If you ever you have wanted to learn more about the Bible—not just as a document used to excuse bad behavior, but as an ancient, many-layered, sometimes beautiful, sometimes awful text made holy by centuries of the faithful who have found comfort, hope and inspiration in its pages, then the Pastor’s Bible Study is for you.

The Wednesday Pastor’s Bible Study is on break until July 22nd. We hope you will join us when Pastor Ben returns from vacation.

TAIZÉ MEDITATION SERVICE ON WEDNESDAY, October 21st: Treat yourself to a refreshing break in your week, amidst the slings, arrows, clanging, clamor, traffic jams, repulsive politics, and general frenzy of urban life! Mark your calendar and save 7:00-8:00 p.m. on October 21st in the sanctuary for the monthly (3rd Wednesday) candlelight Taizé meditation service consisting of music, scripture reading, prayer, and silence.

This weekend — May 29th thru 31st — is the last weekend to see this year’s Interfaith Art Exhibit. It’s going out in style, however, with an Artist Meet & Greet on Sunday the 31st from 1pm – 4pm. Come to the Islamic Cultural Center this Friday or Saturday for a final chance to view all the beautiful and inspiring artwork (including works by Tom Debley and Carolyn WarmSun!), and on Sunday to meet and hear from the artists.

Looking for a place to celebrate Easter? Looking to bring a friend this year? MPC’s Easter celebration is festive and fun for all ages, and we hope you will join us!

The Interfaith Art Exhibit, the third such partnership between MPC, Kehilla Synagogue, and the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, will hold its opening reception on Saturday, May 2nd at 5pm. The theme is “We Are the Bridge”, and the purpose is to discover how artists creatively envision themselves, their culture, faith, community, and art being a bridge from conflict to resolution and reconciliation.

Youth Group members and parents, we need your input! WHEN can you go on the Mission Trip? (choices in July and August) vote here: http://doodle.com/ftt5nswqgn9tzqcz WHERE might we go? What’s your top choice? Mendocino, Oakhurst, and Hollywood are the 3 proposals that we have to choose from this year. A clear consensus has not yet emerged. Please talk with each other and…

We’re thrilled to be hosting three author-led book talks in September: Sam Barry (Kathi Kamen Goldmark’s Her Wild Oats), Louise Greenspan, MD and Juianna Deardorff, PdD (The New Puberty), and Paul Williams and Tracey Jackson (Gratitude and Trust). This is a continuation of a series of talks that has featured a range of authors including Anne Lamott, Michael Chabon, and Garry Wills.

Our neighborhood now has a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) pick-up point for Phat Beets produce. Thanks to a partnership between Thornhill Elementary and Phat Beets, fresh organic produce is available right across the street from our church!
CSA boxes are a subscription service where you pre-pay for several weeks, and each week you pick up a box full of whatever produce is in season. You get a great deal, and the farmers get stability in knowing they will have consistent customers.

We would like to invite you to attend the Interfaith Harvest Dinner on Saturday, November 2, 6:30 – 9:00 pm, at the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, 1433 Madison Street, Oakland. This interfaith event is sponsored by the Faith Trio, a collaboration among three congregations in the Oakland area representing the three “Abrahamic Faiths” of Islam, Judaism and Christianity: the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, Kehilla Community Synagogue, and Montclair Presbyterian Church.