Faith & Clergy

First Presbyterian Food Ministry Creates Compassion and Community (Part 3)

Published

8 years ago

February 9, 2017

On a rainy and cold morning, a few people are seated outside the fellowship hall at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland. They are waiting for the doors to open for the hot meal served each Monday at 11 a.m.

Inside there is a bustle of activity in the kitchen and a banquet hall set up for a feast. This is not just a food “give-away.”

As guests come into the hall, their first stop is a clothing boutique and then a table filled with food they may take with them when they leave.

When guests are finished taking what they need, they line up and are served some of the most fragrant hot food in town. Volunteers have been preparing the food in the kitchen since early morning, and it’s served until it’s gone.

Lead chef Su Coburn fills plates, but even more importantly, she engages patrons by name as they choose their meal. It’s personal, and often conversations with guests are a continuation from their last visit.

This personal engagement in the serving line sets the tone for this program by individualizing and acknowledging every person hosted by the Food Ministry team.

The room remains peaceful under the watchful eye of Gustavo G. “Gus” Lopez, whose company, Mr. G’s Professional Cleaning Services, has provided janitorial service to the church for nine years.

His long time knowledge of many patrons supports and strengthens the personal connection to them, and the atmosphere is very much like a frequently visited restaurant or café, where guests see familiar faces and catch up on news from the previous week.

“I wasn’t always as considerate as I needed to be,” Mr. Lopez says. “Rev. Randy, my son-in-law, taught me about compassion. I was a little too harsh at first,” he said. “Now I’m able to diffuse heated exchanges gently and quickly.”

“My job is ‘law and order,’ but my whole outlook transformed when I realized that each person here may have concerns I know nothing about. It is a joy to be here,” he continued.

“It’s personal, we get as much as we give from the work we do here.”

The hallmark of this Food Ministry is the volunteers. They are from countries as far away as Ghana and from neighborhoods just around the corner. They are members of the church, non-members, and perhaps clientele of the Food Ministry.

As Team Leader Bill Coburn says, “Our program prides itself in recognizing we are participating in the lives of those who come to us, and conversely, they are participating in our lives.”

The Food Ministry continues in partnership with the Post News Group to spread the word about the program. Upcoming articles will share more about volunteers and clients and will publish a “wish list” with ways to give and participate in the program. Everyone is welcome to visit and see for yourselves.

For more information, contact Team Leader Bill Coburn, 510-757-4085, wpcoburn@pacbell.net.

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Faith Tabernacle A.O.H. Church Welcomes New Assistant Overseer Edmund A. Singleton

The Faith Tabernacle A.O.H. Church of God in Richmond announced last week that it is honored to welcome Assistant Overseer Edmund A. Singleton II as our new Pastor and to introduce him to the Richmond community. At the 108th A.O.H National Pentecostal services on June 10, 2024, Asst. Overseer Singleton was appointed Pastor of the Faith Tabernacle A.O.H. Church by the National Presider, Bishop Lawrence Williams.

Published

1 month ago

October 2, 2024

Oakland Post

Faith Tabernacle A.O.H. Church New Assistant Overseer Edmund A. Singleton. Courtesy of Faith Tabernacle A.O.H. Church.

By Pamela Carter

When Jesus sent out his twelve disciples to minister the gospel he told them how they should conduct themselves as kingdom servants (Matt. 10:5–15). But he also spoke of the responsibility of the people to receive these ministers as his official representatives. Jesus insists that the way people receive his ministers reflects their relationship with God (Matt. 10:40). He invites God’s people to welcome “a prophet in the name of a prophet” and “to receive a righteous man’s reward” (v. 41).

At the 108^th A.O.H National Pentecostal services on June 10, 2024, Asst. Overseer Singleton was appointed Pastor of the Faith Tabernacle A.O.H. Church by the National Presider, Bishop Lawrence Williams.

His official installation services will be on Oct. 19, 2024, at 6 p.m. PT. Pastor Singleton will be the 3^rd Shepard appointed to this ministry over its 69-years of existence.

Singleton, originally united with the Faith Tabernacle church in 1993, under the leadership of Bishop George and Elder Verley Ayers. He served diligently on various ministries, including Youth Department, Deacons, Ushers, an the Choir.

In 2001, the Lord called him to the ecclesiastic ministry. He began his studies and tutelage to receive his Reverend licenses in 2003. At the request of Bishop Ayers, he studied and passed his Elder’s exam and was ordained an Elder at the 90^th Pentecostal meeting in 2006. In 2021, he was elevated to Assistant Overseer of the Western Region Diocese by Bishop Lawrence Williams.

In 2020, Pastor Singleton founded the Jehu Unchained Podcast, a Christian show to help individuals discover who God is and the benefits of being a born-again believer. His listenership continues to grow and has spread worldwide. In 2021, he launched the Jehu Unchained non-profit organization, geared to encouraging and supporting the youth in our community.

Pastor Singleton is a native of Oakland and a graduate of Kennedy High School in Richmond. He attended Contra Costa college and has worked in the construction industry for over 30-years.

Pastor Singleton is blessed to be married to his wife, Sister Kristie Palmer, for 27 years. They have two children, Edmund, III and Kayla.

As a husband and father, he brings a bit of wisdom, a sense of humor and a love for God’s people. He as a passion for the youth and witnessing the transformation of souls by the power of God.

Oakland Post

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Arts and Culture

Oakland Architect William ‘Bill’ Coburn, 80

William (“Bill”) Pierce Coburn, longtime Oakland architect who helped Oakland and Berkeley preserve its architectural heritage, passed away on July 24. He was 80 years old.

Published

2 months ago

August 28, 2024

Oakland Post

William “Bill” Coburn. Courtesy photo.

By Michele Lamont

Special to The Post

William (“Bill”) Pierce Coburn, longtime Oakland architect who helped Oakland and Berkeley preserve its architectural heritage, passed away on July 24. He was 80 years old.

Coburn was born on May 10, 1944, in Melrose, Massachusetts, to Frank and Rachel Coburn. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Arts in 1966, and a master’s in architecture from Harvard School of Design in 1971.

In 1978, Coburn opened his own firm in Berkeley and eventually moved to West Oakland. He was passionate about the City of Oakland and found his calling in preserving Oakland’s architectural heritage. He spent many years as a professor of Architecture and Design at UC Berkeley as well as instructing at international universities in India and Hong Kong. Bill mentored many young architects from India, helping them to jump-start careers in the US.

Coburn’s process and design became a rare craft in the industry as he drafted entire home designs by hand without using any digital software. Many of his clients felt the drawings were more a work of art than just a blueprint. Many of his drawings are recorded in the UC Berkeley Architectural Archives.

Bill’s love for his community seeps through every crack in the sidewalk, where he planted flowers to beautify the land. It spans generations, where he worked as an architect to keep the historic beauty of Oakland and Berkeley alive through his dedication to restoration projects.

Bill was an integral member of the Oakland Heritage Alliance as a subject matter expert on the history of many significant historical buildings and sites.

He was an instrumental contributor to the City of Berkeley by selecting buildings to be moved and placed in the Delaware Street Historic District in West Berkeley.

Recognized by the City of Oakland for his work in the reconstruction of West Oakland after the massive, tragic destruction caused by the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Bill volunteered countless hours of his time and skills as an architect to residents needing to rebuild their homes and their lives. He was a visionary designer contributing to the modern-day Mandela Parkway development, which is now a verdant artery of the community.

Bill’s dedication to community improvement is evident in nearly every Oakland neighborhood. Driving through the city, you will see trees he planted, houses and buildings he designed with his hands, and a community which is a little better than when he found it.

After becoming a newly graduated architect, Bill loaded his VW Minivan with his dog and a sleeping bag setting out on a journey to the West Coast. Little did he know he would find his calling in the City of Oakland where he saw the potential to build a better world.

The love he had for all of the people in his community was omnipresent, sharing all that he had to those who needed it. Bill and his wife, Subhashini (Sue), have led the First Presbyterian Church of Oakland’s Food Ministry program for over 20 years, guiding a team of 50 volunteers to deliver 15,000 meals a year to encampments, host special holiday events for the unhoused, and provide those in need with hot meals at the church each week.

He was a gracious father, husband and a very humble soft-spoken man. William Pierce Coburn passed away at 7:55 P.M. July 26 after a four-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Subhashini, and sons Rahul, Rajiv, and granddaughter Arjuna Rose.

A memorial service for Bill will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m.

Oakland Post

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Arts and Culture

Join a Choir to Benefit the Hope Housing Community Land Trust

Come be a part of “United in Jubilation” Community Choir (UIJCC) to sing in a concert to benefit the Hope Housing Community Land Trust. The concert will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. at the First Missionary Baptist Church, 501 Drake Ave., Marin City, CA 94965.

Published

2 months ago

August 28, 2024

Oakland Post

Courtesy of Hope Housing of Marin.

By Godfrey Lee

The UIJCC Choir, directed by Kevan Peabody, will be performing Negro Spirituals. Two selections will be sung in November for FMBC host church members. Local leaders have also expressed interest in having the choir sing two selections for the MLK 2025 celebration, and possibly during Black History Month. The Choir may also be invited to perform in other venues throughout Marin County.

Please attend a meeting at the FMBC, on Monday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. to meet each other, sing, and get rehearsal dates. Rehearsals will be held at FMBC on Mondays at 7 p.m.

No audition or dues will be required.

For information, call (415) 949-4908 or email: hopehousingofmarin.com