Come as you are! Everyone welcome … In-person or on Zoom.
R E A D I N G S
🔆 Isaiah 55:10-13 🔆 Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
S E R M O N
🔆 “God, Soil, and Soul” – The Reverend Dr. Max Lynn
M U S I C
PRELUDE … Prelude and Fugue in D minor from the Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 851, J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
HYMN … To Bless the Earth
ANTHEM … Sonata in D minor K. 141, Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
HYMN … Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
OFFERTORY … Ballade No. 3 in A-flat major, Op. 47, Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
HYMN … God Be with You Till We Meet Again
POSTLUDE … The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080, No. 9 Contrapunctus IX alla duodecima, 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
This month’s Deacons’ Offering is to help cover the cost of Camp Elmwood for those kids who are short on funds.
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.
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
Summer Choir, 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 remaining dates for summer choir are July 26, August 16, and August 30. Questions? Ask Todd Jolly (todd@stjohnsberkeley.org) or Evangeline Wolfe (evangeline@stjohnsberkeley.org).
Free Lunch for Berkeley Kids through July 31
Children who are 18 years old or younger are invited to eat free in Berkeley. The City of Berkeley, in collaboration with the State of California Department of Education, will offer free summer lunches and snacks to all Berkeley children at locations across the city. Find locations and more information at berkeleyca.gov.
Meals on Wheels Needs Volunteers to Pack or Deliver Meals to Homebound Seniors
Use an hour of a weekday morning to help pack or deliver nutritious, fresh meals for Berkeley’s homebound seniors. You can expect to make 8-15 deliveries during your shift, which should take about an hour. If you can’t commit to a regular weekly shift, you can also join the on-call list and help when additional volunteers are needed. You can also request a walking or biking route to make deliveries without a car. Learn more and sign up at berkeleyca.gov.
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.
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.
US Presbyterian Church votes to recognize Gaza genocide
The United States’ largest Presbyterian denomination has voted to recognize the genocide in Gaza and impose an arms embargo and divest from Israel on June 30, adding to another major divestment vote that was conducted on June 28.
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), also known as the PCUSA, voted to officially adopt a resolution that will have the institution identify Israel’s war on Gaza as a genocide, lobby US Congress for an arms embargo against Israel and encourage its members to boycott Israeli products that contribute to its war.
The vote was 454-15.
“The overwhelming votes our church made this week…signal a major shift in public opinion on Palestine,” Bob Ross, Steering Committee member of the Palestine Justice Network (PJN) of the Presbyterian Church, told The New Arab.
Ross notes that Presbyterians come from across the political divide and are located in every corner of the US, making it a politically and geographically diverse denomination.
“The General Assembly, which reflects this diversity, spoke in a unified voice against genocide and for measures that will hopefully contribute to the liberation of Palestine,” Ross adds. Read the full announcement.
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.