Sanctuary Clean-Up Day

Come and "Fung Shui" the sanctuary on Saturday, May 19th at 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Find out what is stored in the cabinets, drawers, shelves and behind closed doors in the sanctuary. Get read for Spring!

Worship Commission Meeting

There will be a Worship Commission meeting on Sunday, May 20th, 12:30 p.m. in the Lounge. Anyone interested is welcomed to attend. - Lynn Barbaree, Chair.

CA-NV Philippine Solidarity Study Group

Interested in learning more about the human rights situation in the Philippines? The CA-NV Philippine Solidarity Task Force of the UMC will be hosting Study sessions every first Saturday of the month. It is a time for education and reflection which informs our faith in action. All those interested are welcome, no matter what your level of knowledge of the situation or history.

The next one will be on Saturday, May 5 at Pastor Jeanelle's home. For more information please email her at pastorj@pineumc.org.

Relaxation Techniques

Soko Bukai is inviting all church folks to a session led by Rev. Stina Pope in Meridian Tapping, a valuable, effective, and simple relaxation technique.

Sei Ko Kai (Christ Episcopal Church) on Pierce & Clay on Sunday, May 6 at 12:20pm. There will be a light lunch at 11:45am before the program. For more information, please contact Pastor Jeanelle.

"WAFUDOGS" - April 21 & 22

Come and support our food booth at the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday & Sunday 11am-5pm. We will be selling "Wafudogs" (Hot dogs served with a Japanese flare!) Check them out!! This is a Pine Fundraiser - we can use your help and support.

Message From The Pastor

We are now in the Season of Easter and Pine is brimming with activity this Spring. Much has already been set in motion in terms of new births in Pine's ministry and in the reception of new members at the beginning of the month. We had a joyous Easter celebration, gearing us up to continue embodying the Resurrection that God granted, not just to Jesus, but to us all!

Congratulations to Megumi Yoshida on being crowned First Princess of the 45 Annual Cherry Blossom Festival! About 12 Pine members came out to the Pageant Program to support Megumi. Even some long time San Francisco-resident Pine members had never been to the Pageant Program. It was an in which we were graced with the talent and sharings of 5 strong Japanese American women. We are confident that this will lead to the opening of more possibilities for Megumi. I'd also like to extend congratulations to all those who helped debut Pine's Wafudog booth at the Cherry Blossom Festival! Especially thanks to Prosper and Daniel Goto for proposing Pine get involved and be visible in the community in this way. May we continue, as a community of faith, to branch out and make "the world [our] parish."

For those interested in learning more about the human rights situation in the Philippines or exploring the relationship between social justice and faith, the CA-NV Philippine Solidarity Task Force, of which I am an active member, is organizing Study Groups every first Saturday of the month. The US military presence in the Philippines is increasing, as corporate interests have their eyes on Asia and the Pacific to enrich our stifling economy. Contact me for more information or go to taskforcephilippines.wordpress.com. The Study Group for this month will be meeting at my house in the East Bay.

On Sunday, May 6, Pacific School of Religion Visiting Scholar, Professor Revelation Velunta will be preaching at Pine. Prof. Velunta is a New Testament Professor at Union Theological Seminary, Cavite, Philip pines. I met him during my first Pastoral and Solidarity Visit with the Task Force in 2008, when he introduced our group to Jeepney hermeneutics (a way of making meaning of and interpreting the Bible). It is a type of hermeneutics that is along the lines of liberation theology and decolonizing the Bible. Prof. Velunta will be in the bay area up through June.

On Sunday, May 13, Pine is having a Creative Worship focusing on Pine Descendants those who were brought up in Pine and have relatives who are clergy. On Sunday, May 20, Emily Allen and I will be giving a report back on General Conference. On Saturday, May 26, I am planning a day-retreat for all interested in the consolidation of Pine's ministries and vision. It is something long overdue, but comes at a good time as the Pine community and I step out of the "honeymoon phase" of our time of sharing in ministry together. Time and location will be disclosed and discussed as the date approaches.

Next month, on June 3, we will have our Annual Chicken Teriyaki Bazaar. It has become a reunion for many and prayers that this year, it will be an opportunity for Pine to welcome newcomers as well. May it be a time, not only of food, but of fellowship - a time to nourish relationship, both old and new. Let the light of the Spirit that moves through Pine continue to fill and move through us so that God’s love and grace may outpour beyond our church walls.

Pastor Jeanelle