Church Life Events

Church Life Events

Following worship on the second Sunday of each month, everyone is invited to share in an all-church intergenerational potluck lunch. It’s a great chance to get to know each other while enjoying an ever-changing variety of foods. Methodists are famous for their potlucks!

All-Church Retreat

The annual spring retreat is a highlight of the church year:
Two nights plus meals and recreation—a time for everyone to rest, rejoice, and renew our spirits in faith, fun, and community, with programs to nurture adults, youth, and children. In addition to the program times, enjoy free time, organized recreation options, nap time, nature’s beauty, great meals, worship, and the fabled Saturday night Epworth talent show.

Another annual event – this one just for fun. A potluck picnic with fun and games in the park.

Tour d/Epworth

Renew body and spirit in a bike ride along the Bay on Labor Day.

Epworth UMC friends of all ages welcome you to Tour de Epworth, a family-friendly bicycle ride. Now marking its sixth 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 6. It’s a great ride.

This annual gala auction event raises funds to support Epworth’s programs plus selected designated projects or charities. The event includes silent and live auction items big and small – from homemade cakes and hand knit scarves to vacations to works of art–a selection of international hors d’oeuvre and desserts, live entertainment, and dancing. Why the unusual event name? Auction committee member Sally Nasman explained, “We are an outspoken community when it comes to politics and social justice issues, 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 supports 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. In 2008, 25% of auction proceeds were donated to support the Berkeley Lab’s Darfur Stoves Project. (To learn more or donate, see http://www.darfurstoves.org/.)

After church on the first Sunday of Advent, everyone is invited to share a lunch of finger foods and to join in creating a number of seasonal decorations, crafts, and gifts. The possibilities include creating Advent wreaths from fresh greens, decorating sugar cookies, assembling the famous Sand Art Brownie Mix in a jar, or creating tree ornaments, gift bath salts, and fragrant pomander balls.

Christmas caroling

Epworth members stroll the neighborhood to sing Christmas carols, then return to the church parlor for community and cocoa by the fire.

Odd One Out
A bi-monthly potluck dinner for LGBT individuals and family members at Epworth. The group comes together in odd numbered months, on the first (No. 1) Saturday of the month to celebrate and share food and conversation.  Contact us at epworth@lmi.net

Young Adults Social Group
Young Adults share food and fun at regularly-scheduled potluck dinners

Woodminster Buddies
During the summer months, Epworth members and friends attend five musicals under the stars at the Woodminster Ampitheater in the Oakland hills. This is a public community celebration and intergenerational fun. Picnic together before the show at tables reserved for us on-site by group organizer Beverly Dance. Contact Beverly at dance@mba.berkeley.edu.