Mission Outreach
Engage in God’s work in this world and serve alongside one another.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement during this time! Interested in volunteering with organizations during COVID-19? See below or find a more comprehensive list here.
Mission Outreach partner highlights
SAVE THE DATE for GCC! Mark your calendars for October 2-4 events as we explore a new interpretation of the Global Church Conference (GCC). More information below! Register here.
By listening to voices of faith community leaders, we seek to live into racial justice and reconciliation. We have been learning about the church’s complicity in racism by reading Jemar Tisby’s Color of Compromise and are excited to share an evening with Jemar and others throughout GCC weekend. Zoom Registration and service information at www.fpcberkeley.org. For questions, contact betht@fpcberkeley.org.
Jemar Tisby in Conversation with Mark Labberton and Michael McBride (Friday, October 2 at 7 pm)
Enjoy author Jemar Tisby in a prerecorded conversation with Fuller Seminary President, Mark Labberton followed by a live Q/A with Jemar and The Way Pastor and local and national faith leader, Michael McBride.
Panel on Racial Justice and Faith (Saturday, October 3 at 10–11:30 am)
Hear a panel with Rev. Alexia Salvatierra (Fuller Seminary, Centro Latino, author), Raymond Chang (Wheaton College), and Dominique DuBois Gilliard (Racial Rightousness and Reconciliation, ECC, author) on racial injustice and faith.
Rev. Kamal Hassan from Sojourner Truth Pres leads World Communion Sunday service (Sunday, October 4 for 10 am service, 11:15–12 pm)
SF Presbytery $50,000 grant for CityTeam and Turning Point (formerly House of Hope). The Mission Outreach team is thrilled to share this news to support a Career Readiness program, a bathroom remodel effort, welcome bags/hospitality kits, and garden maintenance. As we work alongside CityTeam in program development, we will share more about how you can join us!
Beirut in Need special offering. To donate, please mail a check to First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, write “Beirut in Need” on the Memo line. To donate online, click here. Email betht@fpcberkeley.orgor tome@fpcberkeley.org if you have any questions.
Harbor House and Children Rising are in need of virtual tutors. Harbor Houseis offering one-on-one Virtual Tutoring 2-3 times per week for 30 minutes via Zoom or Google Hangouts. Contact our own Martha Allen at martha@hhministries.org. Children Rising’svirtual tutoring clinics allow for two students, individually, for forty five minutes each. Children Rising asks for a weekly commitment for the school year (allowing for sickness and breaks). To learn more please click here. For questions, contact beckym@fpcberkeley.orgor betht@fpcberkeley.org.
Anti-Racism Resources
The Racial Justice and the Church working group is sharing a resource list for how we can take steps in learning about anti-racism.Take a look at our current “top” recommendations for learning about anti-racism.This list will be updated as we discover, examine, and endorse additional educational materials. Please email racialjustice@fpcberkeley.org, Beth Thomsen at betht@fpcberkeley.org, or Tom Elson at tome@fpcberkeley.org with any questions.
Mission Outreach partners and First Pres congregants are sharing their front-line work close up and personally through these short videos. More videos will be added regularly!
Support our Mission partners and community: Many of our partners have needs during this time, especially local partners who are providing food, healthcare, and refugee support.
In light of the Covid19 pandemic, we are creating a Special Offering for our front-line partners that are focused on additional food programs for the most vulnerable. Donate here.
Check out virtual fundraisers for our mission partners!
For latest COVID-19 news, read our Summer Newsletter
Learn about our Mission Partners
For more information about Mission Outreach Ministries, please contact Beth Thomsen at betht@fpcberkeley.org.
