First Congregational Church of Berkeley

I recently attended a concert of the Tallis Scholars in First Church, Berkeley. When the women were singing, the sound was clear and true. However, when the men’s voices entered, there was a very odd and unpleasant effect of overtones that ruined the concert for me. I had to leave at intermission. So sorry.
For other concerts, the acoustics have been alright, however those have been chamber music. Perhaps the problem was because of where I was sitting. I don’t know. I was very disappointed. I had ordered the ticket for this concert a year earlier and was looking forward to hearing the Tallis Scholars very much.

This organization/​venue seems to host a wide variety of quality popular services and events — and there seem to be people coming here for a wide variety of interests and needs. I have no idea what the church/​congregation/​services/​ministry may be like but IF you are in Berkeley on a Tuesday night and want someone to help with a (non-​emergency) medical condition or just get a prescription (or even a meal and information about where to find shower), the Suitcase Clinic (from 6pm-​9pm) can probably help. Most people come early — but even if it is 8:30pm and you are told there is little chance of seeing anyone, go and ask anyway; you might just get in, see a competent physician and receive just what you need FOR NO COST (including medications prescribed if you get them at a participating Walgreen’s) — and at a time when the only other medical providers you are likely to find open are in a hospital emergency room (where you will have to wait and pay). The doctor and interns and organizers are very caring, sensitive, and respectful of all who show up — so even if you don’t have a problem, you might benefit from some other attention, assistance, or information they offer/​provide.

**Review is based on this as a performance space***
Like other reviewers, I’ve been attending classical music concerts here for several years, and I find this to be a lovely venue for those purposes.
The church is always packed during performances, so I arrive early to get a good seat.
They use the entrance hall as a check-​in area, as well as selling merchandise to fund their non-​profit.
Overall, a great idea in a great setting.

This is a great place to get a good perspective on life. Where else do you hear about forgiveness, grace, and community in the context of current events? Any of the church services are filled with excellent music and thoughtful reflections. Better than TED talks because you can actually discuss the ideas with other people right after. Give it a try.

Come join us sometime! We are spiritual and we are religious. We become community when we care enough to show up for others.
Wonderful church for families with kids. Wonderful for university students. Wonderful for music lovers.
We pray for peace.
We work for justice.
We care for the poor.
We share quiet times together.
We have small gatherings and large.
Anyone is welcome to take communion here.
There is no creed you must ascribe to.
We welcome marry and ordain gay lesbian and transgender people.
We gave to help a south African woman go to college, to learn how to organize against the spread of HIV.
9am is casual service, wear your jeans or dress up.
10am is learning time.
11am is the more classic service with organ and choir.
We have a group which fights torture.
We have a group of musicians and people learning to play who meet monthly on a Sunday afternoon.
We have 5^th Sunday collections which go to organizations such as the Alameda food bank, the suitcase clinic, and other organizations.
First Church has made me want to be a christian, want to get up early Sunday and want to give generously. How cool is that?
I love this church!

Well, I am writing a review of the church, not the performance venue.
When my partner and I knew we were having a kid, we wanted to affiliate with a church in the east bay where we lived. We had both grown up in strong churches in middle America, and wanted our children to have the same experience. We looked at a lot of churches. Our criteria was:
1) Great children’s program, lots of young families.
2) Christian, but not the kind that tells you what to believe. We wanted a church that respects our individual spiritual paths, and does not lay out everything in a overly simple «We/​Jesus/​the Bible thinks XX so you should too».
3) A place to meet nice people in Berkeley who were not flakes and transients
4) A place that took advantage of Berkeley’s tremendous intellectual resources — both UC and the Graduate Theological Seminary
5) A place that is actively involved in social justice issues, that is a little lefty politically, but that affirms traditions that are meaningful.
We hit the jackpot with FCCB. Senior Pastor Pat DeJong and the staff are fantastic, and qualified (Pat was a former pastor at Riverside in New York City). There are lots of university people, lots of intellectuals, a smattering of UC grad students and undergrads (who are wonderful to get to know), seminary and university profs, young families with children, interns from the GTU, and lots of older folks. I have grown to love all the elders at FCCB — people who are in their 70s and 80s and 90s (!) who are warn, caring, grandparent-​like — and who can tell you stories about things like walking in civil rights marches with Martin Luther King Jr and growing up in a communist collective (kid you not!)
The children’s programs are terrific — active kids at all levels — we love the folks in the nursery, the folks teaching Sunday school. There is an active junior high and high school group, an active campus ministry, and an active young adult (20s, 30s) group.
We also are consistently amazed by the music program. The Choir sings remarkable anthems nearly every Sunday — ranging from classical to African American spirituals. There is often a small folk ensemble, etc. to add to the service.
But most of all, it is a warm and caring community. There are a LOT of very committed, involved people at this church and it shows. They took us in, wanted to get to know us and our children, and encouraged us to get involved in very appropriate and considerate ways.
I think a year or so ago, the church pulled together a self-​written Christmas theatrical performance, the «Garage Door Nativity». It was a great performance piece, really drawing on talents of pastors, adults, youth, UC students, etc. They did several performances and the whole church rallied behind the shows– everyone went, the house was packed each night. It was creative, beautiful, and meaningful, and all because the committed folks of the church got together and said «lets do a cool musical production this Christmas». The energy at FCCB is contagious. I’d encourage anyone in Berkeley to give it a try, it is truly an asset to this community. So many people could find a true spiritual home there.

We came to First Congregational Church of Berkeley looking for a kid-​friendly church with a good music program. We were looking for a progressive Christian church where a couple from very different faith traditions could find our spiritual journeys were accepted and supported. We found all this, and more, at FCCB. Our children are grown and moved away, but they remember fondly the youth program, particularly YES and Winthrop, and Work Camp. This church raised money for a superb organ, and we enjoy organ and choir music every Sunday, and occasional guest musicians, such as the SF Girls’ Chorus.
The ministers and guest preachers consistently give thoughtful and timely sermons, and services have a good balance between traditional structure and a lively, interactive, and expressive approach to worship. The United Church of Christ (of which FCCB is a part) teaches that our spiritual growth comes through our relationships to God and Jesus, and this teaching is consistently supported in Sunday services.
The church is involved in several social justice issues. They have been a leader in the marriage equality and anti-​torture movements. Members are encouraged to find and work on their passion, and many do.
Other reviewers have observed that it takes a while to feel connected at FCCB. It’s been our experience that this took us longer than we would have liked. It made a difference that we were committed to attending regularly and participating in church activities and social groups. The congregation is full of kind and well-​meaning people, and our persistence and involvement have led to a real sense of having a church home at FCCB.

Using a church as a music venue? Brilliant idea!
Seeing Midsummer Mozart Festival Program 2 at First Congregational Church was a perfect ending to this wonderful festival
Final night of the Festival, we were treated to piano concertos and a basso vocalist… all Mozart, of course!
The pianist was the incredible Seymour Lipkin — adorable Senior who looks like he can barely make it to the piano but then man oh man, his fingers take off in the most melodically tripping along the keys for 2 complete concertos — no sheet music! — & we were thoroughly impressed.
This orchestra was a bit more thorough from Program 1 in the sense there were more wind instruments & we could even envision the ballet performers dancing to the story.
Final parting words from Maestro Cleve? «Same time next year» We’ll definitely be back!
Only drawback was that it was hot as blue blazes in there & this wasn’t even during a particularly cool evening.
I can only imagine what it would be like on a warm day… heat would be unbearable. Might be the opportune time & place to pray for cool weather?

We were here again for the Midsummer Mozart’s Festival. The music was wonderful, the atmosphere was intimate, and there was a lot of energy to this symphony’s interpretation of Mozart’s work. I was totally mesmorized by Jeremy Galyon’s passionate and dramatic concert arias! Yup, I didn’t understand a word in the opera that he sang (the usual!), but my God, what a powerful, extraordinary voice he has! The piano concerto pieces after the Intermission were new to me, yet they were delivered in a way that I could appreciate them like one would when he or she hears an old and familiar piece. Overall, this concert was fantastic.
HOWEVER, while the performance was absolutely brilliant, the deficiency in the acoustics was painfully apparent this time round. I immediately realized that the acoustics of the church was clearly not geared towards symphony as soon as the concert began. Sigh! After all, this is a church, not an actual symphony hall. While notes from the piano were mellow and distinct, the tonal decay of the violin and cello were dull… We sat in the middle row (Row F) and the seats couldn’t be better for the stage view. Nonetheless, the performance still sounded like it would be a lot better if the acoustics were not lacking.
Again, this is an incredibly beautiful, bright, tranquil, and immaculately clean church filled with positive and amazing energy, and I have said a lot of wonderful things about this great community in my previous review… I totally identify with the church’s mission and values; it’s just that for the concerts alone, I wish that the acoustics could be somewhat better so that the sounds would resonate even more powerfully…

That’s right, I saw Richard Dawkins in a church. As arguably the world’s most preeminent evolutionary biologists, a pretty darn cool church it must have been, eh? And this here is that very one. Supporting all faiths, same-​sex marriage and hey, even evolution, this congregations welcomes all and is open to different theories about how Noah fit all those multitudinous species on one boat.
I’ve grown accustomed to Catholic churches and their ilk, beautifully ornamented in gilt and glass paneled in dark wood. The FCC is the complete opposite, with modern lines, shining organ, butter yellow walls and even, bright lighting. Their pews are properly padded though and force you to sit straight up. Apparently, G-​d wants us to pay attention!
And the hall commands attention well. The sound is resonant and true, and the views of the pulpit from the balcony are solid. If I were to improve anything, it would be adding more restrooms and bringing the archaic pen and paper will call system up to date.

Listening to Yo-​Yo Ma play Bach’s Cello Suites is the closest I’ll ever get to religious experience.
Yo-​Yo was sublime. However the venue was not. First off, it was hot as H-​E-​double hockey sticks in the balcony. Second, the pews are so close together that you can’t pass by anyone to get to your seat. The entire row needs to evacuate so that you go pass. So annoying and worst of all it makes you feel fat — not what the Big Guy up there intended for you to feel in service I’m sure. Lastly, they provided what looked like an office depot stacking chair complete with some sort of stain on it for Mr. Ma Come on, this IS Yo-​Yo Ma we are talking about-​even the baby Jesus is a fan!

disclaimer: I know nothing of FCC as a church community, I can only speak of the church as a performance venue. Sorry if that’s blasphemous ;-).
Why can’t Cal Performances have all their concerts here? Zellerbach Hall is truly one of the most depressing venues anywhere for any purpose, and FCC is a huge contrast. Yes, if you sit in the balcony, it might not be the most comfortable thing for tall people, but that really is my only objection comfort-​wise. The acoustics are fantastic, and especially for baroque music, the serenity of the venue (because, it still is a church first and a concert venue second) does wonders for the music as opposed to some sterile multi-​purpose venue like Zellerbach.
I love concerts that go on during sunset, because you can see the light shift and the tones the setting sun paints on the mostly off-​white interior are heavenly. Again, add to this a baroque ensemble playing music of Bach, Vivaldi, and the like, and that’s as good as it gets for me.
The concessions are totally makeshift in a bizarre (yet for classical concerts all too common) way. There is no space for a full house to stand during intermission, unless you go outside into the arcade, and there is a tragic shortage of bathrooms.
But all of these are minor things — First Congregational Church, I just realized, might be my favorite classical venue in the Bay Area, on the power of its superb acoustics and warm interior.

Like most others, I was here for a musical performance, in this case the Berkeley Symphony’s Akademie Series.
Parking is a bear in the area, especially with all the one-​way streets, but there are several lots nearby if you know where to look; the Symphony kindly included a handout showing them when they mailed me my tickets, but I opted for street parking a couple blocks away. The building itself is somewhat Byzantine and getting from one part to another required going back outside. The bathrooms were insufficient for the crowd and the line out the door was cramped in the narrow hallways. Still, the spartan décor was peaceful and the sanctuary itself was very attractive. The vaulted ceiling and tasteful stained glass windows let you know you were in a church but weren’t pushy at all.
And, oh my, the acoustics. Wow. The first time the symphony hit a major chord it simply rang and resonated in that powerfully clean, clear way that you only hear on studio recordings or extremely well-​designed concert halls. I was very impressed and would certainly come back for other musical performances.

Other reviews of FCCB are of it as a performance venue, but I’m going to actually review it as a church. It’s kind of weird to review a church, but I’m going to do it anyway so that in the universe of Unilocal,FCCB has an identity as a community of worship and not just a venue for concerts.
I was drawn to First Church /​FCCB because of its commitment to social justice and its habit of hosting interesting progressive authors, but I’ve come to appreciate many other things about it too: the way the Berkeley sunshine cascades into the sanctuary and lights up the delightful children’s sermons and hand-​painted seasonal banners, the grand organ music, and the earnestness of the seeking spirit that characterizes this congregation. Its members will gamely leave their cars behind and bike/​walk/​BART to church in order to reduce the church’s carbon footprint, or make giant batches of gumbo to sell to fund a trip to New Orleans for post-​Katrina rebuilding efforts, or collect money to help fund a college education for a young South African woman overcoming the odds in her own challenged community — and then deliver the funds in person and meet her and her family. The music is always a great part of the worship services and the music director even supports the efforts of a young new composer in the church, an act that I think characterizes this church community’s commitment to the growth of its members and its willingness to venture into unknown territory. The baptisms are my absolute favorite, including one family that sung prayers in Vietnamese over the baptismal water and another in which the pastor used water from one of the eastern Mediterranean early churches, which she had just visited. There is earnestness and beauty in how this congregation welcomes its babies!
All that said, it was at first a bit hard for me to feel connected in the church. It’s a much larger congregation than I’m accustomed to and so it’s easy to blend in with all the other people there. There’s also a strong and intentional effort to reach out to the UC community; at one point, I recall going to a «welcome table» and actually being told to go to a different table because I was at the STUDENT welcome table and I was not a student. Hm. That was an ineffective welcome if ever I did encounter one. Since then, a lovely group of 20s-​30s has formed and periodically has events so that members and visitors this age can connect with each other. The church has a wide variety of groups tailored to age group, activism interest, families with small children, etc., so there are many ways to plug in to a smaller group and connect with people.
The church is very liberal, totally open to couples and families of any imaginable composition, and likely to appeal to those who think, question, and examine a lot and are conscious of their role as global citizen. It also happens to be a mostly white and wealthy congregation, with quite a contingent of transplanted Midwesterners and then many lifelong Californians and immigrants, students, and scholars from all corners too. Not long ago, the church upgraded the ramps to the sanctuary, making it quite accessible. Also of note, the communion bread plate includes some gluten-​free rice crackers, so even celiacs are not excluded from the rite here. :-) It’s near to the downtown Berkeley BART and does have parking as well, though carpooling or public transit is greatly encouraged. The website is fabulous for event information, directions, even blogs of various workgroups in the church (
).

I got tickets to the American Bach Soloists’ performance of Bach’s Suites and Handel’s «Gloria» and «Silete Venti» this past Saturday at First Congressional Church of Berkeley. First Congressional shares Grace Cathedral’s rep as a first rate venue for classical music performances. Although I’ve lived in Berkeley-​Oakland for four years now, I’ve never been to 1^st Congress.
Most concerts held at churches are general seating, but I was pleased to find out that each pew was lettered, as you find in a regular performance hall, and seats were indeed assigned byway of small metal plates. The interior of the church was bright and cheerful, not at all the dark, solemn interior I had expected of a church. The banners hanging down from the ceiling looked like skinny 1980s ties!
The acoustics were great, and my view from Row G was not obstructed, even with a taller person in front of me. All in all, this is a great venue for seeing great classical music outside of a concert hall!

i had the pleasure of hearing the tallis scholars perform a palestrina mass here a few years back. while the concert was spectacular, i would much rather have heard it in a real cathedral with vaulted ceilings and echoing stone floors. the fcc is very modern, with clean lines, carpeted floors, and bright lighting. not the ideal venue for rennaissance music…