20th Sunday after Pentecost … Oct. 26, 2025 at 10am
Come as you are! Everyone welcome … In-person or on Zoom.
R E A D I N G S
🔆 Rumi 🔆 Song of Songs 5:1-6 🔆 Romans 14:13-19
S E R M O N
“Intimate Love and Marriage” The Reverend Dr. Max Lynn
M U S I C
PRELUDE … Organ Piece No. 2, Frank Bridge (1879-1941)
INTROIT … Easter Prayer, Todd Jolly (b. 1961)
HYMN … Not for Tongues of Heaven’s Angels
ANTHEM … Song of Songs, John Geist (World Premier)
HYMN … Morning Has Broken
OFFERTORY … Pastorale Mvt. 3, J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
HYMN … God Is Love
POSTLUDE … Fuga, Dieterich 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 – – – – – – –
Oct 26 – SJ Song of Songs (on Reformation Sunday)
Oct 26 – SJ Sunday Forum: Co-Creating Meaning in Difficult Biblical Texts
Nov 2 – Daylight Saving time ends – Clocks fall back 1 hour
Nov 2 – SJ Día de Los Muertos Sunday
Nov 16 – SJ Stewardship Sunday
Nov 16 – SJ Sunday Forum: How We Work with Violence in the Old Testament
Nov 16 – SJ Art Fundraiser featuring Julia Oversloot’s watercolor art
Nov 23 – SJ Thanksgiving Service begins at 11am
Nov 30 – 1st Day of Advent: Hope
Dec 7 – 2nd Day of Advent: Peace
Dec 14 – 3rd Day of Advent: Joy
Dec 14 – SJ Children’s Christmas Pageant
Dec 21 – 4th Day of Advent: Love
Dec 21 – SJ Christmas Music Sunday
Dec 24 – SJ Christmas Eve Carols & Candlelight Service
Upcoming Sunday Forums
Take a break after worship for 5-10 minutes, then come back for a conversation:
October 26
Co-Creating Meaning in Difficult Biblical Texts: Intern Elizabeth Conway will host a round table for people to ask questions about texts that concern them. From her own lives experience having to read and learn from difficult texts, she will facilitate your questions so we can explore together.
November 16
Joseph S. Alemany, Professor of Biblical Studies at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), Jesuit School of Theology, and Gina Hens-Piazza will speak about: How We Work with Violence in the Old Testament. There are many disturbing images in these texts and we should pay attention to them. Noticing the text around the images can help. One of the most engaging Old Testament teachers at the GTU who has published on this topic, visits us to add to this series.
Día de los Muertos, November 2
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated to honor and commemorate deceased loved ones and celebrate the cycle of life and death. It is a joyous occasion rooted in Indigenous traditions from Mexico and Central America. Families create altars, called ofrendas, with their loved ones’ photos and favorite foods to welcome their spirits back to Earth for a temporary visit. We would like to share this continuum of life with you through this November 2 celebration. We invite you to bring photos of your loved ones or their favorite foods to place on the altar. Everyone will be able to light a candle on their behalf.
St. John’s Thanksgiving Service, November 23
There will be a special African Thanksgiving Worship Service on Sunday, November 23, wherein we will join together with Église Franco Africaine De La Nouvelle Alliance (EFANA), the French African congregation which meets at St. John’s every Sunday afternoon. Since they have come and worshipped with us during our 10am time, on November 23 we will move our time of worship and join with them in the Sanctuary at 11am. The first half of worship will be a lively Thanksgiving celebration and the second half will include an ordination for their Deacons and Elders, followed with a luncheon.
New Way to Give at John’s
St. John’s is now accepting PayPal aligning with contemporary giving preferences. One can now donate via PayPal for offerings and special events. This new option adds to our ongoing effort to make giving easier and more convenient. We’ll still gladly accept cash and checks, and the use of our webpage’s drop-down menu at stjohnsberkeley.org/about/giving/. Simply scan the PayPal QR Code in our bulletin or church lobby. All donations are tax-deductible, and you’ll receive an email receipt. Thank you for your continued support. – Nelly Coplan
Watercolor Art Fundraiser + Proposed Watercolor Art Class
Julia Oversloot, a botanical watercolor artist, will be selling her work and greeting cards on November 16, after the church service, with all proceeds dedicated to the church. The collection will feature a variety of framed original paintings and archival prints, available in various sizes and prices. Julia’s pieces make exceptional gifts, and her greeting cards, adorned with her botanical artwork, consistently bring joy to those who receive them. Should you wish to acquire an item at a later time, email or text Julia.
Julia is considering offering an introductory adult watercolor class at Berkeley Presbyterian Homes (BPMH). The proposed class is 6-weeks, starting Saturday, November 8, from 9:30am to 11am. This class will cover watercolor basics, focusing on exploration and technique. Julia will provide inexpensive supplies to take home. Attendees will receive supplies and learn fundamental rules. By the end of the session, attendees will even attempt a small version of Van Gogh’s Starry Night. If interested or have scheduling suggestions, please contact Julia by texting or by through email.
Ecumenical Peace Institute Annual Fall Gathering: America, We are Not Powerless
The Ecumenical Peace Institute (EPI) Fall Gathering topic is America Wake Up! We Are Not Powerless; The Antidote To Despair is Activism featuring a panel of representatives from • Indivisible • Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4H) • Answer Coalition • Jewish Voice for Peace • Haiti Action Committee • National Lawyers Guild
The Gathering is on Saturday, November 8 from 5 to 7pm (in person and on Zoom), at St. John’s Presbyterian Church. 2727 College, Berkeley. To register for the program, please click here. To join on Zoom, Meeting ID: 879 7477 8056, Passcode: 459699. Please RSVP by Nov. 1 for the dinner; Suggested donation $20-$50; No one turned away for lack of funds. Sponsors include St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, Western Institute for Social Research (WISR)
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity’s Benefit Concert: Love Over Fear
The 3rd annual 2025 Love Over Fear Benefit Concert on Thursday, November 13, at the Freight and Salvage (2020 Addison St, Berkeley) is an inspiring evening of music and storytelling that celebrates beloved community across race, language, and immigration status. Experience a powerful lineup of incredible local BIPOC musicians, as we explore themes of journey, justice, and liberation. Proceeds from the concert will advance IM4HI’s work to demand the full humanity of every individual through immigration and decarceration advocacy, accompaniment, and the leadership development of directly impacted leaders and faith allies.
Doors open at 6pm and the Concert starts at 6:30pm. Tickets are general admission, on a sliding scale of $20-50. If you are unable to attend, please purchase a “Pay-It-Forward” ticket to be used by one of our immigrant/formerly-incarcerated leaders. Click here to get your Tickets. This year’s lineup includes BenjaSoul, MOTION, Hanan Huneidi, Diana Gameros, Francisco Herrera, Ricardo Lomeli. For more on Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, click here
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