Berkeley Parents Network: Methodist Churches

Berkeley Parents Network

Methodist Churches

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Religious & Spiritual > Methodist Churches

Albany United Methodist Church Albany
El Cerrito United Methodist Church El Cerrito
Epworth United Methodist Church Berkeley
Trinity United Methodist Church Berkeley

Albany United Methodist Church

Re: Inclusive & Friendly Church (March 2003)
Hi, My husband and I decided to go ''back'' to church (had gone as kids, but not since) when our first child was 6 months old. We've been going to Albany United Methodist Church (on Marin, at Stannage) since then, about 2.5 years. We like it quite a bit. It has a great community feel, with kind, friendly, fun people of all ages and enough kids to keep mine happy and the first part of the service (before they go to Sunday School) lively. The pastor is great at focusing on spiritual growth, spirituality in one's life, etc. - though if you want NO socio- political focus you might not like it quite as much - she does care deeply about peace and justice issues, and has talked about the Iraq situation in a few sermons.

There's a lot of focus on service, both locally and internationally, as well as a bible study group (the Disciple series)and some other similar activities.

The music varies - it can be really good some weeks, and more basic others. Sermons are wonderful - the pastor (Liza Klein) is well-read and draws on a wide range of experiences, stories, quotes, readings etc. to illustrate points and get a message across.

It's not a huge church - average attendance is about 40 per week. But its been a great community for us. We'd recommend it!

Finally back to church...

2001

I highly recommend the Albany United Methodist Church on Marin & Stannage in Albany. Pastor Liza Klein is wonderful--she has a PhD in Anthropology from UCB & is extremely progressive in her approach. She is committed to building a congregation diverse in age, ethnicity, and socio-economic background. The church has wonderful children, and a great kids program. This is not an upper-crusty church, and has few bells and whistles, but is a down to earth haven in a hectic world. There are also other family programs held during the week. Services are Sundays at 10. Eabremner

El Cerrito United Methodist Church

Re: Inclusive & Friendly Church (March 2003)
The El Cerrito United Methodist Church is a family-oriented, inclusive (racial, sexual orientation, age) small church at the corner of Stockton and Richmond. My blended, racially and sexual-orientation mixed family has been attending there for about 12 years. The music program is phenomenal for such a small church. Childcare during worship is provided in a multi- age program.

Currently, we are offering a Lenten Prayer study on Tuesday nights (simple soup supper followed by a ''sampler'' study: tonight we studied prayer through music, next week will be prayer through scripture [Lectio Divina, Colloquy], the following will be prayer through the body [when words fail us], and more!). Worship is at 10:00 a.m. Sundays.

An Emmaus community (spiritual discernment and deepening) is growing in this church, with a wider Bay Area connectional community just beginning to gel.

You can see more about ECUMC at http://www.gbgm-umc.org/elcerrito/

You (or anyone else) are welcome to contact me, too!

If our church doesn't fit your needs, we make every effort to put you in touch with a church that might be a better match. Amy

Trinity United Methodist Church

Re: Inclusive & Friendly Church (March 2003)
We have been very happy at Trinity United Methodist. It's a relatively small, but very loving, congregation with a wonderful music program. The church is on Bancroft right across from the University. It's been a wonderful inter-generational experience for my kids who have many surrogate grandparents among the congregation! And, there is a nice mix of families, University folks, and the usual kind of eclectic group that you might expect to find in Berkeley. Feel free to email me with questions.
Pat

Re: Seeking diverse place of worship (Oct 2002)
I wanted to mention Trinity United Methodist Church on Bancroft and Dana in Berkeley. It doesn't meet all of your ''wish list'' but does meet some of the important ones. It's small and a mix of both lesbian and straight families. There isn't much racial diversity, but there is a lot of generational diversity. It's small and doesn't have a teen program, but everyone is very loving and really knows and dotes on the kids that attend. It has a lot of character and is as eccentric as Berkely can be...while truely being a place of worship Patricia

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