Orinda Community Church

Participate in Fellowship and Learning!

We welcome you to participate with us in any of Orinda Community Church's fellowship and learning opportunties. Below are the major activities. But new groups and events are frequently formed. Be sure to check the events listings in the green box to the right for our latest offererings.

Fellowship

Wednesday Breakfast Group. For many years Orinda Community Church has had an active and resourceful breakfast fellowship group devoted to the study and discussion of contemporary social and justice issues. Members and guests present on various topics by means of personal opinion commentary, media reprints, book reviews and videotapes. A wide range of viewpoints and a lively discussion is practically guaranteed. The group meets weekly from 7:00-8:00 a.m.

Nine to Dine: Dinner Fellowship Group. Anyone can sign up to be part of a "Nine to Dine" group that gathers informally throughout the year for dinner and fellowship in the homes of members. Over the years, Nine to Dine has been a great way to meet other people in the church and form enduring relationships.

Parish Callers. The Parish Callers Network works directly with the pastors to provide caring contact and visitation to members and friends of the church who are hospitalized, home-bound, or in need of someone to talk to. The Network gathers monthly for in-service training and prayer.

Sewing Circle. Over the past 20 years the Orinda Community Church Sewing Circle has made and donated more than 5,000 baby quilts to the East Bay Children's Quilt Project. The tiny quilts, each one unique and beautifully constructed, are distributed through hospitals, disaster relief organizations, and children's support agencies to comfort infants at risk. The Circle meets Monday mornings in their own spacious workroom at the church.

Climate Change Group. Come and share what you've been doing to change the social, political, economic or physical climate. This is the follow up to the three forums on climate change. We'll take turns sharing what we are doing or working on, the joys and the problems. The group will open and close with a prayer. Afterwards, seek out the people who are doing something you are interested in, or whom you can help or encourage. In this way, we'll support and motivate each other to step outside our comfort zones and get moving in all kinds of ways to meet the challenges of our changing world.  Meet in the Fireside Room from 11:30-12 on the second Sunday of the month.

Lifelong Learning

Monday Bible Study. 7 to 8 p.m., OCC Library. The Rev. Frank Baldwin leads this study group. All are welcome.

Thursday Bible Study. 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., Orinda Senior Village. The Rev. Lee Cruise leads this study group in the 6th floor Meeting Room. Just follow the directions at the door & dial #001 to get buzzed in. All are welcome!

OCC's Theologians The theology book club gathers every 3rd Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the Harland Hogue Library All welcome!

Opportunities for Learning and Growth. Our pastors and the Lifelong Learning and Spirituality Commission seek to provide a wide range of opportunities for adult Christian education and spiritual formation. In addition to Bible study, OCC offers frequent after-church forums and classes with childcare provided. We also have active spirituality and support groups, as well as a lively Theology Book Club. Special seminar series are usually organized during the Lenten season. Recent topics under discussion have included:

Library. Orinda Community Church has a small but impressive reference library, with special collections on spirituality, world religions, environment and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) concerns. Books, recent sermons, audio and video recordings may be checked out for home use during Fellowship Hour each Sunday morning. The library honors the memory of the late Dr. Harland Hogue, professor of Pacific School of Religion and member of Orinda Community Church.


Spirituality

Labyrinth. Orinda Community Church owns a large portable (canvas) labyrinth, modeled on the Chartres Cathedral design, which is used both as a public worship setting and as a resource for individual spiritual practice. Our Labyrinth Committee has long-range plans to construct a permanent outdoor labyrinth on OCC's upper campus.

Cazadero All-Church Retreat. An all-church weekend retreat is each fall at scenic Camp Cazadero near the Russian River. The retreat theme varies from year to year, and a variety of guest and staff leaders assist with the program. We spend time in worship and program activities with all ages together and apart, with ample free time to rest and enjoy the beautiful natural setting of Camp Cazadero. The Cazadero Retreat is typically held the third weekend in October.

Yosemite Weekend. Orinda Community Church families have for many years enjoyed an informal spring weekend camp out in Yosemite National Park. The group stays in adjoining tents at the rustic Housekeeping Camp on the Merced River and shares fellowship, food, hiking, games, campfire singing, and a spirited riverside worship service. Our Yosemite Weekend is always held the first weekend in May.