Come as you are! Everyone welcome … In-person or on Zoom.
R E A D I N G S
🔆 Romans 6:3-11 🔆 Matthew 10:34-39
S E R M O N
🔆 “A Time to Be Born” – Elizabeth Conway
M U S I C
PRELUDE … St. Denio, Percy Whitlock (1903-1946)
INTROIT … There is One Among Us, John Bell (b. 1949)
HYMN … Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
ANTHEM … The Lone, Wild Bird, Southern Folk Hymn, arranged by Todd Jolly (b. 1961)
HYMN … Now Thank We All Our God
OFFERTORY … O Gott du frommer Gott, Ethel Smyth (1858-1944)
HYMN … All Beautiful the March of Days
POSTLUDE … Prelude, Fugue, and Ciacona, Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Join us for Coffee Hour immediately after the service.
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A N N O U N C E M E N T S
A message from Pastor Max
It has come to my attention that some of you have been contacted by someone pretending to be me asking for gift cards and to be discrete. THIS IS A SCAM.
When asking for help, I will always go through St. John’s, and I would never ask you to buy gift cards or something weird like that. If I was going to make a personal request from individuals, it would be by phone personally.
If you ever get a request from me that doesn’t ask you to give directly to St. John’s you should contact me or the office before making the gift. You can find my number in the directory. Feel free to call my cell phone anytime to confirm a request.
I am sorry people are such snakes and I hope none of you were convinced. Let us continue to be a trustworthy place doing God’s good work. Thank you.
Please share your St. John’s photos!
If you’ve attended any events at St. John’s in 2026 and have photos, please share them with our administrative staff (this helps us get organized for our annual report and have more complete records of St. John’s activities). Please email photos to katie@stjohnsberkeley.org.
Summer Choir, June 21, July 5, July 26, August 16, and August 30
Summer is a great time to try out singing in the choir. There are no Wednesday evening rehearsals, just show up at 9:00 am on a Sunday when you would like to join the choir and rehearse a simple anthem. Then, stay for worship and sing! The dates for summer choir are June 21, July 5, July 26, August 16, and August 30. Questions? Ask Todd Jolly (todd@stjohnsberkeley.org) or Evangeline Wolfe (evangeline@stjohnsberkeley.org).
A Safe Place hosts “Raising Our Voices, Making a Joyful Noise!” June 28, 2-4pm
A Safe Place Oakland works to decrease domestic violence by providing victims, survivors, and their children with a safe shelter and resources to break the cycle of violence through outreach and education to at-risk populations and diverse communities. St. John’s congregation is invited to attend their biggest fundraiser for the year. Get tickets.
Fair Trade Coffee, Chocolates, Olive Oil sales, July 12
Since 2011, St. John’s members have purchased tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of organic, fair-trade coffee, tea, chocolate, & olive oil to support small-scale farmers across the world. This is not a fundraiser for the church; SJ offers these products at the lowest prices possible to the church community — the more frequently we choose these products, the greater our participation in a truly just economic system. On Sunday, July 12, during coffee hour on the patio, there will an assortment of products to select from — come take a look! – Bill Herwood
Ride for Palestine – all are welcome, July 19
Last day for registration is Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The Ride for Palestine is an annual fundraising project of the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA). MECA works to protect the lives, rights, and well-being of children in Palestine and refugee camps in Lebanon.
There are approximately 14 million Palestinians worldwide–roughly half reside in historic Palestine and the other half live in diaspora communities. Under international law, all refugees have a right to return to areas from which they have been displaced and uprooted, and to receive compensation for damages. The Right of Return for Palestinian refugees was affirmed by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194 in 1948. This year’s theme, The Ride of Return, symbolizes both the journey toward justice and the enduring claim to the Palestinian Right of Return.
All riders are committing to raise a minimum of $500. MECA will support your Peer-2-Peer fundraising with sample letters, many tips on fundraising, and we are available to help if you need coaching. Learn more at rideforpalestine.com.
QR Code for Giving Money to St. John’s
One can now donate via PayPal for weekly giving and special events. Simply scan the PayPal QR Code in our bulletin or church lobby. All donations are tax-deductible. Thank you for your continued support.
Join East Bay Sanctuary Covenant in advocating for funding for healthcare and food access for all
As deliberations on the state budget reach their final weeks, advocates are demanding that California fund Medi-Cal and CalFresh for immigrants, including pending and approved asylum seekers, who are losing coverage as a result of HR1. This is a life-or-death issue for community members affected by these cuts who will now be forced to go without health care coverage and food assistance. Please contact your state representative to ask that they include this funding in this budget cycle. Find your representatives to advocate your support.