“Over the last few weeks, I have been going through and scanning old photos. I’m attempting this project right now because my grandson is getting married. All of my siblings are coming in, plus all my nieces and nephews. The last time we were together was at my husband Steff’s death. So this is a chance for me to give each of them a box of photos that will help carry family memories forward. It’s a gigantic job—I’ve lived a long life and have lots of photos. I’ve been walking down memory lane, having a lot of good cries, but also laughing, too.
“What really gives me awe is looking at the people in my family through the generations, all with foibles and faults as we all are, yet they remained faithful and God remained faithful to them. And because of them, I am. And that struck me as being awesome. God’s sovereignty has held me in this place, in this time, and in this generation, and in this line of people across different countries, all converging into the U.S. through immigration. And seeing how many suffered through wars, starvation, disease, and concentration camps, yet God preserved our family. That just spoke to me, to the faithfulness of God.
“My father served in World War II. He ended up in Cuba preparing for the invasion of Japan, and he was terrified, because he knew he probably wouldn’t survive. He never did go because the bomb was dropped. And we had a long conversation about that, about how horrible he felt about that, and how conflicted. Fast forward many years later: my son marries a Japanese woman and they live in Japan. And I said to my dad in his old age, Dad, did you ever think that you would have Japanese grandchildren? He said, not in my wildest dreams—I am delighted that we are bound together by family from many countries. When my son got married, we met Ari’s relatives who also had connections to WWII, but on the Japanese side. It was just incredible to see the mixing of the families. Because my father remained faithful and because of his example, service, and love, I have reaped the benefit.”
“I see God’s goodness everywhere. In my daily life, I get guidance, and I get surprises a lot of the time.
“I first started coming to the 5:05 service with my husband, George. I loved the music and the community! After a while, I wanted to be involved in more than just Sunday worship, so we joined a community group near where we lived in El Cerrito.
“Going back to the beginning of Covid, I got phone calls from somebody at church—I knew her face, but we had never met. She asked me to take a selfie so she could see what I looked like. I asked my husband, well, let’s take a selfie together. So we did. And that was the beginning of this journey.
“During the pandemic, everything changed. George ended up getting sick and went to be with the Lord. When he was very sick in the ICU, I got a lot of support from my community group. They prayed for me, and when I needed help, I could always count on them. This was at the beginning of Covid—I couldn’t even go to the hospital. It was a dark place in my life.
“Some time after George died, I moved into a senior living facility in Oakland, by Lake Merritt. I got a lot of help from my faith community in the move. I joined a community group in my new parish; they have been amazing in helping with rides to church and welcoming me in. But I still love my El Cerrito group, too! I am blessed to be part of both groups.
“I didn’t realize until later that the selfie I took with my husband was the last photo we took together. At that time, I had no idea what all this would lead to.
“Every step of the way, I have met the people God sent to guide me. During times of feeling alone, I know that I have actually not been alone, because God has been with me through these loving relationships. I’m just very, very grateful.”
“My story began in 1963 when I joined the faith community at Cal called Westminster House. There I met Joan and Walt. Joan would become my loving spouse of 56 years, and Walt a roommate, best man in my wedding, and lifelong friend. Along the way Walt developed his interest in art and has been actively involved in both the SF art community and the Lake Tahoe Art League.
“Joan and I visited him and his wife, Mary Alice, many times over the years to renew our friendship and see Walt’s latest art as part of the Open Studio at Tahoe. This last summer I was especially taken by his painting of the Christmas Valley Tree, which Walt gave me as a token of our lasting friendship. It was included in the recent art show at First Pres. When I told him there would be a special service surrounding the art display he was intrigued and came to participate. Neither one of us knew exactly what would happen and were pleasantly surprised by the creative interactive experience of awe that resulted.”
“I feel the goodness of God when I’m in relational connection from ‘the heart zone,’ in conversations that go deeper than mere information sharing. These often take place in quiet places. I tend to feel social anxiety in large groups, so at church gatherings I try to find one or two people with whom I can connect, then move to a quiet corner. That’s when I feel the presence of Christ—’when two or three are gathered.’ Sometimes it takes place around a table in our home. Recently, I flew to Minnesota with two close friends to visit one of our lifelong friends who’d been diagnosed with cancer. That was intense goodness. Burning bush goodness. The kind of goodness that changes you.”
C: “My faith has grown a lot since first coming to First Pres last year when I moved into the 2:42 House. In my internship with Youth Ministry, I get to meet with and mentor students every week. I’ve been able to get to know the kids by hearing the updates in their lives every week. I’ve gotten to see how they have changed and become better people by coming to youth group. It’s super inspiring to see them grow! My faith has been reaffirmed as I’ve seen God work in their lives.
“At winter retreat I saw how much of an impact the youth group has on the kids, and especially M. I’ve seen him grow as a person since we first met, becoming independent with all of his siblings at different schools around the US.
“A big part of my faith and identity in college has been because of the First Pres youth group; I got baptized at their winter retreat last February.”
M: “I came to First Pres two years ago, around the time my family and I moved to CA from OH. Dave and Malu were so welcoming to us, it sort of felt like God wanted us to be at the church.
“Getting to know the youth advisors was fun, but getting to know C was different. She always had a positive attitude and was always happy to see us. She is a wonderful friend.
“Before I came to First Pres I didn’t really have a relationship with God. Church was just somewhere I was forced to go on Sundays. Now, God actually means something to me. I think it was because of the youth group, where you can always talk about your feelings and feel like someone is always there with you, genuinely curious about your life.
“I think I have found my place at First Pres, and that is thanks to wonderful youth advisors—and also the church pastors. I feel like God really wants me to be with these people and this church, and I’m really happy to be here.”
“I have served as a deacon at First Pres and have loved being the ‘hands and feet’ of God’s love for our community, but it was not until I had a brain aneurysm rupture in 2017 that I experienced the full power of community and prayer for myself. I was rushed to the hospital early on a Saturday morning after losing consciousness and was sent by ambulance to Kaiser in Redwood City for a procedure to stop the bleeding in my brain.
“Pastor Paul and many of my friends met outside my ICU room to pray for my recovery and for my family. My daughters were just 16 and 20 when they had to witness me going through life-saving measures without knowing if I would survive, let alone recover my ability to live independently. My other family members who were not believers witnessed this true community of faith surrounding me and caring for my husband Steve and for Sophie and Laura in practical and loving ways. Dear friends organized a prayer meeting that first week with focused prayers for my recovery. By the end of that week, I had improved significantly.
“My work colleagues and neighborhood friends were astonished by the support we received during my hospitalization and after I returned home.
“As I was recovering over the next few months, another friend told me that she had prayed for me to have peace during that time. I was dumbfounded as I had almost no anxiety throughout my recovery. I was eventually able to return to work as a physical therapist and help others in their own recoveries from injuries and surgeries.
“I now walk alongside other friends and family members with life-threatening illnesses and am driven to pray for and to support them in any way that I can. God does not always answer prayers how we would like him to, but he always walks with us, whatever we are going through. He gives us the privilege of bringing others comfort and hope in the challenges that we all face in this life.”
“While I have walked by First Pres for well over 40 years, I have only been attending for the last several. Initially, I was drawn to the wonderful music and congregation, but it’s been the Food Pantry and Street Meal that have become key to my participation. Serving in these ministries has connected me with like-minded folks who want to help feed our neighbors in need and enabled me to utilize a lifetime of work and volunteer skills.
“But most importantly, as a new retiree, I have been able to offer my time. My weekly Saturday awe moments include serving alongside some of our young volunteers. I love their endless questions: ‘How can I help?’ or ‘What do you need me to do now?’ This alone makes my gift of time worthwhile.”
Share your story—where you have seen God’s goodness—by emailing stewardship@fpcberkeley.org.