Welcome to Our Church!

Sycamore is a bilingual Japanese English member of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a progressive Christian denomination. Sycamore has a rich history beginning with its founding by Japanese students in Oakland in 1904. Members experienced the internment camps in the U.S. and hardships during and after World War II. We resettled in El Cerrito in the 1960s and extend our hands of friendship and service to the wider community today.

We welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all.

Sycamore offers a wonderful Japanese language-based Preschool,
led by Director Yoshimi Kinoshita and Patti Sato.
Sycamore’s facilities are used by a number of other organizations, including a group of teachers offering Japanese language throughout the week and on Saturday.

News

Whole Church Rummage Sale:
Saturday, May 16, 9:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.

Our annual Rummage Sale is a little more than one month away! We are looking forward to another terrific sale this year! Every year we have a great time coming together as a whole church for this event. Our customers come from near and far to take advantage of our huge selection and great bargain prices. We appreciate and need everyone’s help to pull this off. Presales are always encouraged, so remember that our volunteers are the first to see all the donations and will be able to purchase them before anyone else!

Accepting donations starting on Saturday May 2rd at the western end of Adamson Hall in the Nap Room.
I will be at church to help accept donations between 12pm & 2pm on May 2, 3, 9 & 10. If you bring items during the week feel free to leave donations in the lower parking lot near the gate to the back yard
and please be mindful not to interrupt the preschool.

Thanks in advance for your donations!
Please make sure all items are clean and in working order before you donate them.
Not a necessity, but we always appreciate donations that are in closed boxes for storing before the sale, thanks!!

Note: Donations will not be accepted after 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 14th.

Please mark the dates on your calendar and plan on coming out to support the church. The sign-up sheet will be available in April at church or you can e-mail Karen Nishikawa with your availability. We need many volunteers every day to make this a successful event. I hope you are able to join us for this major whole church event.

Thursday, May 14:
Starting at 1 p.m. for Setup & Sorting - light dinner provided.
‍ ‍Friday, May 15:
9 a.m. until 5 p.m. for Pricing - light lunch provided.
Saturday, May 16:
Rummage Sale from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. - lunch provided.

Come all day or just a couple of hours -- all help is welcome and needed!

Remember we do NOT accept:
Adult Clothing - Computers, any Equip or Books – Carpets – Cribs – Fish Tanks / Aquariums
Furniture - Exercise Equipment - Mattresses - Textbooks or Manuals
TV’s or TV Stands - Audio Cassettes or VHS Tapes

If you have any questions feel free to e-mail or call Karen Nishikawa at nishikawakaren9@gmail.com or call (510-526-1431)
OR Kurt Buss at kurtabuss@msn.com or call (510-232-8530)

Sycamore Summer Day Camp 2026

Sycamore Summer Day Camp will be held, July 27 – 31, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. Day Camp Sunday Worship Service will be held on August 2 at 11:00 am. Day camp is open to children ages 3 to those entering 5th grade in the fall. Youth entering middle school and up can sign up to be counselors. The cost of early registration is $200 per camper (includes lunches) by May 31 and $225 after June 1. Sibling fees will be discounted and will be $150 if registered by May 31 and $175 after June 1.
Registration fees are waived for counselors. Registration can be made online or on paper forms. Payment can be made by cash, check or online (Zelle)
Online registration
Download paper form

Our Activities

ABOUT

Sycamore is a member of the United Church of Christ, a welcoming, justice-minded Protestant denomination.

WORSHIP

All services include singing, shared and individual prayers, and other ways in which we worship God as part of the Beloved Community.

ACTIVITIES

Sycamore is a vibrant community that delights in service, food and fellowship. We have all-church activities like the annual bazaar and rummage sales, as well as a very active Women's Fellowship group.