English Ministry News and Notes for 1-1-12

*Happy, Happy New Year! The church office will be closed on Jan. 2nd to celebrate the new year.

*Celebrate the New Year...by Hiking - Please connect with Becky, Charlie or Burt to participate in this new year's tradition on Monday, Jan. 2nd at 8:00 a.m.

*Making Sense of Scriptures, a New Adult Sunday School Class begins Jan. 8th at 9:30 a.m. If you've ever struggled to open, understand, and connect with scripture, this may just be the class for you. What better way to start off the new year?!  For more information, connect with Charlie or Steve.

*Do you enjoy meeting new people? Do you have a knack for welcoming others? An usher and greeter training will be held for current and new ushers and greeters on Sunday, Jan. 8th. Our time together will enable us to grow in this important area of ministry. Please RSVP to Ben, Chair of Invitation & Witness Ministry Area.

*What Better Way to Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Than Through Service? You're invited to sign up to work at the Lake Merritt UMC Food Pantry on the 2nd Saturday of each month. In January, this will fall during the MLK weekend, Jan. 14th. Please sign up on the sheet in the social hall. For more information, please connect with Jane.

*Human Relations Day Special Sunday - We will observe Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday with our own Human Relations Day Worship on Jan. 15th. The purpose of this day is to call "the Church to recognize the right of all God's children in realizing their potential as human beings in relationship with each other." Our special guest preacher will be the Rev. Israel Alvaran who serves as Interfaith Organizer for Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice of California (CLUE-CA) and the hotel and restaurant workers union UNITE HERE Local 2 in San Francisco, CA. We will also take a special offering on this day. Your Human Relations Day offering supports vital community ministries that teach and advocate for justice, especially among people struggling to survive in the margins of society through ministries like Youth Offender Rehabilitation, Community Developers self-improvement programs and United Methodist Voluntary Services community advocacy,