HS Insert

About EBHO

EBHO, which stands for East Bay Housing Organizations, is the coalition that supports Housing Sabbath.

EBHO brings together all sorts of advocates for affordable housing. Collectively, we're building a movement to ensure everyone has a safe, health, and affordable place to call home.

Since 1984, our mission is to preserve, protect and expand affordable housing opportunities through education, advocacy and coalition-­building. We include more than 300 organizations and community leaders advocating for affordable housing development and equitable housing policies.

Interfaith Communities United

Interfaith Communities United for Affordable Housing (ICU), an important group within EBHO, develops relationships with Bay Area interfaith and inter-­religious organizations. We believe that our faith requires us to support the least among us, as many religious texts demand. Our belief in a greater power roots our work towards social and housing justice.

For more information or to get involved, contact our Director of Interfaith Programs, Rev. Sandhya Jha, at sandhya@ebho.org.

Housing Sabbath

Each year, dozens of communities dedicate part of their worship or meditation time to the theme of affordable housing as a human right and safe shelter as an ethical, moral, and spiritual issue. Congregations participate in many different ways: inviting in speakers, preaching on the subject, including the theme of safe shelter for all in prayer, and more. This year, you are joining with 25 other East Bay congregations of a number of faiths to worship and remember the least among us. You are part of a powerful spiritual movement for affordable housing!

People of faith can change the way the larger community approaches this larger issue. Thank you for the time you have spent today on affordable housing - you have already made a difference.

Affordable Housing in the East Bay

Affordable housing is becoming harder to find for low-­income families. Over the last several years, gentrification of once-­affordable Bay Area neighborhoods has displaced many families.

With high-­quality affordable housing, the entire community becomes safer, stronger, and more stable. Affordable housing is a human right. Having stable housing is critical to living a healthy, safe life. As people of faith, we believe that everyone has the right to a life in which they feel able to have a place to call their own.

Issues in your community:

• Your city is creating a Housing Element that shapes affordable housing for the next five years. Your voice can make sure residents don't get displaced and the poorest people in the community have safe shelter!
• State Assembly bill AB 1733 would provide unhoused people with free identification cards so they can access the services they need.
• Alameda County is considering whether to create a permanent funding source for affordable housing with money they receive from the state ("Boomerang funds").

To learn more about how to get involved with any of these campaigns, email sandhya@ebho.org

Signs of Homelessness

“Signs of Homelessness” is an art exhibit that gathers the signs of 

the homeless and displays them as the pieces of art that they are. 

The exhibit’s first showing is at Walnut Creek United Methodist 

Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave in Walnut Creek, only a 

fifteen minute walk from the Pleasant Hill / Contra Costa Centre 

BART station. 

We will be having a reception thanking our collaborators and 

inviting the public to see the exhibit at 1pm on Sunday, May 18th 

at Walnut Creek UMC. Please come!

You can also visit the exhibit any time between May 11th and May 

31st from 10:30am to 4:30pm. 

If you are interested in contributing to the project, please email 

signsofhomelessness@landsarch.com. 

Sponsored by Bruce Jett Associates and EBHO

English Ministry News and Notes 5-18-14

• Today, We Celebrate Housing Sabbath and Warmly Welcome Rev. Sandhya Jha - Pastor Sandhya serves as Interfaith Program Director at East Bay Housing Organizations. An ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), she serves as an anti-racism trainer and congregational transformation consultant in northern California and around the nation. Sandhya also serves as founder/director of the Oakland Peace Center. Sandhya was just published in the Bible Study "Just Women", coauthored the Bible study book "And Still We Rise", and received an MDiv in 2005 from the University of Chicago. Learn more about this ministry in the Messenger insert.
• Cherry picking fellowship with the Homework Club and CM members is happening! The EM congregation (YOU!) has been invited to join this fun group heading to Brentwood on Saturday, May 31st, meeting at church at 9:30AM. Connect with Yvonne by May 18th if you'd like your day to be filled "like a bowl of cherries."
• Adventures in Faith Monthly Chapel - Let's gather for our final monthly chapel of the school year on Wednesday, May 21st at 2:00 p.m. To participate, please connect with Peggy.
• Let's Keep Praying! You are encouraged to include our VIM Team and trip in your daily prayers. .

Reflections on Hymns from The Faith We Song by Martha Whitmore Hickman

This reflection is Hymn #2185 For One Great Peace. You are invited to first read the words of this hymn.

Often in our churches (and in our consciences) the "real" work of the church, the "real" vocation for a Christian is not what we consider to be our own calling, our true vocation. Wise and good friends will try to reassure us, "Writing is a Christian vocation" - or sculpture, or carpentry (we have a good model for that one), or dancing or gardening or homemaking. We listen gratefully, and we know they are right, but often the anxiety returns: Shouldn't I be out feeding the hungry, gather petitions, tending to the needs of the poor?

But perhaps ours are different gifts. Someone has said, "Why is it that because we enjoy doing something, it isn't Christian work?" We see the folly in that, but it is easy to think that the really committed Christians spend their time primarily visiting prisons or working with those who are poor and in need.

This hymn reminds us that there are many ways to serve God, and some of them don't involve wearing a preacher's robe, or carrying a placard, or collecting voter registrations or signatures on a petition. Instead, it can be someone wearing the casual clothing of a young mother; an architect tending to the intricate design details of a building; a writer struggling at a desk.

The story is told that, in the famous picture by Durer of two hands raised in prayer, the model was friend of Durer's who spent his life at manual labor so that Durer could pursue his art. A Christian society needs its artists as it needs it social workers, its preachers - and its choir members.

English Ministry News and Notes 5-11-14

• Exciting Sunday School Series Started Today! Don’t miss the exciting series examining the early church community as found in Acts and what we might learn for our community today. The series is lead by Rev. Sandhya Jha of East Bay Housing Organization (EBHO).
• Let’s Keep Praying! You are encouraged to include our VIM Team and trip in your daily prayers.
• Celebrating Housing Sabbath – Next Sunday, May 18th, we will remember and celebrate the importance of affordable housing, our common values of shelter for all persons, and respect for our neighbors, and also appreciation for having a home, a place to belong. We welcome Rev. Sandhya Jha of EBHO as our preacher.

Dear Ones ~

Our Kumi Mission Team is busily preparing for their upcoming trip. We, as the Home Team, can support them in many creative ways. Listed below are a few projects that need many hands to complete.

If you have a little bit of time after worship and fellowship hour, we would greatly appreciate your helping hands. We will be working to complete these projects in the next three Sundays.

1 - Collect cardboard egg cartons (not plastic) for planting seeds. We need many, many of them. Bring them to church and give to me.

2 - Someone to transfer videos to DVD and copy DVD for educational lessons. (There are approximately a dozen of these).

3 - Sort, label and organize the various children's books for the school library.

4 - Ask your dentist for a donation of toothbrushes. We need as many of them as possibly available, but do not need tooth paste. Bring them to church and give them to me.

5 - If you have the gift of printing neatly by hand, we need Helping Hands to print 550 names on a rainbow banner. See Becky for this project.

6 - Assemble mini-slate boards, glue 12" by 12" pieces of cardboard with slate-like material for use as a chalkboard.

Thank you for being a part of the Home Team. - Burt, Home Team Coordinator

Reflections on Hymns from The Faith We Sing

This reflection is hymn #2242, Walk With Me.

You are invited to first read the words of this hymn.

How many times have we been asked to do things we don’t really want to do, but feel we "ought?" Someone has suggested that we reach a state of mature integrity when we can say to ourselves, "No more ‘shoulds’."

But that’s only part of the story, because we know there are tasks that are truly ours. There is a distinction, and we probably don’t always make the right choice. But as the stories in this hymn tell us—stories of Moses, of Peter, of Mary—the closer we feel to God, the more likely we are to know what is right for us. So it was for Moses, who tried to dissuade God: "I am not a leader. I am not an eloquent man." So it was for Peter, who tried to divert Jesus from his holy calling and ended up a leader in Christ’s church. So it was with Mary, who wondered how she, who wasn’t even married, could be given the great honor of bearing God’s Son.

And so it is with you and me, if we discern that a role we would rather avoid is really God’s will.

And how did these historic figures—and how do we—summon the courage and strength to carry out a God-given mission? By staying close to God. "Walk with me," God urges, "I will walk with you." And we do, and God does, and as God’s people we are able in faith to support one another, and our hearts overflow with gratitude for the blessing we really weren’t sure we wanted at all.

English Ministry News and Notes 5-4-14

• Great Thanks for each who made last week’s baby shower so special!
• Camping Fund Special Offering Today! Your generous donations will go towards enabling our young people to attend summer faith forming opportunities. Thank you!
• Let’s Keep Praying! You are encouraged to include our VIM Team and trip in your daily prayers.
• New 4 Week Sunday School Series Starts Next Sunday! Don’t miss an exciting series examining the early church community as found in Acts and what we might learn for our community today. The series will be lead by Rev. Sandhya Jha of East Bay Housing Organization (EBHO).
• Over three plus years ago, Lake Merritt UMC invited CCUMC to partner in the Food Pantry Ministry. CCUMC enthusiastically responded. The experience of serving has enriched each of our spirits. However, it has become apparent that participation has decreased among our members. Through prayer, discussion and discernment, CCUMC has decided to relinquish our partnership. We encourage those who wish to continue to participate to do so. No sign up is necessary. Just inform Leslie Christopher, Coordinator, at lgallaway@aol.com. Please continue to hold the Food Pantry Ministry in prayer as LMUMC continue this vital ministry.

Dear Ones ~
Our Kumi Mission Team is busily preparing for their upcoming trip. We, as the Home Team, can support them in many creative ways. Listed below are a few projects that need many hands to complete.
If you have a little bit of time after worship and fellowship hour, we would greatly appreciate your helping hands. We will be working to complete these projects in the next three Sundays.
1 - Collect cardboard egg cartons (not plastic) for planting seeds. We need many, many of them. Bring them to church and give to me.
2 - Someone to transfer videos to DVD and copy DVD for educational lessons. (There are approximately a dozen of these).
3 - Sort, label and organize the various children's books for the school library.
4 - Ask your dentist for a donation of toothbrushes. We need as many of them as possibly available, but do not need tooth paste. Bring them to church and give them to me.
5 - If you have the gift of printing neatly by hand, we need Helping Hands to print 550 names on a rainbow banner. See Becky for this project.
6 - Assemble mini-slate boards, glue 12" by 12" pieces of cardboard with slatelike material for use as a chalkboard.
Thank you for being a part of the Home Team. -Burt, Home Team Coordinator

A Farewell Note

Beloved Community -

Time has gone by ever so quickly, hasn’t it? I remember sharing the news with you that Steven and I were pregnant at the Christmas candlelight service. At that time, we couldn’t quite imagine what was ahead. Yet, the time has come to say – a temporary, God willing – goodbye. I will begin my maternity leave on Monday, May 5th, and on July 1st, the Bishop has appointed Rev. Brenda Walker to be your pastor. This means that we all – you and I – are entering into a time of transition and change. It is my great hope and prayer that we will journey through this time in much the same way we have all the transitions of the last 5 years – grounded
firmly in God’s grace, united in love and vision, and open to how the Spirit leads us forward.

As I leave, I want to first say an enormous, heartfelt “thank you!” I have been blessed again and again by being your pastor these past 5 years. Starting as your Associate Pastor and transitioning to the Lead Pastor, there has not been a moment in which your solid support and genuine care has not been extended to me and to Steven. You have forgiven mistakes I’ve made, allowed me space to experiment and try things on, laughed with me, and cried with me. Together, we have done our very best to seek after God and God’s kingdom and to embody God’s call here in Oakland Chinatown. I have learned an incredible amount along the way and give thanks for all the ways you have shaped and formed me as a pastor. I am humbled, I am proud, and I am so grateful.

Please do note that while I am on maternity leave (May 5th – June 30th), our able lay leaders with our pastoral team (Meina and Pui Fong) will work together, with you, to ensure that ministry continues to flourish and needs are met. In case of pastoral emergencies, please do contact Jane Yin, SPRB Chair (510-582-4368, janepyin@gmail.com) and/or Meina (510.452.1020, meinako12@gmail.com).

On July 1st, my appointment to CCUMC will end and your new pastor, Rev. Brenda Walker will begin her time here. I am excited for you and for Pastor Brenda, knowing that surely it is God who has lead her here. I am certain that you will do amazing, inspiring work together, and will be eager to hear how God continues to call you forward. I will be holding you and her in God’s light and care. Out of respect for our UMC protocols and in support of Pastor Brenda’s leadership, I will not be in contact with you during this year. However, Pastor Brenda has already welcomed me to return on occasion so that you might see the babies! I look forward to those times of reunion.

A final word: it has been a great joy for me to journey with Meina as she has discerned her call to ordained ministry. This past March, she submitted her request to our District Committee on Ordained Ministry to be accepted into the candidacy process. We are eagerly awaiting to hear word of her first interview and of next steps. Meina has demonstrated herself over the last 2 years to be a compassionate and gifted pastoral leader. CCUMC has been blessed to have her serve here. I urge you to give all of your support to her as she walks the long journey ahead. We look forward to her becoming our Associate Pastor soon!

In gratitude and with hope, Emily