Come as you are! Everyone welcome … In-person or on Zoom.
R E A D I N G S
🔆Isaiah 42 🔆Psalm 29 🔆Matthew 3
S E R M O N
“Baptism and the Solidarity of Grace” The Reverend Dr. Max Lynn
M U S I C
PRELUDE … Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
INTROIT … Intonuit de cœlo Dominus (The Lord Thundered from Heaven), Mason Chadwick Shefa (b. 1993)
HYMN … Earth and All Stars
ANTHEM … For as Many of You, arr. Alexander Katalsky (1856-1926) and Douglas J. Walczak
HYMN … Every Time I Feel the Spirit
OFFERTORY … Canzona No. 5, Johann Jakob Froberger (1616-1667)
HYMN … When Jesus Came to Jordan
POSTLUDE … Mein Jesu, der du mich, Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
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 – – – – – – –
Jan. 10 – Memorial Service for Lois Andiloro
Jan. 11 – Baby Shower for Mila Trabanio
Jan. 18 – Sunday Forum: Dr. Eugene Park
Jan. 25 – Sunday Forum: Dr. David Hollinger
Jan. 31 – Memorial Service for Barbara Taylor
Upcoming Sunday Forums
Take a break after worship for 5-10 minutes, then come back for a conversation:
Jan. 18 – The Gospel According to Jesus?
The word “gospel” was a technical term with specific connotations both in ancient Israel and ancient Greece. The Hebrew Bible contains passages that indicate an evolution of the term “gospel” from the monarchical period to the Persian colonial times. Eugene Park’s presentation will trace the semantic changes of this highly loaded word in broad strokes, and will venture an informed guess as to how the historical Jesus would have understood its meaning.
Eugene Eung-Chun Park is a New Testament scholar, a Professor at the San Francisco Theological Seminary and the Graduate Theological Union. He teaches the Gospels and Pauline Epistles, the Parables of Jesus, and reading in Classical Greek. He is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and as a Korean-American he maintains a close relationship with the theological and ecclesiastical communities in Korea.
Jan. 25 – A Conversation About Christianity’s American Fate
We are living in a time where the paradox of an increasingly secularized society is dominated by conservative, white evangelical Christianity. How did we get here? David Hollinger will present a 30,000-foot view of the history he details in his book, Christianity’s American Fate, that traces the roots of the ecumenical church’s challenges in the US today.
David A. Hollinger is the Preston Hotchkis Professor of History, emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. He specializes in American intellectual history and American ethno-racial history. He is a popular speaker and the author of many published papers and books that carefully chronicle intersecting social, political, cultural, ethnic, and religious movements in American history.
Memorial Service scheduled for Lois Andiloro
There will be a Celebration of Life service for our beloved church member, Lois Andiloro, on Saturday, January 10, at 2:30pm here at St. John’s Presbyterian Church. Lois passed away on November 28; She was 91 years old. She joined our church community in April 2005 and served actively on several commissions during her time here. We welcome all who knew Lois to attend the service and join us in celebrating her glorious life.
Baby Shower for Mila Trabanio
On Sunday, January 11, please join us around 11:45am after coffee hour for Mila Trabanio’s baby shower in the Fireside Room. Mila is expecting a baby boy on February 20. Questions? Contact Jeanine Castello-Lin, through email.
Memorial Service scheduled for Barbara Taylor
Barbara Becker Taylor passed away on December 10, 2025, at the age of 95. Barbara joined St. John’s Presbyterian Church in March 1975. Her lasting legacy is evident through her work on SJ commissions, her service as a Deacon, and her many years of commitment working in the church office. A Celebration of Life service will be held to honor her memory on Saturday, January 31, at 2pm at St. John’s Presbyterian Church. Please join us in person as we gather to celebrate her life.
Report on M&J’s Berkeley Women’s Daytime Drop-in Center Donations 2025
Thanks to the efforts of our church community and the advertising beginning in mid-November, the information about the December 14th collection for the Women’s Daytime Drop-in Center was shared with far and wide. On collection day, Christmas Pageant Sunday, people arrived at church with so many thoughtful and useful donations! Many items were brought down the aisle during the Offertory. Several people remarked that there appeared to be a significant increase in the size of this year’s donation compared to 2024.
The drop-off to the Center on December 18 included nine boxes, ten medium-sized bags, and a ginormous waist-high heavy-duty bag filled with items donated by members and friends of our church community. The Center’s staff were very pleased to learn that our donation included most of the items on the Center’s “wish list” and ranged from the practical (toiletries of all sizes, sanitary products, underwear, warm outerwear, hand-knit scarves and hats), to the “special” (socks of all colors, sizes, and lengths, small toiletries kits, handmade friendship bracelets, and Ghirardelli chocolate squares). The St. John’s community also contributed over $435 in Safeway and Target gift cards, over and above the items donated from the “wish list”. These gifts, as well as the dozens of others not mentioned here, were gratefully received by Drop-in Center staff members. They were very appreciative and said that they look forward to our annual partnership each year.
We thank everyone who made this Mission and Justice Commission project so successful. The St. John’s community has made a positive difference in the lives of many of our Berkeley neighbors and their families once again this year. – Cynthia Simon and Lisa Blampied
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.
Senior Resources Fair on February 7 at St. John’s
The Realtors Resource for Seniors Committee is hosting the third annual Senior Resource Fair on Saturday, February 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church. This community event is free, open to the public and the facility is ADA compliant. The fair will have speakers and 50+ information tables. The speaker topics include Geriatric Care Management, Elder Financial Issues, Senior Moves Management, and Connective Horse for those with Alzheimer’s and their Caregivers. The tables will have information provided by cities, the county, senior centers, local nonprofits and businesses serving seniors and their families. The services include senior move managers, elder placement specialists, geriatric care agencies, home care agencies, transportation, meal delivery, estate sale companies and others who specialize in helping older adults. The fair is sponsored by local realtors and mortgage brokers. For more info, contact Joann Sullivan at srsresfair@gmail.com