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Share The Good News
Why not share your church with family and friends? Invite others to participate in the life of Piedmont Community Church by sending them our weekly newsletter.
Just copy the link below and send to any email address.
https://conta.cc/2Q6L0nQ
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This Week's Highlights
- From the Pulpit
- Maundy Thursday Event
- Congregational Meeting
- Lenten Study
- Brigid's Circle
- Kail Courtyard Chat
- Virtual Fellowship
- Bible Study
- Cookie Drive
- Liz Becker Ordination
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An Essential Message
As we look to our future, and what it is that God is calling us to be as a church, this message about love is important to hear. I encourage you to watch and listen, and to let God speak to your heart.
- Dr. Steve Schibsted
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THIS WEEK IN WORSHIP - Watch a profound and encouraging message from Dr. Steve Schibsted on love - and how its impact can change a faith community and our world. Rev. Scott Kail leads our service, Rev. Dottie Hutch provides our pastoral prayer, Dr. Stephen Main teams up with soprano Christa Pfeiffer in an original composition and our church choir returns for a gorgeous choral response.
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Notice of March 28 Congregational Meeting
This Sunday, March 28 at 11:30am, Transitional Pastor Dr. Steve Schibsted will deliver a report, and Church President Jan Wolfe will provide an update from the Pastor Compensation Transparency Task Force.
The meeting will be held on the Zoom platform and you must
Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with access information.
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Sanctuary Opens For Maundy Thursday
We are very excited to announce that we will open the Sanctuary doors at Piedmont Church for the first time in over a year.
Observing all CDC guidelines (masks, social distancing) you are welcome to come to the Sanctuary on Maundy Thursday, April 1, from 5 – 8 pm for meditation, prayer and communion. A maximum of 15 congregants will spend no more than 20 minutes each to allow as many as possible to participate.
After silent prayer, scripture reading and meditation, participants are invited to receive communion in individualized cups, then private prayer from one of the pastors. Congregants will then leave in silence and, to keep everyone safe, should not mingle with others in the Sanctuary or courtyard.
Ushers will be present to guide and assist you.
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'Vine and Branches' By Stephen Main
Dr. Stephen Main and soprano Christa Pfeiffer have teamed up once again to perform a Stephen Main original - A Vine and Branches are as One.
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Sunday School
We are learning what it means to be a Christian. We will explore what the Bible reveals about who God is and how God sees us, how we fit in God’s family, and how we live the Christian life. As we study core concepts of Christianity, we will gain a solid framework for our own relationship with Jesus.
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Kail's Courtyard Chat
Rev. Scott Kail takes some time in our courtyard to deliver an inspiring message.
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Elizabeth Becker To Be Ordained
Long time church member Elizabeth Becker will be ordained as an Interfaith Minister and Chaplain with The Chaplaincy Institute in Berkeley.
Chaplains, like congregational ministers, provide spiritual care during a particular time in a life - weddings, end of life, decision making, trauma, celebrations. They are more "on-demand", and especially trained to serve those experincing very difficult times. Chaplains are usually found in public places - hospitals, workplaces, civic service - even online! They complement pastors, priests, rabbis, elders, imams and other leaders who are usually called to one faith or tradition, and support spiritual formation in dedicated communities.
Elizabeth is trained in Interfaith, ready to serve those of any, or multiple traditions, or none, including atheists and the "spiritual but not religious."
Elizabeth has a hospitality degree from Penn State and business certificates from UC Berkeley Haas School. She is a Certified Convener Leader with the Center for Purposeful Leadership and currently serves the Silicon Valley Women Presidents Organization and holds a national COVID Chaplain Support Group. She is pursuing a masters degree in Divinity. Elizabeth shares a Montclair cottage with her children, Sophie and Patrick Bransfield, and her 97-year-old “uber-elder” father, John Becker.
Elizabeth notes that being a member of Piedmont Church and serving in various ways has been instrumental to her vocational discernment. She is grateful to the many people here who have supported her call to ministry.
Elizabeth invites everyone to tune-in for the ordination on YouTube at
To learn more about The Chaplaincy Institute, visit
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Study Group For Lent
Last Session This Thursday
This year, "giving things up” for Lent has taken on a new meaning, as COVID has forced us to give up so many parts of what was “normal” in our lives.
This season, in addition to your own Lenten practice, we invite you you to pick something up — namely, an excellent book by Philip Yancey called, Vanishing Grace. Join Dr. Steve Schibsted and Dr. Don Ashburn as they co-lead a 5-week series of online discussions on the book.
The focus is on defining God’s grace in Jesus Christ, unpacking what it means for our daily lives and reclaiming it as central to our faith in a time when the Good News has lost meaning for so many people.
You can participate in the study with or without reading the book, though it’d be helpful to have your own copy. You can order it at a local bookstore or online (Amazon, Cokesbury, Barnes and Noble). For our first session, please read the Preface and Chapter 1. We will meet by Zoom on Thursday nights from 7 - 8 pm, beginning February 25 through March 25.
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'Brigid’s Circle'
Thursdays, 10:30 am
By Rev. Dottie Hutch
Brigid’s Circle will follow in the path of the Circle’s namesake this week, as we do in all weeks, by gathering to share personal stories or events, social and cultural commentary and perhaps a few jokes.
We are (as was Brigid) focused on community and support for women, especially during these times of isolation and limited in-person socializing.
We meet at 10:30 am each Thursday via Zoom. Click on the link below to join us for a few minutes or for an hour or more. Hope to see you then.
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Sunday, 10:30 am
You can connect to Zoom using your computer, tablet or smartphone. The Virtual Fellowship Time is also open to call-in participants using the following phone number and access code: 1-669-900-6833; Access Code: 81952726275#.
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Wednesday Morning Bible Study
Join Dr. Don Ashburn for a study of Paul’s Letter to the Philippians We’ll meet weekly online from 10 - 11 am. We’ll be using the Zoom online platform.
In the study, we’ll read the text out loud and then discuss its meaning, its original context as well as how it relates to our lives today.
To participate, you’ll need access to a computer or mobile device with audio and visual capabilities. You can have your own copy of the Bible, or read the text as it’s shared onscreen. There’s no homework, and no expectation that you’ve studied the Bible before.
It’ll be the same link each week.
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Morning Prayer
Dr. Don Ashburn will lead a brief service of prayer at 9 am each
Friday. There will be scripture readings, a time of meditation and prayer. Communion is celebrated at each service. So, please have a cup of wine or juice and a piece of bread available.This meeting is by Zoom, and is open to everyone.
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Easter Cookie Crusade
Help Piedmont Church support First Presbyterian Church in Oakland with their food distribution to the hungry.
We participated in the Thanksgiving and Christmas drive and will once again for Easter, by providing cookies to be included in a box lunch.
Please deliver your homemade cookies to the home of Jane Anderson, 2045 Oakland Avenue, Piedmont, Thursday, April 1 or Friday, April 2 anytime between 9am-5pm. Place cookies in the cooler at the bottom of the stairs.
Cookies should be in a ziplock bag. No need to individually wrap. All donations will be delivered to First Presbyterian on Saturday.
Thanks in advance for your participation in such a tangible and meaningful local cause. Contact Jane Anderson (510) 508-0826
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Community Service Day Returns
Put Faith into Action at Harbor House on Saturday, March 27, 9am to 11am. With Mother Nature bringing sun, rain and sun - the grounds at Harbor House are in need of some TLC.
Work outside in the yard, trimming trees, bushes and pulling weeds.
Masks, social distancing and health screening will be required. To sign up for gardening, email [email protected]
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Harbor House Tool Donations A Success
By Mike Bandrowski
Thanks to everyone who generously donated tools or funds to Harbor House to replace those that were stolen.
Harbor House, located in East Oakland, provides support for families in the neighborhood, including food distribution, online and in person tutoring, and relief funding. After a recent break in where the tools used to maintain their facilities were stolen, a request for replacement tools resulted in many donations of used, as well as new tools, along with funding.
Between the donations and the funding, all the needed tools were replaced. The staff is also working with contractors to enhance security at the facility to minimize the potential for future break ins.
As a Harbor House Board member, I would like to thank everyone at the church who generously donated. If you would like more information on Harbor House and their programs, please contact me at [email protected]
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Piedmont Church Media Time
(Last 28 Days)
YouTube, Website, Facebook, Vimeo
338 HOURS
890 AUDIO DOWNLOADS
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Welcome 227 Subscribers!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to be the first to see worship services and special video features. As a subscriber, you'll be notified the minute new content is available. PLEASE HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON!
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Watch Worship On Your TV
It’s easy to watch church videos on your big screen television. If you have a SmartTV, ROKU, AppleTV or Amazon Fire TV, simply:
1 - Go to the YouTube app on your SmartTV (or attached device)
2 - Search ‘piedmont community church.’
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Needed: Volunteer To Collect Information
Economic Victims of COVID-19 Seek Help
A number of members and friends of Piedmont Church have, or will have, experienced severe negative economic impacts from the COVID-19 shutdowns, including loss of employment and potential loss of shelter when current eviction moratoriums are ended.
In light of that, as a congregation, we’d like to help by collecting information about people who:
1) have extra rooms or housing they are willing to make available for congregants who have fallen on hard times;
2) know of part, or full-time employment opportunities. Examples of housing arrangements include; people who have extra rooms, Accessory Dwelling Units, or other housing they could make available in exchange for services (such as errands, minor maintenance, and transportation), or who can provide housing on a reduced rent basis until the renter’s economic circumstances improve.
If you would like to volunteer to collect this information, and share it with those in need, please contact Dr. Don Ashburn at: [email protected]
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Hello, Piedmont Church!
The church office is open weekdays from
10 am to 12 noon, and Jean Leahy is available
to receive your phone calls in person.
Otherwise, voicemail is available at all times and is checked throughout the day. Call (510) 547-5700
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