Receive your 2014 contribution statement one of three ways: 

1. Online via Allen-Temple.org (My Allen Temple/Giving History; please note that if you have not done so, you will need to register to obtain your statement)
2. In Person (Trustee Ministry Office; Sanctuary second floor)
3. By mail (pick up a form at the Narthex Information Station, Church Office or from any Usher)

The Worship Cluster is seeking persons with Early Childhood Development educational backgrounds, especially those who have had experience in starting programs for infants and toddlers aged zero to five years.  As we work towards reopening our Church Nursery that will serve our youngest Church family members and guests, your experience and input is much needed and will be invaluable in designing and developing our revamped Nursery Ministry!  To lend your expertise and experience, please contact Rev. Charlotte Williams, Director of Communications, at [email protected] or (510) 544-8980.

In April, we commemorate National Minority Health Month, a time to raise awareness about health disparities that persist among racial and ethnic minorities. This year's theme - "Prevention is Power: Taking Action for Health Equity" - embodies the ambitious goal put forward by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)  to achieve "a nation free of disparities in health and health care."

Despite some recent progress in addressing health disparities, great challenges remain. Minorities are far more likely than non-Hispanic whites to suffer from chronic conditions, many of which are preventable. This is a particularly troubling statistic, because chronic diseases account for seven of the ten leading causes of death in our nation.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, health coverage is now more affordable and accessible for millions of Americans, including minority groups. For minority populations, the law addresses inequities in access to quality and affordable coverage.

The impact of the Affordable Care Act on communities across our nation is transformative. Over seven million African Americans, nearly four million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and over eight million Latinos with private insurance now have access to expanded preventive services with no cost sharing.

This includes screening for colon cancer, Pap smears and mammograms for women, well-child visits, and flu shots for children and adults.  Communities across the country are now stronger because the law invests in creating healthier communities, strong public health infrastructure, and preventing disease before it starts.

So please make sure you are following the best practice standards of care by seeing your doctor for regular visits and screening exams; eating a healthy, well balanced diet; getting plenty of exercise and reducing your stress level when possible.

For more information on this important initiative, visit the Health Education Ministry page.

Allen Temple's Cub Scout Pack 409 welcomes boys who are incoming first through fifth graders who like to go camping, skiing, hiking, swimming, football, basketball, fun and more to join! The Cub Scout Pack meets at the Allen Temple Wildy-Carpenter Hall on Monday evenings at 6:30pm. For more information, contact Cubmaster Don Smith at [email protected].

Do you like to praise God through movement?  The Allen Temple Praise Dance Ministry invites you to come join us in class Fridays from 6pm to 7:30pm (Children 11 and under), and 8pm to 9pm (Youth and Young Adults) in the Family Life Center's Dance Studio.   The ministry meets on Monday evenings from 6pm to 7:30pm.  As a ministry, we worship through movement, we learn different dance techniques, we minister through dance, and most importantly, WE HAVE FUN!  For more information, contact Sis. Andrea Spearman at [email protected]!

The Betty D. Gadling Fine Arts Academy offers instruction in reeds, brass, guitar, voice, percussion, strings, music theory, piano and dance for children and adults!  Classes held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays!  For more information and to enroll, call (510) 544-8924!

Come join us at the Persons with Disabilities Ministry as we strive every month to make Allen Temple Baptist Church accessible to everyone!  We want to ensure that the sanctuary is accessible and accommodates people with disabilities, educate our faith-based community partners and friends about the disability community, and encourage the congregation to recognize people for their abilities rather than their disabilities.  We also want to ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are afforded an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from worship services, events and programs, as well as develop awareness on how to interact and assist people with disabilities.   Your input on these subjects will be much welcomed.   We meet on the fourth Monday of each month from 6pm to 8pm in Family Life Center Room D-104.

Are you seeking a place to serve?  The Church Library Committee is seeking committed workers for the Family Life Center Library!  Our goal is to make our library the study center for the church! 

April 15 is rapidly approaching and YOU could very well qualify for FREE income tax service.    Even if you think your income may not qualify for the service, come by and let us take a look at your tax situation.  You could be pleasantly surprised! The Allen Temple Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Site is open to serve low to moderate income individuals and families through Wednesday, April 15 in Family Life Center Room D102.  Our hours are Wednesdays from 3pm to 7pm and Saturdays from 9am to 4pm.   We are happy to offer this service to our community

Join iGirl Institute and Women Lead Forward for Our Voices Our Girls: Black Girls Matter: A Call to Action on Saturday, June 20 from 11:30am to 3:30pm at the San Leandro Public Library Lecture Hall, 300 Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro. This town hall meeting will address the critical issues affecting our black girls and call us to action on how we can help! RSVP for this free forum by visiting blackgirlsmatteracalltoaction.eventbrite.com!

The Prostate Health Education Network is sponsoring PHEN Walk 2015 through September 18, a virtual walk to raise Prostate Cancer awareness. The objectives are:

• To raise the national level of prostate cancer awareness
• To increase federal government funding for prostate cancer research, education and awareness
• To initiate a public review of the scientific evidence and process used by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force for its' Grade D Recommendation for prostate cancer tests, and to protect the medical benefits for patients' access to prosthetic urological devices
• To increase the visibility, participation and support for PHEN's "Rally Against Prostate Cancer" initiatives 

Oakland Parks & Recreation is accepting applications for its' Youth Explorer program. This program trains youth, ages 13 to 17, for leadership positions within children's recreation, business and community activism. Participants will also learn how to apply for jobs, including resume writing and applying for jobs using online application platforms such as NEOGOV. Since the program needs to be self-sufficient, participants will also learn business tactics to raise funds. This program is ongoing and youth can apply to participate at any time. Please contact any recreation center for an application. For more information, please contact Michelle Doppelt, Recreation Supervisor, at (510) 482-7831.

Do you or your family need healthcare or have healthcare questions?  Visit The Enrollment HUB at Allen Temple!  We're open Tuesdays from 9am to 1pm and the first and third Thursdays from 2pm to 4pm! The Enrollment HUB is a center for enrollment into various health coverage and food programs such as Covered California, Medi-Cal, HealthPAC, and CalFresh. But most importantly, it's a place where community members can receive information, education, and support to navigate through the process of enrolling into and accessing health care.  For each household member you wish to include on your application, please bring a social security card or proof of citizenship/lawful presence in the US, driver's license or photo ID.  Have questions?  Call (510) 544-8975!   

The Allen Temple Computer Lab is open for people of all ages Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 9am to 2pm in Family Life Center Room C-124!  Training and assistance available.

Young athletes are invited to join the Athletic Ministry for Open Gym in the Family Life Center on Monday evenings from 7pm to 8:30pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6pm to 8:30pm!    

The Mercy Brown Bag program provides food to eligible Alameda County residents 60 years of age and above twice per month (second and fourth Fridays) for a $10 annual contribution. If you are interested in signing up or would like to sponsor a senior, please contact Krista at (510) 534-8540, ext. 369 or Mother Brown at (510) 638-4085.

Early Oakland is a campaign to help you find early care & education services and free or low cost, quality preschool programs in Oakland with safe learning environments that help build positive relationships and serve nutritional food. Visit earlyoakland.org or call Oakland Headstart at (510) 238-4165, Oakland
Unified School District at (510) 273-1590, The Unity Council at (510) 535-6102, or Bananas at (510) 658-0381.

The Oakland Public Library Second Start Program offers a confidential setting in which adults with low skill levels are able to get a "second start" at learning, for free. Adult students meet on-to-one with volunteer tutors. They can also participate in the computer learning lab and in family literacy programming if they are parents or have children in their lives. Small learning groups focusing on reading, spelling, math, and book discussions are also available to adult literacy students enrolled in the program!   For more information, visit the Second Start Adult Literacy Program website.

"These essays speak of how we have incorporated our contemplative practices into our family life; our urban, non-religious background; how we have been nurtured in struggles for health and life through our contemplative prayer practices and our courage to survive and even thrive in the midst of dire circumstances. We speak of the unfolding bridge between faith and culture; our conflicts with an Interspiritual journey with a Christian foundation; our sexuality; our journey to healing and authenticity; and how we are taking this practice that began in the first centuries of the church with the desert mothers and fathers to the present and into the future with spiritual direction through the Internet across the world."  

- from the Introduction