Greetings friends!

Over the past several months I have been praying for this congregation and last week I had the great joy of finally meeting many of you as we shared in worship and fellowship. I learned that one of the goals of the church is to offer radical hospitality and I certainly have felt warmly welcomed by you.

If you have ever moved, you know that it takes a while to find your way around. As I’ve tried to navigate a new ministry, the town of Oakland, and the neighborhood of Chinatown I have had endless practical questions including: "Where do I get my groceries?" "Where do I park?" "Where is a good place to eat lunch?" I’m especially thankful to SPRB chair, Jane Yin and vice-chair, Peggy Woon for helping me to navigate the responsibilities of my new appointment and for taking me on a tour of the Chinatown neighborhood.

This week I experienced the energy and excitement of the Adventures in Faith / Weird Animals program. What a lift to my faith to see so many youth participate in leadership and of course the excitement of the children is contagious!
The scripture passage for this week’s message recalls Jesus’ parable of the sower. It is evident that God is cultivating something beautiful here at CCUMC and I am thankful to be a part of it.

Peace to you – Pastor Brenda