Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary – a Virtual Celebration

Posted by Administrative Coordinator on
 April 17, 2020

Wednesday, April 22, 12:00 – 1:30pm

Skyline honors this special Earth Day with music, stories, and tree planting on the beautiful campus of Skyline church in Oakland, using Zoom to bring you there.   Skyline is a very green congregation.  

Featuring: Mary Ellen Hill, Storyteller and teacher, Pastor Laurie, Catherine Kessler, and more TBD. 

Access the Earth Day festivities on your computer or smart phone via Zoom here, or click this link:  

Meeting ID: 921 0997 9060
Password: 018951
One tap mobile +16699009128,,92109979060#,,#,018951# US (San Jose) 

Categories : Church in the World, Events, Holiday
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Hear the Sounds of the Eternal; Holy Week Appreciations

Posted by Administrative Coordinator on
 April 16, 2020

May you hear the sounds of the eternal in this season of spring, even as we are sheltering in place. 

That your glory rises in the morning sun
and sparkles off flowing waters,
that the glory of the everlasting world
shines in this world
growing from the ground
and issuing forth in every creature,
that glory can be handled, seen and known
in the matter of earth and human relationships
and the most ordinary matters of daily life,
assure us again this day, O God,
assure us again this day.
 
~ by John Philip Newell, excerpt from Sounds of the Eternal: A Celtic Psalter

Holy week and Easter reflections: 
 
It was wonderful to be with so many of you during Holy Week, and Easter, especially this year. My deepest gratitude to each one of you, participating from as far away as Philadelphia, Washington DC, and yes, even Cartagena Colombia! Deepest appreciation for our virtual worship team, of Tom Manley, Ken Medema, Benjamin Mertz, Gabrielle Lochard, for our teamwork and innovation in this transformation process. Special thanks to David Guerra for working with me to create a new virtual worship story time for children. Last week we had 15 families taking part! And deepest thanks to YOU for being with us! 
 
Here are the video services from Holy week as well as previous services.

Here are our online programs – Sunday mornings, Tuesday Bible study, Friday prayer and care.

This Sunday, and for the rest of our shelter in place time, join us as we continue with our uplifting worship services, featuring our extraordinary virtual worship team! 
 

Categories : Messages from the Pastor
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Children’s Time Easter Sunday 11:30 AM

Posted by Administrative Coordinator on
 April 8, 2020

Come along for an adventure with David G and Pastor Laurie!   Zoom Link    Here’s what’s in store: 

  • Story Time: Have you ever had a friend who went away? Best friends Enriquita Kittycat and Edmund Caterpillar have a story to show you! Discover the meaning of friendship and reunions as we watch the tale unfold.  

  • Brain Teasers: Get ready to put on your thinking cap!

  • Art Sharing Time: Parents, print off these coloring pages for kids to color or decorate, or kids can create their own art. We will share our art at the meeting!

  • After Service Family Chat: We’ll have a time of sharing to catch up and connect with children and families.

Zoom Link 

Meet Edmund and Enriquita here!

Categories : Events, Holiday
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Holy Week – May We Find Solace and Inspiration as We Shelter

Posted by Administrative Coordinator on
 April 8, 2020
Dear beloved community,
  
I hope you were able to join in the our live zoom Palm Passion Sunday worship service. If not, you can visit our website (skylineucc.org) and view it. A big shout out to our musicians, Ken Medema, Benjamin Mertz and Gabrielle Lochard, and our zoom host Tom Manley! 
 
I also hope you were able to join us for the live zoom Children’s time on Palm Sunday with Donkey Odie!  If not, you can visit our website (skylineucc.org) and view it. Special thanks to David Guerra, our fabulous puppeteer! 
 
Although we are having to do things differently, many people are finding great solace and inspiration in being able to tune in online and be lifted up by the services. We actually had our old members Maureen Johnson, Alex and Nora, tuning in from Connecticut! 
 
This week is Holy Week.  May be as poignant as it ever has been for many of us. Here are ALL the opportunities (Maundy Thursday on April 9, Good Friday on April 10, Easter Sunday on April 12)  to mark this special week and deepen your faith in a time when we need more faith than ever. 
 
Love,
Laurie 
 
Inspiration
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Humor
 
Categories : Uncategorized

Connecting, Updates, Prayer and Palm/Passion Sunday

Posted by Administrative Coordinator on
 April 1, 2020

Here we are, in April, beginning  another month of sheltering in place. What a time we are living through! 

Even in the midst of this there are blessings. Among them has been the blessing of communicating with you through social media: worshiping, studying, praying and yes, even sharing birthday celebrations and happy hours together.

I am grateful to the virtual teams within our faith community, rising up to offer all kinds of support within and beyond us. I hope you were able to join the zoom crowd who worshiped online this week. If you missed it, you can find it here on our website.  Many of us are using zoom for the first time, and here’s a helpful tutorial to get started.  You can always call me on my cell phone! All of our computers are facing buffering challenges due to the overload on various platforms and the internet in general, please be patient.  

Last Sunday, the 29th of March, I lifted up the theme of grief, so I want to offer a helpful article for you to better understand your own experience of grief. 

Please continue to check our weekly email, our  Facebook  page, and our website for updates.    

This Sunday is Palm/Passion Sunday— please find a palm, or a leafy branch, or a symbol of gratitude for praising the heroes of our time, and bring it with you for our service.  And, before you sit down to participate in the Zoom service (here’s the link), please have ready nearby elements of food and drink to share in our agape meal, remembering Jesus and all those we love that we wish were here with us, and all those in need, especially during the pandemic.  Finally, David G. is leading a Zoom Children’s time at 11:30 – read more here.

Prayer for today:

You have been our strength, O God.
At the beginning of the day you brought us from darkness into light.
At the ending of the day you lead us from busyness into stillness.
In earth’s cycles and seasons you offer us new life and fresh beginnings.
Be our strength this day and the strength of new beginnings in our world.
Be our help, O God, and the help of those who cry out in need.
~ by John Philip Newell, excerpt from Celtic Treasure: Daily Scriptures and Prayer

Prayer in music & videos:

Inspiration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories : Community, Events, Messages from the Pastor, Sunday Worship
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Palm Sunday Children’s Time with Donkey Odie

Posted by Administrative Coordinator on
 April 1, 2020

This Sunday, Children’s Time has its own Zoom meeting!

We’ll meet Donkey Odie as he tells the story of Palm Sunday from his perspective. Grab a clean pair of socks as we all use our ‘palms’ to bring the story to life through sock puppets! We’ll also have a time of brain teasers, sharing and prayer. 

Here’s a couple of coloring pages for parents and guardians to print. Children, can you color or decorate your picture and make it a work of art? Share it with us at the meeting!

Children’s Time Zoom Meeting Sunday, April 5 at 11:30 a.m. (PST)

https://zoom.us/j/241524878

Questions? Contact Pastor Laurie ([email protected]) or David G. ([email protected])

Leader:  David G.
Categories : Uncategorized

Easter at Skyline – Virtual Services 2020

Posted by Administrative Coordinator on
 March 31, 2020

Palm Sunday Virtual Service:  April 5, 10:00 – 11:00 AM

Our virtual service: a readers theater, journeying from the entrance into Jerusalem, into the Garden of Gethsemane, with the inspiring music of Ken Medema, Gabrielle Lochard and Benjamin Mertz.  Hear the stories of Jesus’s journey to Jerusalem, listen to music of God’s love, peace, grace, sorrow and beauty.

Meeting ID: 716 026 467
Dial in by phone 1-669-900-9128

Maundy Thursday Virtual Service:  April 9, 12:30 PM

Worship with the United Church of Christ. The leaders from across the life of the denomination will be leading a streamed worship service.  Register for the webinar here.  Click here for more details.  Photo by James Coleman on Unsplash
 

Good Friday Virtual Service: April 10, 2:00-3:00 PM  **Note time change**

On the most somber day of the Christian year, we gather in prayer and song to hear the Seven Last Words of Jesus, and mourn the death that changed the world.  Our talented musical team, Ken Medema, Benjamin Mertz, Gabrielle Lochard, join with Pastor Laurie and others in this solemn and beautiful service. All are welcome.

Zoom Meeting Link:  https://zoom.us/j/716026467
Meeting ID: 716 026 467
One tap mobile +16699009128
phone # +13462487799

Easter Sunday Virtual Service: April 12, 10:00-11:15 AM

The promise of the resurrection is proclaimed, even in the midst of  pandemic.There is nothing traditional about a zoom Easter Service, but we have a beautiful service planned for our expanded, loving progressive and inclusive faith community meeting via zoom. Rev. Laurie Manning, and our talented musical team of  Ken Medema,  Benjamin Mertz, and Gabrielle Lochard will be leading the service from their homes.  We are creating a special experience.  

Meeting ID: 716 026 467
Dial in by phone 1-669-900-9128

Children’s Time Easter Sunday 11:30 AM

Come along for an adventure with David G and Pastor Laurie! Here’s what’s in store: 

  • Story Time:  Have you ever had a friend who went away? Best friends Enriquita Kittycat and Edmund Caterpillar have a story to show you! Discover the meaning of friendship and reunions as we watch the tale unfold.  

  • Brain Teasers: Get ready to put on your thinking cap!

  • Art Sharing Time: Parents, print off these coloring pages for kids to color or decorate, or kids can create their own art. We will share our art at the meeting!

  • After Service Family Chat: We’ll have a time of sharing to catch up and connect with children and families.

Zoom Link 

 
Categories : Community, Events, Holiday
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The Pandemic and Our Personal and Global Economy

Posted by Administrative Coordinator on
 March 27, 2020

From Pastor Laurie: Financial worries on top of it all. 

The Global Economy

One of the areas of worry the pandemic is creating is about the economy. Unemployment claims in California have jumped to over 1 million  according to a March 25 article in the LA times.   I’ve talked with numerous friends who are worried about their jobs and others who are filing for unemployment. Here’s what you need to know according to an article in the NY Times on March 25.  The stock market has plummeted for four plus weeks. Worries about incomes is causing activists and politicians to call for a moratorium on evictions and shutting off utilities.  None of this is news to you.

Our Personal Economy

My concern is about how you are doing in the midst of this economic news. Some of us, in our faith community and extended communities and families, will be laid off or losing work hours. Some retired people in our congregation rely on investments for their incomes. If you are within one of these categories, you may want to reassess your giving to the church, at least for the time being, and adjust it downward.

If you have a salary that is going to continue as you work (from home or at your workplace), or if you have a reliable pension, please reassess your giving to the church, too. Only you might want to increase your giving, knowing that there are members of our church who need to reduce their giving.

Ways to Give to the Church if you are Able

If you’re wondering how to give to the church in these days when we do not have an offering plate to pass around, here’s your answer – from lowest tech to the latest app:

  • You can write a check and mail it to the church. The church’s mailing address is 12540 Skyline Blvd, Oakland CA, 94619
  • If you do online banking, you can set up the church as a payee.
  • We have just finished signing up for a smartphone app (that also works on tablets) called Quiks to accept bank to bank donations. To get started donating, click here!  It’s very intuitive. I set it up and made my first donation with it. If you need more help, here’s a tutorial on how to set it up.

Finally, stay in touch!  Dealing with the pandemic is stressful enough. If you are having financial stress on top of that, don’t face them alone. Let me know and we’ll do what we can together. 

Peace, Pastor Laurie

Categories : Uncategorized

Video Recordings of Past Services

Posted by Administrative Coordinator on
 March 27, 2020

>> View On YouTube <<

March 15 – Recorded at the church by Tom
March 22 – Wonderful interactive zoom service. Ken, Benjamin, Gabrielle and Pastor Laurie.
March 29  – Topic is grief, Ken, Benjamin, Gabrielle and Pastor Laurie.
April 5 – Palm Sunday, with Ken, Benjamin, Gabrielle and Pastor Laurie.
April 5 – Donkey Odie tells his story for Palm Sunday with David G.
April 9 – Good Friday with Ken, Benjamin, Gabrielle and Pastor Laurie.
April 12 – Easter Sunday Service with Ken,  Gabrielle, Benjamin and Pastor Laurie
April 12 – Children’s Time, Easter Sunday, with Enriquita KittyKat and Edmund Caterpillar
April 19 – Sunday Service
April 19 – Children’s Time with Mirabelle Fairy and David G.
April 22 – 50th Anniversary of Earth day
April 26 – Sunday Service
April 26 – Children’s Time with Enriquita who learns how to be kind even when she can’t go out
May 3 – Sunday Service
May 3 – Children’s time (repeat of April 26)
May 10 – Sunday Service (Family Friendly service that includes Children’s time and story telling)
May 10 – Children’s time story: “The Waiting Room”
May 17 – Sunday Service
May 24 – Sunday Service
May 31 – Sunday Pentecost Service
June 7 – Sunday Service – (Sermon, scripture, sermon response only)
June 14 – Sunday Service (27 minutes)
June 21 – Sunday Service (34 min)
June 28 – Sunday Service  (22 min)
July 5 – Sunday Service (27 min)
July 12 – Sunday Service (34 min)
July 19 – Sunday Service (28 min)
July 26 – Sunday Service with Rev. Lynice PInkard (unedited)
August 2 – Sunday Service with Rev. Lynice PInkard (27 min)
August 9 – Sunday Service  (35 min)
August 16 – Sunday service, 1 hour
August 23 – Sunday Service with Teresa Jenkins and Laurie Manning
August 30 – Sunday Service 52 min
September 6  Passcode: vNf2@NJB – Sunday Service
September 13 Sunday Service
September 20 Sunday Service  Passcode: FQ?RA@0L
September 27 Sunday Service
October 2 Sunday Service
October 11 Sunday Service
October 18 Sunday Service
October 25 Sunday Service
November 1 Sunday Service
November 2 – Calm in the Storm Vespers service of music, meditation, readings and silence (this is uneditied as of publication time, so scroll forward a minute or two)
November 8 – Sunday Service
November 15 – Sunday Service with Jim Antal – Passcode required  z#mP#hD9
November 22 – Sunday Service with Benjamin Mertz
November 25 – Still Thankful Vespers service of music, meditation, readings and silence
November 29 – Sunday Service – Passcode required: ^rW7VcFs
December 6 – Sunday Service
December 13 – Sunday Service – Passcode required:  1#ULY.85
December 20 – Magnificat Sunday Service
December 21 – Longest Night Vespers service of music, mediation, readings and silence  Passcode required: 3Q+54v9P
December 24 – Christmas Eve Celebration
December 27 – Sunday Service
January 3 – Sunday Service – Passcode:  89&ZCzmf
January 10 – Sunday Service – Passcode:  Gvn#M=F7
January 17 – Sunday Service – Passcode:  7JRTA8@8
January 24 – Sunday Service – Passcode:  &n*1TZ5s

Categories : Messages from the Pastor, Sermons, Sunday Worship, Worship
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Praying in Crisis, Holding Back Nothing from God

Posted by Administrative Coordinator on
 March 26, 2020

Dear Ones,

We are in the season of praying in crisis, holding back nothing from the God who invites us to come, naked and vulnerable, just as we are, holding nothing back from the One who loves and knows us better than we know ourselves  Be encouraged in your time of prayer in the days ahead. I encourage you to join us for 1 PM contemplative prayer on Friday: Zoom Meeting, Meeting ID: 910 815 155, or just call me!

There is a beautiful poem, which captures the essence of intimate, naked vulnerability before God in prayer, entitled the Guest House, by the Sufi poet, Rumi, 

I leave you with Rumi’s words:

Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Categories : Messages from the Pastor
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