Bethel Community San Leandro

Pastor Erina preaches for Pentecost Sunday on the Spirit's work of radical joining, bringing together unlikely people through unexpected tongues. She also shares some stories from the life of Liz Haupert, our beloved church member who passed away on June 2nd, and invites us to receive the Spirit's work of granting us new languages to participate in God's new family.

Pastor Michael preaches on Ascension Sunday about the ways that Christ's ascension is an antidote to the disciple's atrophied imaginations, an invitation to loving our enemies and expanding our vision of who God's goodness is for. How might we participate in the act of "dual witnessing"- as we witness the Spirit's unexpected work and then share it with others?

Pastor Erina continues our Eastertide series by reflecting on Jesus' interactions with his disciples on the shore, inviting them to breakfast. How does Christ's invitation to a set table help remind the disciples of who they are and what they're called to? How might we too, be called to feed as we have been fed?

Pastor Michael continues our Eastertide series and leads us in a collective practice of Visio Divina, using Scott Erickson's artpiece depicting the story of Thomas. How does Jesus meet us and honor our needs- even in the face of our very real doubts?

Pastor Erina continues our Eastertide series by reflecting on Jesus' appearance behind locked doors, and the act of recognition that comes through revealing his wounds to his friends. What does this moment teach us about the nature of being sent as Christ's "apostles?" How might we embrace the call to be wounded healers, just like our risen Lord?

Our Theologian-in-Residence, Barnabas Lin, shares a few snapshots from his recent Witnessing Delegation to Palestine, revealing stories of Palestinian kin who keep hoping and remaining steadfast, even amid impossible situations. He also reflects on the story of Jesus, walking unrecognized on the Emmaus Road. How might God continue to be walking and moving among us- to be encountered in the breaking of bread with strangers?

Pastor Michael continues our Eastertide series by exploring the moment of Mary hearing Jesus say her name, while grieving at the tomb. How does the act of being known and remembered help Mary to recognize what was previously unrecognizable? How might we remember resurrection not just as a cosmic, historic event, but also an intimate, tender one?

Pastor Erina preaches on Resurrection Sunday about the ways that resurrection is being seeded in our midst- not in the big and triumphant, but in the small and hidden. How might we take notice of the ways that the risen Christ is at work among us in unexpected ways? How might we take part in continuing his work through small acts of faithfulness, hope, and love?

Rev. Lynice Pinkard closes out our series on Habakkuk, by reflecting on the prophet's ability to rejoice, even when the world is on the brink of collapse. She invites us into the dialectic of suffering and joy, by embracing trembling as truth, waiting as revelation, strength as vulnerability, and movement as adaptation.

Habakkuk reminds us that, when times are hard, we can look back to our ancestors and our own past to see that God always shows up. God has a track record with us. God can be found in the old covenant ways that our ancestors knew. We can go back and find courage to go forward in faith.

Pastor Michael continues our sermon series on Habakkuk, by looking at God's vision - a vision that understands tyrants come and go, anyone can become a tyrant, and that the righteous live by faith. In these treacherous days how might we continue to remember God's presence among us, and live the life of faithfulness that God calls us to?

Pastor Michael provides brief reflections on Habakkuk 2:2-4, to introduce a time of reflection for our community. He continues to track the conversation between Habakkuk and Yahweh, even as it arrives at the point of waiting. How does this section of Habakkuk model what it means to trust in God's word and God's promise, even when we are waiting for them to come to pass?

Pastor Erina continues our Lenten sermon series on "Habakkuk and the Blues" by following the trackable conversation between God and Habakkuk into dissonance. What do we do when God says and does things we don't expect or want? How might embracing dissonance be an expression of our faith, not our lack of it?NOTE: During this sermon, Pastor Erina plays a 2 min video clip, which can be found here: https://youtu.be/meha_FCcHbo?si=dh_fr2kDvbn3cCzF

Pastor Michael kicks off our Lenten series by examining the first 4 verses of Habakkuk as the start of a conversation between God and the prophet- a conversation that begins with lament. How might the prophet Habakkuk guide us into relationship with a God who does not censor us? And what might it look like for us to embody this practice of lament- both in the sanctuary and in the streets?

Pastor Erina concludes our sermon series on our church values by contrasting a Trinitarian vision for a life of mutuality and sharing with our society's current movements toward authoritarianism. How does our Triune God provide us an antidote for a life of hoarding and hierarchy? What might it look like to embrace the truth that we were created to be co-creators?

Pastor Erina continues our sermon series on our church values by exploring our value for repair. In our throwaway culture, what might it look like to commit toward the hard and courageous work of repair? How might we live out God's commitment to the goodness of creation and the renewal of all things, together?

Pastor Michael continues our sermon series, exploring our church value for curiosity by reflecting on the interaction between Jesus and "Ally Legend" in Mark 14. He challenges us to move away from relationships based on judment and surveillance, to relationships marked by care and curiosity. How might we experience God drawing near to us as we draw near to God in curiosity?

Pastor Erina reflects on our church value for moving with expansiveness- following the movements of the Spirit in ways that stretch, surprise, and expand. As we witness all the ways that our society is moving towards contraction and restriction rather than expansiveness, how might we be a church that continues to stay soft? How might we be open to the "many ways" that God can work in a faith community?

Pastor Erina continues our sermon series on church values by reimagining what it means to be a community with roots, moving from an individual vision to a collective one. She shares some wisdom from the world of redwood forests, and names some of the connections our church has - to tradition, to scripture, to saints, to history, and to denominational bodies- that keep us supported and nourished as a community.

Pastor Michael kicks off a new sermon series exploring our church's values, starting with our church's value for embodying a healing, joyful home. He explores the scandalous vision of God's house from Isaiah 56- where all are included, all belong, and narratives about who we are can be transformed and healed in God's presence. What might it look like, then, for us to truly live out this value together?

Children and Family Ministries Director, Jill Gidlund, leads our whole church in an intergenerational experience of Godly Play, exploring the Epiphany Story. What might it mean for us that the light of Christ has come into our world and continues to be among us? If you would like to watch the video, please contact us!

Pastor Erina invites us to reflect on the gift of joy, even in the midst of the darkness and despair of the world around us. How might joy be activated by meaningful connections, deeper attention, and delightful expression? She concluded the sermon with a co-created concert of delights, as an expression of what has brought us joy this season.

Guest preacher, Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley, shares with us about the love of God that comes to us in the form of divine vulnerability. He also unpacks the simple yet challenging commands of John the Baptist in Luke 3- to give away what we have as an expression of love those in need. How might John's words invite us into acts of generosity, care, and sacrifice as we continue to participate in the realm of God?

Pastor Michael continues our Advent sermon series by reflecting on the vision of God's "path of peace," as presented in Zechariah's song. How might we experience God's divine rescue from enemies and freedom through forgiveness, even in the midst of a world marked by violence and alienation?

Pastor Erina kicks off our Advent series by preaching on Romans 8 and exploring hope as the act of labor between groaning and glory- not just for humankind but for all of creation. How might we be invited to practice hope for the restoration of all creation in this Advent season?

Pastor Erina concludes our fall series by reflecting on the ambiguous, unresolved ending of Mark- with the women at the empty tomb. How does Mark's resurrection narrative make space for us to both name our fears and to invite new possibilities, especially in this post-elections moment? How might we embrace the mystery that the tomb might actually be a womb? NOTE: Betwen the 16:00-19:00 mark there is a time where silent reflection was held. Sermon slides, including responses to group reflection questions, can be found here: https://bit.ly/bcpcsermonslides

Pastor Michael explores the trial of Jesus in Mark 15, highlighting the ways that the decision to execute Jesus was based in a "rigged game" and a "sham trial." What does this moment expose about the evils of both Empire and religious institutions? How might Jesus's actions that point to a greater hope for renewal beyond broken human systems, and give us hope in this current political moment?

Guest preacher, Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, speaks to our community about the importance of both individual and communal discernment in the midst of our political realities. While he acknowledges that elections are an activity of empire, he challenges us to engage power in such a way that upholds the belovedness of all people, even those we might consider our enemies. How might we prevent evil from "winnning," by choosing to overcome evil with good?

Barnabas Lin, our church's Itinerant Minister and Theologian in Residence, addresses the complexity and messiness of claiming our political power, even in the midst of the broken systems of Empire. How might our commitment to honor God and our love our neighbors compel us to vote, to protest, to divest, to advocate and to pray, even when the Empire seeks to limit our imagination and cause us to despair?

Pastor Erina reflects on sections in Mark and the ways that Jesus disrupts the social order of his time by reorienting family and kinship. How might the promise of a family that extends beyond our blood families be good news for us in a time, climate, and reality in which sometimes, our families are the ones we need saving from?

Jazzy Johnson guest preaches for us and guides us into the interaction between Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman in Mark 7, reminding us that salvation is not abstract, but material. She invites us to hear and heed the cry of this woman, alongside obstinate mothers across time and history, who have fought for their own dignity by demanding their daily bread. How might we continue to hear these cries in our world today, and work for the alleviation of material suffering that they are calling for? NOTE: Around 23 minutes into her sermon, there are a couple of minutes of silence in the recording as Jazzy shows some slides, representing the cries for alleviation. Here are the slides that she shared: https://bit.ly/4eTxI3U

Pastor Erina continues our sermon series by looking at the story of the demoniac in Mark 5 from an imperial lens. How does the naming of Legion in Mark 5 unveil Jesus's authority over the forces of Empire, militarism, and occupation? How might we follow Jesus into the act of naming the demons of our world, in pursuit of collective liberation?

Guest preacher, Rev. Riana Shaw Robinson, preaches for us from Mark 12:41-44, by speaking from the voice of the widow. How does the widow's offering in the midst of a broken and exploirtative temple system remind us of Jesus's movements in our world? How might her story invite us to embrace the margins, to see the invisible, and to work toward a world where all God's children are seen- regardless of their status?

Pastor Michael continues our sermon series by reading Jesus's authority to heal within the conditions of Empire. How is healing not just a physical act, but also a political one? And how might Jesus' deliberate healing actions represent a disruption of the Empire's inertia toward both sickness and injustice?

Pastor Erina kicks off our fall sermon series by providing us some historical context for the imperial backdrop of the Markan narrative and examining the beginnings of Jesus's ministry in Mark 1. How does the arrival of Jesus- in movements of belonging, belovedness, and vulnerability- provide us an antidote to Empire? How does Jesus provide us new understandings of messiahship that defy the expectations of rule based in power and domination? *Note: The sermon recording starts a little late. 

Pastor Erina and Pastor Michael share some updates on work that our community has collaborated on the past 6 months- updating our church identity and values statements.

Dayo Ajanaku concludes our "Passions of the People" series by sharing about the Enneagram as a framework for healing, growth, and self-actualization. She shares about her personal journey in discovering a God who fully knows and accepts her (as enneagram 1) and her hopes for all people to not only survive but to thrive as they come to know themselves better through the Enneagram.

Nancy James and Jonelle Crow share about aging as a source of blessing rather than just a burden. They reflect on their book club experience reading "The Gift of Years" by Joan Chittister and impart their personal explorations and wisdom around the realities of aging through their embodied experience.

Cindy Chan shares about her journey as an artist- what it means to feel God's pleasure as she creates and how she's come to embrace art as a means of fostering care and connection rather than capitalistic gain. She also shares some art pieces that hold significance to her journey.

Katie Joh shares her passion for the dignity of all families through her journey of becoming an advocate in the child welfare system, fighting for family preservation and reunification. She gives us glimpses of the ways our current system unfairly criminalizes and punishes families based on race and class, and shares how Isaiah's prophetic words in Isaiah 58 move her toward both anger and hope.

Matt Gustafson shares about how his experiences with community organizing, communal living, and community land trusts has expanded his imagination for land and housing. How might we begin to view housing and land as resources for building community and pursuing the common good, rather than accumulating personal wealth and profit?

Two physicians in our community, Dr. Miriam Lomelino and Dr. Teresa Ku-Borden, share a bit of their story, their work, and their passions with us in a joint interview, along with how they are trying to humanize healthcare, even as they face the Goliath of our health care system.

Church member Shanda Scherdin continues our "Passions of the People" series by sharing about her experience with neurodiversity, home education, and unschooling movements, and how these things intersect with her faith.

We kick off a special summer interview series called "Passions of the People," highlighting some of the gifts and passions of members of our community. Church elder Yehsong Kim shares about her journey toward becoming a therapist, and the ways that churches can provide healing and therapeutic community for those dealing with anxiety, depression, and perfectionism.

Brandi Miller preaches from the creation narrative, challenging interpretations of creation rooted in rigidity and hierarchy and inviting us to explore the "negative space" in the story. How might a fuller picture of the world God is creating invite us into greater expansiveness, creativity, and freedom?

Pastor Michael continues our "Expanding the Table" sermon series, preaching for Father's Day on the parable of the prodigal. How does the father in this story create new social imaginaries by rejecting the gender binary? How does this parable grant us a more expansive view of the revolutionary act of parenthood?

Pastor Erina preaches from Acts 11, about the Spirit's transgressive work in the early Church, which led to the inclusion of Gentiles in their community. What does Peter's encounter with Cornelius teach us about how to approach divine revelation? How might we wrestle with a Scriptural tradition in which the word of God presses against the word of God and brings about new and unexpected changes?

Guest preacher, Natarsha Sanders, preaches from Romans 12 about the nature of God's radical love - a love that we are called both to experience and to embody. What might our lives look like, planted in the fertile love of God?

Pastor Michael preaches for us on Trinity Sunday, about the life of our Triune God as an embodiment of family- a family marked by belonging and belovedness.

Pastor Erina preaches for Pentecost 2024, sharing about the Holy Spirit's leveling power and casting vision for a church community where power is shared. In light of Bethel's 5 year anniversary or revitalization, what does it look like to become a house of God marked by abundance and co-creation and inspired by the Spirit's leveling power?

Guest Preacher, Erna Kim Hackett, shares a special Mother's Day and AANHPI Month reflection on Yuri Kochiyama's legacy of radical solidarity and radical mothering. How might Yuri's life and witness point us to a God of justice, and teach us how to live in these days?