Come as you are! Everyone welcome … In-person or on Zoom.
R E A D I N G S
🔆1 Peter 2:2-10 🔆 John 14:1-14
S E R M O N
🔆“The Way, the Truth and the Life are more Important than the Name” – The Rev. Dr. Max Lynn
M U S I C
PRELUDE … Prelude in C Major, J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
INTROIT … Sing and Give Praise, Todd Jolly (b. 1961)
HYMN … I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art
ANTHEM … You Satisfy the Hungry Heart
HYMN … Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
OFFERTORY … Flute Solo, Thomas Arne (1710-1778)
ANTHEM … Bread of the World, in Mercy Broken, Louis Bourgeois (1510-1561), Arranged by Carlton Young
HYMN … Lord, We Have Come at Your Own Invitation
POSTLUDE … Postlude in C Major, J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
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 – – – – – – –
Upcoming St. John’s Sunday Forum
Take a break after worship for 5-10 minutes, then come back for a conversation:
May 3 –Join Pastor Max, Rabbi Jonathan Seidel and Bob Jaffe in a discussion of Holy Land, Zionism. the formation of the State of Israel, and aspirational visions vs “Messianic” views in Jewish and Christian thought and Scriptural reception. Our conversation will touch on new developments in Israel in recent years that are disturbing and challenging for Interfaith and politically progressive Justice work and collaboration.
May 31 – AI & Humans. How Will We Relate? Spend an hour with Dr. Braden Molhoek, Director, Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS), and Ian G. Barbour, Assistant Professor of Theology, Science, Ethics, and Technology at the Graduate Theological Union.
AI is changing our relationships (including humanity’s relationship with God and with the rest of creation). How we think theologically about AI inspires new questions of ethics, virtue, and creation. For example, is AI made in the image of God or of humans? What would its designers say? What do we say? What implications does the answer to this question have for our future and our relationship to AI? Come learn more in an engaging and timely Education session.
Piano Restoration & Workshop Visit
Currently, our cherished Bösendorfer piano is in the shop. As it happens, the beautiful loaner we are using is also a Bösendorfer; we have been fortunate. Callahan Piano Service, which has taken care of St. John’s pianos for decades, is restoring our instrument. This is necessary every three or four decades. The felts compress, the strings begin to break, accidents leave marks and gouges on the case, and it is necessary to have extensive work done to bring a piano back up to its potential.
John Callahan himself has invited SJ members and friends to tour his workshop in Alameda to see pianos being refurbished, including ours. On Saturday, May 23 at 10am, we will have the opportunity to visit and ask questions. Please let Todd Jolly know if you are interested in joining the group, and if you would like a ride. The Callahan piano workshop address is 1800 Ferry Point, Building 14, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501. Detailed driving directions are available at callahanpiano.com/contact
Pentecost Sunday is May 24
Pentecost is a major event in the church year, celebrated 50 days after Easter, marking the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ followers. It’s considered the “birthday of the church” signifying the start of the church’s public mission and ministry, and when the Holy Spirit breaks out, crossing boundaries of culture. On Pentecost, St. John’s is sharing worship with the Église Franco Africaine de la Nouvelle Alliance church. Because Red is the Pentecost liturgical color, we invite you to wear red on Sunday, May 24 to symbolize the presence of the Holy Spirit and unity in Christ. For more information on Pentecost, please read the Presbyterian website article.
Sunday School Youth Mission Trip – all are welcome
Join us for a half a day of service, fellowship and faith in action as we reach out to our community on Sunday, May 31. We are visiting Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP) to help prepare and serve lunch. GRIP’s mission is to support families on their journey to self-sufficiency; They provide safe shelter, meals, case management, and long-term resources at no cost to those in need. We are departing from St. John’s at 8:30am and expected to return around 2pm. If you would like to participate with us, please contact Manju Noone for more details at manju@stjohnsberkeley.org.
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.
Interfaith Pilgrimage for Palestine: Divest from War, Invest in Life
Join the Interfaith Pilgrimage for Palestine on Saturday, May 9 — a (pre) Mother’s Day pilgrimage that returns to the root meaning of the day by demanding an end to war profiteering and honoring the sacredness of all children.
Now in its third year, they will walk 12 miles from Oakland City Hall to the Oakland Airport to reflect on our own deep complicity and spiritually call for a divestment from war and an immediate end to military cargo shipments from our local Oakland airport to Israel.
We are witnessing a massive assault on the lives of the children of immigrants here in the US, and children in Palestine, Iran, and Lebanon. Children everywhere are experiencing a complete loss of safety – traumatized by deportation, incarceration, and war. Tens of thousands of children have been killed. We hear their cry, from Oakland to Palestine, Lebanon and Iran. As James Baldwin said: “the children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe.”
Join the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity as they organize to Divest from War and Invest in Life—Register now – it’s not too late! – and add your feet, your voice, and your presence to this growing movement for Palestine.