The Beacon Hill Friends House is a Quaker meeting house and a nonprofit residential co-op. Two adjoining row homes on Chestnut Street house 21 tenants who pay rent in exchange for room and board. The rent money goes to support the Beacon Hill Friends House, which hosts a Quaker meeting service every Sunday from 10:30am - 11:30am.
The Friends House mission is to embody the principles of simplicity, integrity, community and faith. The property was handed over to the Quakers when the owner died in 1957. In addition to serving as a co-op and a meeting house, the Friends House hosts a Quaker Studies Program every fall and occasionally presents speakers.
Residents of the co-op typically only stay for two years. Many are Quakers but the house invites anyone to apply for a spot and they encourage diversity among tenants. The rent is lower than the average rent on Beacon Hill and meals are included in the price. The Friends House has a charming library and parlor for resident use.
The meeting space is simplistic but classically beautiful and looks out onto a lovely garden. Typically, between 30 and 40 people attend meeting services.
St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, in Dover, is located on Springdale Ave. Led by Rev. Mark McKone-Sweet, St. Dunstan's prides itself on community outreach and fundraising for causes such as the Walk for Hunger and the Rodman Ride for Kids. Its Sunday worship services begin at 8am and 10am.
Standing on the perimeter of Lake Merritt, Cathedral of Christ the Light serves as the home of the Diocese of Oakland as well as members of the St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, which was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Since its dedication in 2008, the visually stunning cathedral offers weekday and weekend masses, as well as concerts and guided and self-guided tours.
Parking and Public Transportation at Cathedral of Christ the Light
$5 parking for tour participants; free for Mass attendees. The 19th Street BART is about six blocks from the cathedral. AC Transit lines 11 and 12 stop at the corner of Grand and Harrison.
Best time to go to Cathedral of Christ the Light
On the second and fourth Tuesday Cathedral organist Dr. Rudy de Vos gives a demonstration of the Conroy Memorial Organ as part of the docent-led tour. If inspired, attend Sunday Mass to hear music and a message.
Admission to Cathedral of Christ the Light
Free. The Cathedral offers guided tours daily at 1 p.m. There are no walk-in guided tours on Saturdays or Sundays. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to tour departure.
Must see/do at Cathedral of Christ the Light
Attend one of the evening concerts, held several times a month. Recent guests include the Pacific Boychoir Academy and organists Ryan Enright and Bryan Dunnewald,
Other places to visit near Cathedral of Christ the Light
Take a stroll around Lake Merritt, or explore some of the many shops and restaurants around bustling Uptown Oakland.
Insider tip for visitors to Cathedral of Christ the Light
During the week, stop by for a quick bite or an espresso from Verve coffee at City Lights Café, located outside the cathedral. Its outdoor seating offers sunny views of Lake Merritt.
Author's bio: Heather Johnson is a freelance writer based in Oakland, California.
Located in historic Filipinotown, Our Lady of Loretto is a part of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. It serves the very large Philipino area residents and are very involved in the community. It offers many programs for not only the congregation, but the community as well. The doors are always open to help the poor and suffering.
University Lutheran Church is located across from UCSD. It is a small church with a traditional structure. The courtyard and entryway are heavily shaded with oak trees. For further information about the congregation, visit University Lutheran's website.
Living Word Lutheran Church is part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and meets Sundays at 9am and 10:15am for worship services. Its led by Pastor Jeffrey Smith.
South Shore Baptist Church began as a Bible study group and grew until the members decided to make it a proper church and relocated to its current location in 1958. The congregation is friendly and encourages new faces and visitors to join Sunday services. The church has childcare available for youngsters through pre-school age. Children in kindergarten and 1st grade can attend children's church during Sunday service. There is also adult, youth, and children's Sunday school from 9:45-10:45 am. In between the t 8:15 a.m. and 11am services, there is a coffee fellowship for attendants to meet in friendship and faith. Visit the church's website for more information and to listen to past sermons.
Alpharetta First United Methodist Church on North Main Street is a Christian chuch with a vibrant youth group. It hosts both contemporary and traditional services, child care, missionary programs and many family-oriented activities.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church is located in Riverside.
Mass is read on Sunday mornings at 8 am and 10am. The 8am Holy Eucharist service alternates between Rite I (traditional language) and Rite II (modern language). The 10 am service is always Rite II with music.
Families are invited to gather in the "storytelling tent" at 9:30am before the 10am service. When adults leave for mass, children attend Sunday School or SPARKS.
The adult choir sings every Sunday at 10 a.m. during the months of September to May with some extra services during the Lent and Christmas seasons. Rehearsals are on Sundays, before and after mass. All interested singers (amateur and professional) are encouraged to join.
St. Paul's Day School, sponsored by the church, is a popular pre-school for four and five-year-olds.
The church also coordinates a number of fundraisers to support various local charities, including Neighbor to Neighbor, Greenwich Adult Day Care and Kids in Crisis.
The Mentor Christian Church has existed since 1828 and counts Zeb Rudolph, the father-in-law of President James A. Garfield, as one of its former ministers. In fact, while Garfield was the minister of another Christian Church, he would often visit its sister church in Mentor. Mentor Christian's current church was built in 1915, and Minister Gary L. Walling now oversees services. Sunday school begins at 9am with the morning service following at 10am. A Spanish-speaking service is held by a separate congregation, Mision Cristian Emanuel, at 1 pm on Sunday, in the same building.
St. Martha Catholic Church is an excellent resource to Catholics in the community. Providing plenty of youth programs, as well as communion and confirmation programs, the congregation donates time, money and food to the community. Wednesday and Sunday service is available, and the large building provides classrooms, halls for prayer, as well as facilities to celebrate larger events, like weddings and wakes.
