TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025 | |
Some browsers require readers to click READ MORE to view all content. | |
Don't Miss A Beat!
Our church calendar is updated almost daily to include all meetings, worship times and special events.
| |
New Member Classes Feb, March | |
You're invited to attend our next Come and See gatherings hosted by Steve Schibsted and Don Ashburn.
We will meet on two consecutive Sundays after worship in Guild Parlor: February 23 and March 2, from 11:30am - 1:30pm. We will share a bit about who we are and what brings us to Piedmont Church and how we can grow together in faith and service. Lunch will be provided.
Childcare is available for younger children by contacting Don Ashburn at Don@PiedmontChurch.org before February 18. Sign up to attend in three ways:
1) In the Courtyard Sunday after worship
2) Call the church at (510) 547-5700, or
3) Use the button below
| |
Ash Wednesday Dinner & Service | |
You are invited to a delicious dinner on Wednesday, March 5, 6pm in Guild Hall prepared by Loaves & Fishes. After dinner and a wonderful fellowship, we will attend the Ash Wednesday service in the Sanctuary.
Cost is $20/adult and $10/child in advance ($25 & $15 at the door).
Click the registration link or sign up with Kathy Hurd or any deacon in the Courtyard after worship by Sunday, March 2.
| Enneagram & Spirituality Class |
Starting Sunday, January 26, Dr. Kate Rankin returns to Piedmont Church to teach a 4-week class on how understanding your Enneagram type can be a wonderful tool to support richer spiritual development.
The class will examine how each personality type can benefit from an individualized program of spiritual practices to live as God desires each of us to live.
Class is held from 11:15am - 12:15pm in the Kettlewell Room. No sign up required. Contact Don Ashburn at Don@PiedmontChurch.org
| |
SUNDAY, JANUARY 19 ONLINE MEDIA
Steve Schibsted preached. Mark Winges was our guest organist. Music by Tina Harrington and our Chancel Choir. WATCH
| | |
Our next FREE adults Game & Gab Night will be held on Saturday, February 1, 6:30-9pm in Guild Hall. Snacks, dessert and drinks will be served. Enjoy chat tables for those who don’t like to play games, Poker, Mexican Train, Rummikub, Scrabble and more. Bring your favorite game or puzzle if you’d like.
Click the registration link or sign up with Kathy Hurd or any deacon in the Courtyard after worship by January 26.
| |
Women Together Spiritual Dance |
On Saturday, January 25, 2pm, Kimery Leong will lead the group in a one-hour introduction to liturgical/spiritual dancing in Guild Hall. The session will involve a warm up, meeting each other and learning to use movement to express spiritual themes like joy, love, praise, peace, worship, struggle and strength.
Contact Kimery at kimarj@gmail.com
| |
Grief Group Returns Saturday | |
Grief Group will meet Saturday, January 25 at 10am in the Clara Barton Room. The group is open to both church members and non-members.
We will decide our ongoing schedule at that meeting. Contact Alison Fletcher at alisonfletcher2843@gmail.com
| |
Mondays at 10am, Don Ashburn leads an online study. Starting in January, the focus will be on the Book of Revelation. To participate fully, no previous experience in Bible study is expected or required. Just come with an open heart and mind and see where the Spirit leads you.
The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83211177073
| |
Get ready for an unforgettable adventure at True North Kids Summer Camp, happening June 9-13, 9am - 12pm for kids age 4 through 5th grade in the Christian Education (C.E.) Building.
This year, we’re heading into the majestic beauty of Alaska, where northern lights glow, rivers race, and glaciers glisten!
As your kids trek through this thrilling tundra, they’ll learn how to navigate life’s challenges by keeping their eyes on Jesus—a faithful friend we can always trust. With engaging activities, meaningful lessons and fun surprises, this Vacation Bible School adventure will help your kids discover that Jesus is our ultimate guide, our True North.
The cost of the trip is $189 per child. Spots are limited, so mark your calendars and register soon!
| |
Our NextGen ministry is very active, with lots of events throughout the month. Visit the NextGen web page by clicking below. | |
'Little Saigon' Day of Service Feb 1 | |
You are invited to a day of service on Saturday, February 1, 9am-12pm at Clinton Square Community Center and Park, 655 International Boulevard, with Trybe.
Trybe is a cutting edge organization in Oakland transforming communities focusing on children and their families. The project will involve beautification and gardening and is open to all ages.
Sign up in the Courtyard after worship or use the registration link below. Contact Blaire Jahn at blairejahn650@gmail.com
| |
Adult Mexico Mission Trip | |
While the High School student Mexico Mission trip is on pause, the Mission Board is organizing an Adults- only Mexico Mission house-building trip with Amor Ministries.
We will be building one home in the Tijuana area for a local family over three days (no concrete mixing required) and staying in the Amor campsite. The trip will be led by experienced builders and will be open to a total of 15 Piedmont Church members. No special gear or construction experience is needed; just be able-bodied and ready to work.
The trip takes place Thursday, March 27 through Sunday, March 30 and will cost between $1,200-1,500 per person, depending on the cost of flights and hotel. The fee covers the cost to Amor, transportation, hotel in San Diego on the first night, van rental for equipment and food.
Contact Mike Bandrowski at mike.bandrowski@gmail.com
| |
Day of Service at Turning Point | |
On Saturday, March 15, from 9am - 12pm, we will gather at Turning Point, a shelter for women and children in Oakland. We’ll be working in the yard, and cleaning the property, in addition to other activities. A number of Piedmont Church folks have come together to serve at Turning Point in the past, and have always had a good experience serving and interacting with some of the residents and each other.
This Day of Service is open to people of all ages and is appropriate for kids.
Please register. Contact Don Ashburn at Don@PiedmontChurch.Org.
| |
We are so grateful for the generous donation you gave us during the holiday season! Your support has been crucial in helping us continue to do the work we do.
The partnership between CityTeam Oakland and Piedmont Community Church has been a tremendous blessing and your commitment to our mission is truly inspiring.
We also want to thank you for creating the wonderful video that highlights Ben's testimony, our pantries and the work being done to serve the community. We are honored to work alongside you to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Thanks again for your compassion, dedication, and continued support. We look forward to furthering this partnership as we serve our community together. - Steven Martinez, Executive Director
| |
Refugee Family Arrives Soon | |
For those who wish to be involved in Piedmont Community Church's Refugee Task Force (RTF), here's what's important to know:
Our family arrives soon
We have been in discussion with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and we will be receiving a family sometime in January. They must be assigned prior to the January 20 Presidential Inauguration Day. We do not know anything more specific about their arrival date or country of origin.
Contact Scott Willis at scottwillis724@gmail.com. Please pray for our family to have a safe trip.
| |
In seeking to meet the needs of people in our community who cannot - or no longer can - drive to church on Sunday mornings, we are seeking a volunteer Ride Coordinator. The responsibilities consist of finding out who may need a ride to church, what their physical capacity may be and arranging for people to drive them to church.
This task would be done in coordination with the pastoral staff and the Board of Deacons. We'll start by offering a limited number of rides and then decide if we need to build our capacity. Contact Don Ashburn at Don@PiedmontChurch.org
| |
As we begin our new year, you are invited to suggest any theater event you might like to attend. It could be a play, musical, comedy or ballet. We are a very casual group. Someone makes plans for an event and others may decide to join - sometimes with lunch or dinner out ahead of the event.
If you’d like to be personally notified of upcoming shows, please go to our Church Center app for Theater Group and add your name, or contact Linda McClain at lindamcclain@me.com or Judy Wright at rbwright1@me.com. We await your ideas.
Here’s what’s been suggested so far:
Sunday, February 9, 2pm
Altarena Playhouse
1409 High St, Alameda
Grand Horizons
Wednesday, February 19, 7pm
Berkeley Rep
The Thing About Jellyfish
Saturday, February 22, 8pm
OR Sunday, February 23, 2 pm
Chanticleers Theatre
3683 Quail Ave, Castro Valley
The River Bride
| |
New Beginners, Gentle Pickleball | |
Are you interested in playing, or learning to play, pickleball but without the seriousness or competitiveness that you may feel is associated with our current Sunday Pickleball Fellowship?
If so, you'll enjoy this new gathering of Beginners and Gentle Pickleball Fellowship Saturdays from 2-4pm in the indoor gym, second floor of the Christian Education (C.E.) Building. Equipment is provided. No experience required.
A more serious version of pickleball (slam, lob and dinking battles) takes place Sundays from 1-3pm, also in the indoor gym.
Contact Lucille Yee at lucilleyee@gmail.com or Suzanne Latham at suzlatham3@gmail.com
| |
Piedmont Community Church is off to a wonderful 2025, but it is actually mid-way through our church program year. I thought an update and thank you were very much in order.
First, I would like to thank the Staff for all their hard work through the very busy Advent and Christmas season, and the demands that come from providing so many worship and fellowship events. Additionally, so many of our congregation volunteered and participated in some amazing events, including Christmas Concerts, Christmas Gathering, Snow Day, not to mention attention to all the Advent worship details, which included providing a beautifully decorated facility.
Thank you all for your participation and fellowship.
We ended the year giving very generously to our mission partners. Through the Alternative Gift Market, the congregation gave an incredible $38,000 to about 20 different non-profit organizations. Our Christmas Offering giving totalled $23,000, which when matched by $21,000 through an anonymous grant, resulted in $44,000 going to our mission partner, CityTeam, to aid in the growth of their Oakland mobile food pantries.
Our Annual Stewardship Campaign came within 96% of our goal, a 10% increase over last year, with excellent participation by the congregation. The Stewardship Committee considers this a real success. The Committee and Trustees are truly thankful to all of you for your financial support.
I believe all of us can see that over the past year, worship attendance has increased and we have the numbers to prove it; in-person attendance grew by 12.32% and our online participation grew by 27.38%. The increase in fellowship participation has increased 20% and Adult Ministry events increased an incredible 35%. Currently, we have 14 middle and high school students in our largest Confirmation class in years.
This said, there is still much to be done:
Our Building and Grounds Committee has worked hard to upgrade so many aspects of our Church Campus. We should have the lighting projects finished in February. Other upgrades may continue into the Summer.
The Personnel committee is working to fill our Youth Ministry position and, with some good fortune, 2025 should bring a new hire to help us continue to grow this vital ministry.
Our Mission Board hopes to welcome a new refugee family this month as we again work to accept and help a new family integrate into our American culture. The Mission Board encourages all church members to help in this multi-faceted and complicated process.
Soon, our 2030 Committee will present their look into the financial future of our church. I know all of us want to see Piedmont Church become financially sound. I look forward to their presentation.
Our Pastors continue to work on expanding our Adult Ministry and Spiritual Formation programs and implementing changes as to how we go about Sunday worship.
With so much going on at Piedmont Community Church, please consider ways you can become more involved. Our community of faith growths with each commitment.
Thank you,
Paul Schroeder, Church President
| |
Staying Well While Gathering
Although many of us have begun to travel and widen our social lives in the past months, COVID and other respiratory infections have kept up with us, as you may have noticed in recent months. We have learned a lot since 2020 about the consequences of these infections, which continue to impact the health of the most vulnerable and those we love.
To keep everyone we love well when gathering, we should take advantage of multiple effective strategies developed since 2020: 1) get updated COVID, influenza, and RSV vaccines that strengthen our individual and community immunity; 2) use rapid home antigen tests that are now free and available again by mail from the USPS; 3) take Paxlovid and other early antiviral treatments to reduce the risk of severe complications; 4) mask to protect yourself and prevent transmission; 5) use proper hand hygiene; and 6) ensure good ventilation wherever you gather. For more information here are trusted sources:
Updated Vaccines:
https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html
Free tests:
https://aspr.hhs.gov/COVID-19/Test/Pages/default.aspx
| |
'Breathe' Wednesdays, 1:30pm
Join with others who seek the refreshment of meditation and the opportunity to enhance their spiritual growth through the concept of sangha or sitting in silence within a group.
Sit tall, take a breath and find your path. Contact Sara Hirsch at sara1.hirsch1@gmail.com
| | |
Pickleball
Sundays, 1-3pm
We play on Sundays from 1-3pm in the indoor gym, second floor of the Christian Education Building. All are welcome. Equipment is provided and no experience is required. Contact Lucille Yee at lucilleyee@gmail.com
See you on the court!
| | |
Seniors Gather
Seniors Seeking Conversation and Coffee meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month in Guild Parlor, 9:30-11am.
All seniors, aged 65-110 years, are welcome. Contact Ann Chandler at
(510) 444-0280
| | |
Church Center App
The Church Center App is the fastest way to get information about your church, check-in your family for events, give donations, browse and join groups, register for events and get involved throughout the week. Go to your mobile App store and download 'Church Center' App.
| | |
2,369 Views
542 Hours in 30 Days
520 Subscribers
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Be the first to see worship services and special video features. As a subscriber, you'll be notified the minute new content is available.
| | |
For your convenience, we now accept Venmo mobile for making donations using your phone.
We are @PiedmontChurch
| | |
Messenger and Sunday Bulletin Deadlines
The Messenger
Piedmont Church’s online newsletter, The Messenger, is the primary source of communication. The Messenger is published digitally and distributed via email weekly.
Deadline for Messenger articles is 12 noon Monday
Michael Barber edits copy and designs the layout of each Messenger with careful consideration of article placement. Placement is determined based on relevance to the congregation and the wider community.
Sunday Bulletin
Sunday bulletin and worship announcements are decided by Michael based on Tuesday discussions with Staff and lay leadership.
Print deadline for Sunday Bulletin is 12 noon Tuesday
Church Calendar
All information regarding the church calendar, including event dates, setup times and meetings, should be sent to Jay Foreman at Jay@PiedmontChurch.org
| |
Please consider making an online offering by clicking below, or give while watching Sunday services on our website. | |
Follow Us on Social Media | | | | |