Berkeley Chinese Community Church

2026 BCCC This Sunday October 4th and Remembering John Chan

Message from Pastor Kathryn
Hello Dear Ones,

Today I’m writing to share some tender, timely news – pastoral message below, followed by special activities THIS SUNDAY 10/4 at BCCC.

Remembering John Chan

Early Monday morning, our dear friend John Chan, passed into Eternal Light. As many of you know, John has been struggling with health issues – including two, short, hospitalizations earlier in the year. John’s new aid had been helping him get around – and we have loved seeing him in worship and at Senior Center. He was looking much better.

However, earlier this week, his heart could no longer keep on keeping John going. His son, Albert, was with his dad when he died of a cardiac arrest. He was with the person, after his dear wife Louise, who has been his constant support. Please pray for Albert, his siblings, and family members.

As Albert and I have talked this week, there have been many stories shared about John and Louise – we know John is so very, very grateful to be reunited with his precious wife. And, stories about Bill (John’s brother) and Frances. We are remembering them, too. As we move through the memorial events for John, all the ones we are missing will return to our hearts and minds. May we grant them a warm welcome and be gentle with ourselves and each other as we grieve.

The family has finalized plans for remembering and honoring dear John Chan and we, his friends and church, have begun making plans, too.

Below is current information for honoring John Chan’s 94 years on earth among us:

Oct 4th, Sunday morning worship – 11am:
During our morning worship we will offer prayers for John's eternal peace – commending his soul to God for everlasting care and protection.

This week at Sunset View:
The family will have private time at the graveside by themselves. There will be no viewing or graveside service. Those who wish, after this week, are invited to visit John and Louise’s burial site.

In the near future at Denny’s (probably):
John’s beloved Breakfast Group will gather for a meal to share friendship and memories. Albert Chan will be attending. If you’re interested, please be in touch with Sonya L or Linda W. Thank you.

May 2027 – Memorial Service and Reception at BCCC:
The family will remember John at a public event close to his May 5th birthday. Details to come. We look forward to gathering in faith and friendship.

Other decisions are still being made. We’ll share more information as we have it. Do take care.

In the Big Love,
Pastor Kathryn

THIS SUNDAY AT BCCC: October 4, 2026

• Neighbors in Need Offering Dedicated
This special UCC offering supports ministries of justice and compassion with one-third of the offering given to the Council for American Indian Ministries and remaining two-thirds supporting UCC justice ministries.

In 2025 the Neighbors in Need Offering supported 26 grant recipients across the UCC funding projects of direct service and advocacy.

Donation envelopes are available in the narthex or donate online:
https://support.ucc.org/ways-to-give/our-churchs-wider-mission/neighbors-in-need/neighbors-in-need-donation

• World Communion Celebrated
As we recall and celebrate our Ancestors of Faith and Blood, we observe the annual ritual of World Communion mindful of our Global Connections. "The Immigrants’ Creed", a Congregational Profession of Faith, will be read during service. (It appears below.)

Closing Words of Comfort
Let us be consoled and strengthened with these words from the Prophet Isaiah:

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
God does not faint or grow weary,
the Lord's understanding is unsearchable.
God gives power to the faint,
and to those who have no might God increases strength
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted.
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

May God be with you. Peace upon all souls. Amen. Amen. Amen.

"The Immigrants’ Creed"
Congregational Profession of Faith

We believe in Almighty God,
who guided the Hebrew people in exile and in exodus;
the God of Joseph and Mary in Egypt,
and Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah in Babylon;
the God of foreigners and immigrants.

We believe in Jesus Christ,
a displaced Galilean,
who was born away from his people and his home,
who fled his country with his parents when his life was in danger,
and returning to his own country,
suffered oppression by Pontius Pilate,
the servant of a foreign power,
who then was persecuted, beaten, and finally tortured,
accused and condemned to death unjustly.
But on the third day, this scorned Jesus rose from the dead,
not as a foreigner, but to offer all people citizenship in heaven.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the eternal immigrant from God’s kin-dom among us,
who speaks all languages, lives in all countries,
and reunites all communities.

We believe that the church is the secure home
for the foreigner and for all believers who constitute it;
though we speak different languages, we share the same purpose.
We believe that the communion of the saints begins
when we accept the diversity of the saints.

We believe in the forgiveness of sin, which makes all people equal,
and in reconciliation, which claims us, spiritually,
more deeply than race, language, or nationality.

We believe that in the resurrection
God will unite us as one Beloved Community
in which all are distinct, and all are alike,
both, at the same time.

Beyond this world, we believe in the life eternal
in which no one will be an immigrant
but all will be citizens of God’s eternal kin-dom
which will never end. Amen.

The Book of Common Worship: 2018 Edition. © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press.
Adapted for a more nuanced congregational, multi-cultural profession of faith . (2026, kms)

Photo of John Chan, 2024 – May DCW Senior Center (kms)

Gathering the Waters Community Sunday -- Sept 20, 11am-2pm

Hello Dear Ones, hope to see you!

Consider bringing:
* Water Memory/Water for the Gathering the Waters Ritual
* A Salad – green, fruit, or pasta OR Dessert for the Community Meal
* A Friend or Family Member
* A Warm Spirit to Welcome New Friends

11am outside: Welcome & Blessing Bouquets Craft
1120am inside: Water Music Sing-A-Long & Gathering Waters Ritual (bring water)
noon outside: Picnic Lunch: Please bring: salads – green, fruit, or pasta OR dessert. Provided: burgers, hot dogs, chips & water.
after outside: Watercolors, Game, & Holy Water Blessings

Everyone is WELCOME!

You’re Invited!
Sunday Sept 20, 11am to 2pm
“Gathering the Waters” Community Day

A special day of fellowship, fun, and telling stories of refreshment and play, sharing the waters we have gathered.

Musician Ian Pong with offer a short piano concert of water music.

Pastor Kathryn will lead the Gathering of the Waters ritual and prayer.

Water crafts and games for folks of all ages.

Grilled Picnic meal with homemade sides and desserts. (Free)

Best of all — sharing God’s Blessings with the 2026 batch of Holy Water.

Everyone is WELCOME!
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This Sunday 11am
"Holy Hospitality": Lessons from The Desert
EVERYONE welcome!

artwork: 12th c Byzantine-style mosaic art, Italian.

This Sunday 11am
"Anointed to Welcome"
EVERYONE welcome!

artwork: Radici John August Swanson Studiohttps://radicistudios.com/

Worship 11am Sunday: "Grounded" a meditation on Matthew 6:26-29 as Jesus Christ asks us to consider our fellow creatures.

art: "St Francis and the Birds" by John August Swanson Studio, (c) 2015.

Hello friends -- our support is needed now. Please consider joining the efforts to save access to our AAPI history:

Save Our National Archives Keep the National Archives regional facilities open

What a special Sunday at BCCC... “I Love Taiwan Mission Trip: New Horizons, A New Vision of the Heart” with guest preacher Seminarian/MID Qaisul Takihunang and 1/2 of the Youth Team from Chinese Congregational Church of San Francisco, UCC -- JJ and Luke. After worship, lovely long conversations at the local taqueria. (Photos: Pastor Kathryn and Craig Jang)

Qaisul Takihunang, PSR Seminarian and regional UCC Member in Discernment for Ordained Ministry, delivered today’s sermon: “Mindful of One Another.” Afterward, the message was embodied with all kinds of helpful actions.

Photos: Cedric captured some if us as a few others were busy doing church tasks. The flowers on the altar, behind the Table of Light, are in Loving Memory of Rev. Derek Terry, Executive Director of the Open and Affirming Coalition of the UCC.

Join us next Sunday, 11am, as Qaisul and youth JJ tell us about their mission trip to Taiwan.

11am Sunday, August 9
"What Heals?"

"Everyone alive has suffered. It is the wisdom gained from our wounds and from our own experiences of suffering that makes us able to heal." --Rachel Naomi Remen

Everyone is Welcome! After worship, please stay for a gratitude blessing upon the old Fellowship Hall flooring being replaced.

Photo: 4th century painting in the Roman catacomb of Marcellinus and Peter. Public domain.