Meet Your Good Table-Mates

whoever you are, Wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are Beloved and welcome among us

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Has “church” turned you off with oppressive theology, clannishness, or hierarchical thinking? Find relief and liberation here; we support your recovery. Come to our Sunday Gathering at 12 noon, and see our vibrant, inclusive community: we foster spiritual growth with open-handed creativity, questioning, listening, laughing, singing, and healing. And we do this in person and online via zoom!

We are an Open and Affirming congregation (for over 30 years!), with an open door, an open book, open arms, open minds, and open hearts. In the United Church of Christ we say "God is still speaking, " meaning that God is active in our lives and in our hearts, right now. Seekers have been following the Jesus Way for 2,000 years: today's travelers blend all that is new and exciting with the Church's oldest traditions. We do not require any tests of faith, but welcome your testimonies to faith.

Donate to The Good Table United Church of Christ

Thank you for your donation. All gifts are tax-deductible. If you are giving for a specific funding appeal such as

Strengthen the Church, our Sacred Arts Fund, or El Sobrante Pride 2024, kindly provide a note.

Our mission is . . .

to listen for the voice of the Still-Speaking God in our time

to model the radically inclusive welcome of God

to tend the Holy in ourselves, one another, and creation

and to embody the love of Christ in the world.

How to Connect

• Our spiritual book group the Live Edge Readers meets each Wednesday via zoom, 2:30-4p.

• Interfaith Meditation meets each Thursday via zoom, 6-6:40p.

• Join us for our Sunday Gathering at 12n with music, prayer, preaching. Our music is eclectic - from rock and roll to ancient chants and whether you come in person to 780 Ashbury Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 or join via zoom, you are invited and welcome to be yourself and find the joy of being in community with other spiritual travelers.

our history

          • Fall 1949 - First meeting held in El Cerrito, California at the home of Rev. Gifford Webster

          • April 9, 1950 - Seventy Charter Members joined Mira Vista Congregational Church

          • August 1951 - First service held in the new building at 7075 Cutting Boulevard, El Cerrito

          • Easter 1955 - Fifth Anniversary - Membership of 253, with church school of 317

          • 1957 - The Congregational Christian and Evangelical and Reformed denominations merged and Mira Vista became Mira Vista United Church of Christ

          • Thanksgiving Sunday, 1959 - Dedicated the new Sanctuary on Cutting Avenue; the prior worship space became the Fellowship Hall

          • 1967 - Founded, along with other churches, the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP), an organization to address racial and economic injustice in Contra Cost County

          • 1974 - MVUCC founded the West Contra Costa County Rape Crisis Center

          • 1980s through the present day - We have taken seminarians 'in care' for the ministry, welcoming, nourishing, and teaching seminarians and hosting ordinations

          • 1990s - Founded, with GRIP, the Souper Center in Richmond

          • April 1994 - Voted to become an Open and Affirming Congregation

          • 1995 - Adopted the New Century Hymnal, which uses inclusive language

          • 1994 to 1997 - Participated, with GRIP, in the Winter Rotating Homeless Shelter Program

          • January 1999 - Sanctuary Renewal Celebration, with beautiful stained glass windows and a new Cross

          • Into the 2000s... April 2000 - Celebrated our 50th Anniversary February 2001 - Decided to sell the parsonage

          • January 2005 - Decided to sell our building and grounds on Cutting Avenue to the Montessori Family School

          • July - September 2006 - Moving days September 2006 - First service at our new location, 780 Ashbury Avenue in El Cerrito, California (owned by Christ Lutheran Church) 

          • 2007 - Incorporated reading the Scripture in Spanish into our Sunday service May 2007 - First Mission Trip to New Orleans to help with the rebuilding effort after Hurricane Katrina (aka "The Storm") , sponsored by United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries January

          • 2008 - Joined GENESIS (region-wide, faith-based community organizing social justice group) 

          • May 3-10 2008 - Fifteen people on Second Mission Trip to New Orleans October 19, 2008 - After five years of ministry-in-transition together, we installed the Rev. Susan Meeter as our called Minister and Teacher

          • May 3-9 2009 - Third Mission Trip to New Orleans November

          • 2009 - Developed Five-Year Vision

          • January - March, 2010 - Supported Pastor Susan and her wife Barbara on a trip to India during her sabbatical leave. Welcomed the Rev. Katie Morrison in the pastor's absence

          • May 1-7 2010 - Seven people on Fourth Mission Trip to New Orleans October 10, 2010 - Our 60 Year Anniversary Celebration

          • February 2011 - African American "History We Missed" series

          • March 19 - March 26, 2011 - Twelve people on Fifth (and last) Mission Trip to New Orleans

          • September 2011 - Hosted a booth at the Solano Stroll

          • 2012 - The Mindfulness Group (now the Mindfulness Circle) began April 2012 - Participated in Rebuilding Together (local support for low-income home owners) 

          • September 9, 2012 - Solano Stroll

          • April 20, 2013 - Dog and Earth Blessing at Point Isabel November 3, 2013 - All Saints and Dia de los Muertos Celebration

          • June 14, 2014 - Celebration of Ministry for Pastor Susan Meeter and Barbara Cook held in a backyard in Pinole

          • July 20, 2014 - Pastor Susan's last Sunday leading worship To the Present Day... 

          • October 26, 2014 - Installed Rev. Dr. Melinda V. McLain as our Designated Term Minister and renewed for a second term in August 2017

          • September 11, 2018 - Began meetings to form partnership with Planting Justice

          • January 28, 2019 - Voted to approve partnership agreement with Planting Justice for The Good Table LLC

          • April 25, 2019 - Purchased 5166 Sobrante Avenue, the site of the former Adachi nursery in El Sobrante in partnership with Planting Justice

          • October 31, 2019 - Granted Land Use Permit for the renovation of 5166 Sobrante Avenue

          • January 19, 2020 - Voted to change the name of the church to: The Good Table United Church of Christ

          • April 4, 2020 - Appointed the first Board of Directors for The Good Table Café, a secular non-profit

          • June 14, 2020 - Adopted new bylaws for the congregation to reflect changing ministry

          • June 14, 2020 - Voted to call Rev. Dr. Melinda V. McLain as settled pastor for The Good Table UCC