1953 Hopkins Street, Berkeley. The events are free; all people are welcome.

RECONCILIATION AND JUSTICE MINISTRY PRESENTS:
HARD BALL ON HOLY GROUND:
RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR RIGHT'S ATTACK ON PROGRESSIVE CHURCHES
"Why is the Secular Right Wing So Interested in Our Faith Communities?"
A PRESENTATION AND CONVERSATION WITH ANDREW J. WEAVER

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 7:30 P.M.
No admission charge

Andrew J. Weaver, Ph.D. is a United Methodist minister and licensed clinical
psychologist. Dr. Weaver is presently the Associate Publisher of Zion's
Herald. Zion's Herald is an independent religious journal of opinion, news
and reflection founded in 1823. It is published bi-monthly by the Boston
Wesleyan Association.

He has published over 150 scholarly articles and book chapters and is co ­
author of eleven books. His most recent titles include Counseling Troubled
Teens and Their Families, Reflections on Forgiveness and Spiritual Growth,
Counseling Families Across the Stages of Life, Reflections on Marriage and
Spiritual Growth, Counseling Survivors of Traumatic Events, Reflections on
Grief and Spiritual Growth and Wells of Wisdom; Grandparenting and Spiritual
Journeys. He has researched and written on the right-wing attack on mainline
churches and is a major contributor to a new volume, Hardball on Holy
Ground, The Religious Right vs.The Mainline for the Soul of the Church.

Dr. Weaver has given numerous presentations, most recently at the
American Psychological Association, The National Association of Jewish
Chaplains and The Association of Professional Chaplains. He has been
interviewed by ABC Television, CBS Radio, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek,
and the New York Times. He was awarded the Templeton Foundation Prize for
Exemplary Paper on Religion and Behavioral Science three times. He is
married to Rev. Carolyn L. Stapleton, Associate Minister at the Chinese
United Methodist Church in New York City.

2005

Advent Art
With Advent just around the corner, Epworth's artist in residence, Clark Kellogg and his muse have been working overtime to envision and design the art installation. The birthing stage of this process has begun. All are invited to be a part. You might get a chance to find a home for the tangle of little white lights at the end of your closet, drive a truck, transport old window frames, stand on a tall ladder, lay down tarp or just make a mess with a brush and a can of latex paint! If your curiosity is piqued, and you want to hear more about the variety of ways you can participate in this creative and communal process contact Anna Blaedel. She and Clark and will find a way to get you involved in this fun and exciting project!

On Sunday, November 6, the adult education class will host a conversation with Huston Smith to discuss his new book The Soul of Christianity: Restoring the Great Tradition. All are invited to this wonderful opportunity to explore Christianity with depth and wisdom.

Choir Pledges Joyfully
Sunday, October 30th is Commitment Sunday. All are invited to bring forward pledges of financial support for the coming year, our gifts or offerings to the life and work of the church, our prayers or commitment to service, or simply the gift of our presence at Epworth.

Not So Silent Auction
On Saturday, September 17, Epworth's Not So Silent Auction raised more than $12, 000. Half the proceeds will go to Hurricane Katrina response efforts via United Methodist Committee on Relief.

Labor Day Bike Tour
The sun shined brilliantly on Epworth's Second Annual Labor Day bike ride. Dubbed Tour de Epworth, riders of all abilities enjoyed a fun ride along the Bay Trail. The ride started at Berkeley's Aquatic Park, then crossed over to the Bay Trail via the bicycle bridge built in 2002, and traveled north next to Golden Gate Fields. Point Isabel was the turnaround point. Volunteers greeted the returning riders with delicious treats and cold beverages. Watch for details on Tour de Epworth 3 on Labor Day 2006!

2004

Let us Eat Cake

On Saturday, June 12th, Epworth United Methodist Church of Berkeley, California celebrated marriage by opening its Sanctuary to all couples who wished to renew their commitments. As part of the celebration entitled "Let Us Eat Cake!,"
Epworth brought together both heterosexual and same-sex partners – and everyone who believes that God's love extends to all couples who are committed to loving each other.  The event included clergy who heard and blessed commitments, music to grace the event and a glorious a wedding reception on the lawn with a giant "cakes of cakes."  Each couple was presented with flowers and a cake. >> FULL STORY and PHOTOS

2002 - 2003

Inspired by words from the hymn "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem," we invited people from around the world and across all faiths to help create a work of art made from their hopes and fears. All contributions were incorporated into the installation, which filled the Sanctuary of Epworth United Methodist Church of Berkeley, California.

Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie,
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by,
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light,
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.