Service for Gustav Nystrom
2022-04-30 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Lynnewood Methodist Church, 4444 Black Ave., Pleasanton, CA, 94566, United States
Join us for an interfaith service celebration of life for Gustav A. Nystrom (May 10, 1948 to April 2, 2022). Gus was a great friend of MCC who regularly attended MCC Friday Jumu’ah prayer services in interfaith solidarity and supported and championed the outreach and growth of the Muslim community in Tri-Valley.
Mohammed Abdul Baseer will offer a Qur’an recitation and prayer on behalf of the Tri-Valley Muslim community.
1 p.m. | Saturday, April 30 | Lynnewood Methodist Church, 4444 Black Ave., Pleasanton, CA | No RSVP needed
This will be an interfaith service. Gus wanted all to feel welcome and appreciated. Casual attire is suggested. There will be time to share stories and memories.
Fruit juices (his favorite beverages) and some treats are to be provided.
From Gus’s daughter:

Celebration of Life for Gustav A. Nystrom
May 10, 1948 – April 2, 2022
Where: Lynnewood Methodist Church, 4444 Black Ave., Pleasanton, CA
When: Saturday, April 30, 2022, at 1 pm
This will be an interfaith service. Gus wanted all to feel welcome and appreciated. Casual attire is suggested. There will be time to share stories and memories.
International potluck social gathering following the service in the church hall – please bring your favorite International dish to share (you can drop off in the hall). Fruit juices (his favorite beverages) and some treats to be provided.
Questions or suggestions: nystromc@georgetown.edu
Please RSVP so we can share any updates and get an idea of how much food we will need: https://forms.gle/2XiqzhnsvT7qsNTQ9
Please forward this on to others who knew him (or even knew of him) as his impact was wide.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of his favorite charities in his name – we will hand out a list at the service and will also email it out.
Thank you for caring so much about our dad, David and Christina

******

In September 2019, after years of struggling, my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He declined rapidly, physically and cognitively. In March of 2020 he was put on hospice. The following month, at the urging of hospice and ramping up of COVID, I moved him into a board and care (residential home where all of the residents have some form of dementia) nearby. The caregivers treated him with dignity, respect and love – and I was able to visit frequently. In September of 2021 he was taken off of hospice because he no longer met the physical criteria to keep him on. Hospice was a gift from God. The nurse/case manager was extraordinarily helpful – and other hospice services including dementia resources and social workers were invaluable. He passed away on Saturday, April 2, 2022. It was peaceful and sudden and he was not alone.

You all know he used to love talking – about social justice, and politics, and religion – in the past 2 years he listened but didn’t contribute much to conversations. He started to communicate thoughts, but forgot his point sometimes mid-sentence or got confused, which frustrated him.

Until the end he still enjoyed fruit juices (mango, guava, orange) and visits from his mom (Gigi, who lives in San Jose now), my Uncle Hal (his brother, lives in Sunnyvale) and my brother (Dave, lives in Davis) and I. My Aunt Linda and I have taken turns cutting his hair and trimming his beard. My daughter, Ashley (15), seems to elicit the most smiles and enthusiasm from him – from everyone, actually. My son, Thomas (13) can get chatty with him, but it takes a little more nudging.

My dad has always said that the most important thing to him was his dignity – he would have been crushed to know what his life was like towards the end.

As with my grandfather when he had Alzheimer’s, my dad was prone to doing some silly things over the past several years. My hope is that my kids remember more than just the “funny Alzheimer’s things” Tito has done. I hope they are proud of his unbelievable intelligence, passion for helping the less fortunate, devotion to equality for all, true enjoyment of learning about and respecting other cultures, commitment to religious understanding and inclusion, generosity with too many charities to mention, genuine fidelity to peace and justice, and love of being in love. And I hope when they see a map or a Denny’s, they think of him.

If you have a story you would like to share with my brother and I and my kids, about their grandfather, I would be so touched if you send it to me. I really do want them to be proud of him – have a balanced view of him and his life. They might not care too much now, but they will, as they grow older and their life perspective broadens.

Attached are a few recent pictures of my dad with various family. In preparation for sending this message out I started looking at old pictures of my dad with my kids …. he went a lot of places with us and was usually gleefully up for anything. I made a slideshow and a few video clips.

https://youtu.be/hSmQeSHxjmQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efMSh1pPa_U

Loving Across the Difference
2022-04-30 18:30 - 21:00 | St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 678 Enos Way, Livermore, CA, CA, 94551, United States
Please join us this Saturday evening for an Iftar dinner experience as we observe the holy month of Ramadan and help create a better society by learning about the theme “Loving Across the Difference” with parables and prayers from the Christian and Islamic faiths with Rev. Andrew Lobban and Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi.
6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Saturday, April 30 | St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Livermore | Register at: mcceastbay.org/interiftar
Space is limited at this interfaith Iftar. MCC congregation members may attend ONLY if they accompany a friend, co-worker, or neighbor of another faith or nonfaith.
Iftar means ‘fast-breaking,’ and it is an integral part of the Muslim community’s life during the sacred month of Ramadan. Muslims break their daily Ramadan fast with a community dinner called an “iftar.”

Please RSVP your attendance so we can make sure to have adequate food.
Interfaith Iftar Event Schedule

6 p.m. – Arrival & Socializing
6:15 p.m. – Midday Prayer (Asr)
6:30 p.m. – The program begins with Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi & Rev. Andrew Lobban
8:01 p.m. – Call to Prayer and Breaking of Fast
8:20 p.m. – Prayer at Sunset (Maghrib) followed by Iftar Dinner

This event is sponsored and supported by St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church and the MCC East Bay.
This is the third Iftar for the Tri-Valley.

Here was 2017: “What Ramadan Means:” https://youtu.be/tiJgEJT-DM8
Here was 2018 “Why Faith Matters:” https://youtu.be/5J8rL9Hepog
Here was 2019 “Loving Across the Difference”: https://youtu.be/JzK7JexOxLw
Here was the 2022: “Loving Across the Difference”: https://youtu.be/Hb8_0IUwCBU

The Holy month of Ramadan

“Iftar” is the fast-breaking meal observed each evening at sundown during the holy month of Ramadan. The Interfaith Iftar Dinner allows the whole community to join our Muslim friends for an evening meal as they break their Ramadan fast.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Covid Vaccination Clinic @ Jumu'ah
2022-05-07 11:00 - 15:00, 2022-05-27 11:00 - 15:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Alameda County Public Health Department, in collaboration with MCC East Bay, is hosting a public vaccination clinic for ages 5 and up.
11 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Friday, May 27 | MCC Banquet Hall | Free, regardless of insurance or immigration status
Attendees may receive the first or second dose of the Pfizer vaccine or the Pfizer vaccine as a booster (first or second dose).
Pre-registration is encouraged but not necessary for an appointment: https://mcceastbay.org/clinic
The adult Pfizer vaccine will go for ages 12+ and the pediatric Pfizer vaccine for ages 5-11, who must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or responsible adult.

Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines: https://covid-19.acgov.org/vaccines-faq
National Muslim Task Force on COVID-19: https://isna.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Press-Release-NMCTF-COVID-Vaccines-12.22.2020.pdf
Joint Statement from the National Muslim Task Force on COVID-19: https://isna.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Press-Release-NMTF-Ramadan-Statement-4.6.2021.pdf

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
Additional resources

Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet (Requires two appointments): Click Here to Read Pfizer Vaccine Fact Sheet
Booster Fact Sheet: Click here to read
Covid-19 Vaccine Eligibility: Click here to read
Teens Ages 12-17 Vaccination Guide: Click here to read

Information about Vaccinations for Minors:

Our Youth Vaccination Facts page https://covid-19.acgov.org/youthvaxfacts has information about minor consent, including the Alameda County Minor Consent Guidance and a downloadable Written Consent Form
Please see the California Department of Public Health Minor Consent Guidance for more information: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Pfizer-Vaccine-Minor-Consent-Guidance.aspx
Minors aged 5-11 receiving a vaccination must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult throughout the entire vaccination process

Resources for Education about COVID-19 Vaccines:

Get the Facts on Vaccines (ca.gov)
Vaccines FAQ | COVID-19 | Alameda County Public Health (acgov.org)
Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines (cdc.gov)
COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens | CDC

Interfaith Chat
2022-05-11 17:00 - 18:00 | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1501 Hillcrest Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550
Interfaith Interconnect and MCC co-host a religious chat with Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi (Muslim) and Renee Andrus, a speaker from the LDS Church, on how your community welcomes children and youth into the faith and what rite of passage ceremonies are traditional in your culture.
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Wednesday, May 11 | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1501 Hillcrest Ave., Livermore
Join in person or on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89068839705
Doors/Zoom open at 4:40.
Join us to hear the history, ages, and traditions included in these events in this “coming of age/rites of passage” talk.

– More Sister Hosai: https://mcceastbay.org/hosai
– More MCC interfaith events: https://mcceastbay.org/interfaith
– MCC’s interfaith advocacy efforts: https://mcceastbay.org/interfaith-ethos

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
Presentations 5 pm-6 pm and followed by an optional break-out group discussion to 6:30 pm.
he mission of Interfaith Interconnect is to enrich, inform and educate ourselves and others about the great diversity of faiths and cultures in our Valley. The interfaith umbrella group serves the Tri-Valley in the Bay Area.
– More Interfaith Interconnect recordings: https://mcceastbay.org/interfaith-interconnect– Website: https://interfaithinterconnect.weebly.com/– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InterfaithInterconnect
The MCC East Bay and the Islamic Center of Livermore are proud congregation members of the Interfaith Interconnect of the Tri-Valley.
– More MCC interfaith events: https://mcceastbay.org/interfaith– Sign up for MCC’s periodic community supporter updates: https://mcceastbay.org/community-supporters– MCC’s interfaith community advocacy efforts: https://mcceastbay.org/interfaith-ethos

Voting Site
2022-05-28 08:00 - 2022-06-07 17:00, 2022-06-07 08:00 - 20:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
In 2022, the MCC congregation is honored to open our community center to Tri-Valley voters for the June statewide direct primary and November special general elections.
For the June ’22 primary election, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters will be using half of the tarped MCC Conference Room (side closer to classrooms). Voters will enter from Suite 100. Facility map: https://mcceastbay.org/facility-map
MCC serves as #000086 accessible voting center polling site in Pleasanton over these 11-days:

– 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 28
– 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 29
– 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, May 30
– 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31
– 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 1
– 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 2
– 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, June 3
– 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 4
– 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 5
– 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, June 6
– 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7 (Election Day)

MCC East Bay’s continued partnership with the Registrar of Voters has opened up new opportunities for Tri-Valley Muslims to get involved and build relationships with our local community and its officials. Learn more at: https://acgov.org/rov_app/vcalist
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Blood Drive @ Jumu'ah
2022-06-03 10:30 - 16:30 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
As people of faith, it is in our blood to help. Be part of a lifesaving journey to save up to three lives with a 15-minute blood donation.
The MCC community has saved nearly 350 lives! This is our 21st blood drive during Jumu’ah. Each blood drive has always been fully booked or near-fully booked!
Let’s continue that trajectory at this blood drive and keep all our American Red Cross guests busy when they set up in our Banquet Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on a Friday. Sign up at: https://mcceastbay.org/blood-drive
In 2022, MCC will proudly host these quarterly blood drives during Jumuah services from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with our friends at the American Red Cross:

Friday, March 4, 2022
Friday, June 3, 2022
Friday, September 2, 2022
Friday, December 2, 2022

Book An Appointment
A Power Red donation targets O-, O+, A-, and B- only. The donation process takes an additional 20-30 minutes because donors give two units of concentrated Red Blood Cells, and your platelets and plasma are returned.
Blood donors report feeling a sense of great satisfaction after making their blood donation. Why? Because helping others in need just feels good.
If you have visited India, Pakistan, or another high-risk malaria country and returned within the last 12 months, you are not eligible to donate blood.
Every person who donates blood at MCC in 2022 will receive a voucher for a free meal at iniBurger – Gourmet Burgers in Pleasanton. These vouchers are generously donated by MCC congregation members Leeza and Abdullah Popal, who own these establishments, to encourage community and congregation participation.
MCC Youth: If you are 16 to 18, here is the donor requirements and parental authorization form link.
On the morning of the blood drive, please complete the Rapid Pass online and bring the print-off to speed up the check-in process. Complete at https://mcceastbay.org/rapid
Save a Life

Blood Drive @ Jumu'ah
2022-06-03 10:30 - 16:30 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
As people of faith, it is in our blood to help. Be part of a lifesaving journey to save up to three lives with a 15-minute blood donation.
The MCC community has saved nearly 350 lives! This is our 21st blood drive during Jumu’ah. Each blood drive has always been fully booked or near-fully booked!
Let’s continue that trajectory at this blood drive and keep all our American Red Cross guests busy when they set up in our Banquet Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on a Friday. Sign up at: https://mcceastbay.org/blood-drive
In 2022, MCC will proudly host these quarterly blood drives during Jumuah services from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with our friends at the American Red Cross:

Friday, March 4, 2022
Friday, June 3, 2022
Friday, September 2, 2022
Friday, December 2, 2022

Book An Appointment
Blood donors report feeling a sense of great satisfaction after making their blood donation. Why? Because helping others in need just feels good.
If you have visited India, Pakistan, or another high-risk malaria country and you have returned within the last 12 months, you are not eligible to donate blood.
Every person who donates blood at MCC in 2022 will receive a voucher for either a free meal at iniBurger – Gourmet Burgers in Pleasanton. These vouchers are generously donated by MCC congregation members Leeza and Abdullah Popal, who own these establishments, to encourage community and congregation participation.
MCC Youth: If you are 16 to 18, here is the link to the donor requirements and parental authorization form.
On the morning of the blood drive, please complete the Rapid Pass online and bring the print-off with you to speed up the check-in process. Complete at https://mcceastbay.org/rapid
Save a Life

Blood Drive @ Jumu'ah
2022-06-03 10:30 - 16:30 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
As people of faith, it is in our blood to help. Be part of a lifesaving journey to save up to three lives with a 15-minute blood donation.
The MCC community has saved nearly 350 lives! This is our 22nd blood drive during Jumu’ah. Each blood drive has always been fully booked or near-fully booked!
Let’s continue that trajectory at this blood drive and keep all our American Red Cross guests busy when they set up in our Banquet Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on a Friday. Sign up at: https://mcceastbay.org/blood-drive
In 2023, MCC will proudly host these quarterly blood drives during Jumuah services from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with our friends at the American Red Cross:

Friday, March 3, 2023
Friday, June 2, 2023
Friday, September 1, 2023
Friday, December 1, 2023

Book An Appointment
A Power Red donation targets O-, O+, A-, and B- only. The donation process takes an additional 20-30 minutes because donors give two units of concentrated Red Blood Cells, and your platelets and plasma are returned.
Blood donors report feeling a sense of great satisfaction after making their blood donation. Why? Because helping others in need just feels good.
If you have visited India, Pakistan, or another high-risk malaria country and returned within the last 12 months, you are not eligible to donate blood.
Every person who donates blood at MCC in 2023 will receive a voucher for a free meal at iniBurger – Gourmet Burgers in Pleasanton. These vouchers are generously donated by MCC congregation members Leeza and Abdullah Popal, who own these establishments, to encourage community and congregation participation.
MCC Youth: If you are 16 to 18, here is the donor requirements and parental authorization form link.
On the morning of the blood drive, please complete the Rapid Pass online and bring the print-off to speed up the check-in process. Complete at https://mcceastbay.org/rapid
Save a Life

Muslim Teen Gamechangers Network
2022-06-05 10:00 - 12:00, 2022-06-12 10:00 - 12:00, 2022-06-19 10:00 - 12:00, 2022-06-26 10:00 - 12:00, 2022-07-03 10:00 - 12:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For Bay Area Muslim high schoolers, this 10-week interactive summer social justice training program hosted at MCC East Bay in Pleasanton equips teens with tools to critically understand their world, effectively challenge injustice & build legacies of positive change in our communities. Hosted at MCC, lunch is included weekly in this empowerment training grounded in an optimistic Islamic worldview.
10 a.m. to noon | Sundays | June 5 to August 7 | $50/teen (financial waivers available) | MCC Conference Room | Register by emailing San Francisco Bay Area’s Usmaan Alloo at ualloo@cair.com
Watch session recordings at mcceastbay.org/mgn

Sunday, June 5, 2022: Welcome, The Politics of Personhood & Exploring Identity (Ayesha Hamid)
Sunday, June 12, 2022: Power: Stereotypes & Knowledge (Maimoona Afzal Berta)
Sunday, June 19, 2022: Know History, Know Self (Fatima Mekkaoui)
Sunday, June 26, 2022: Know Family, Know Self (Usman Aloo)
Sunday, July 3, 2022: Engaging Local Government (Aziz Akbari)
Sunday, July 10, 2022: No session (Eid al-Adha holiday break)
Sunday, July 17, 2022: Social Movements & Community Organizing
Sunday, July 24, 2022: Capitalism & Consumerism
Sunday, July 31, 2022: Community Organizing Plan Presentation
Sunday, August 7, 2022: Graduation

Sponsored by CAIR-SFBA & MCC East Bay. Please email ualloo@cair.com if you need the fee reduced or waived for financial reasons.
MGN is a social justice training program for Muslim high school students that equips participants with the tools to critically understand their world, effectively challenge injustice, and build legacies of positive change in their communities. The program consists of weekly interactive sessions centered on themes of identity, history, social responsibility, and organizing tools, all grounded in an Islamic worldview.
The standard fee to become a member of the Muslim Gamechangers Network is $50, and payment must be received by the first day of the program to complete your registration. The MGN Membership fee helps us sustain this comprehensive empowerment project for our youth, including the cost of materials, staff time, and field trips.
The deadline to apply is on Sunday, May 29, 2022.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Interfaith Chat
2022-06-08 17:00 - 18:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
MCC proudly hosts the Interfaith Interconnect monthly religious chat with Trish Munro (Jewish) and Karan Saini (Sikh) on how each community welcomes children and youth into the faith and what rite of passage ceremonies are traditional in each culture.
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Wednesday, June 8 | MCC Conference Room | Suite 100 (Enter from “A” and park at “Outdoor Prayer Space” as listed on this map: https://mcceastbay.org/hp
Join in person or live on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82965087998
Doors/Zoom open at 4:40.
Join us to hear the history, ages, and traditions included in these events in this “coming of age/rites of passage” talk.

– More MCC interfaith events: https://mcceastbay.org/interfaith
– MCC’s interfaith advocacy efforts: https://mcceastbay.org/interfaith-ethos

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
Presentations 5 pm-6 pm and followed by an optional break-out group discussion to 6:30 pm.

Muslim Teen Gamechangers Network
2022-06-12 10:00 - 12:00, 2022-06-19 10:00 - 12:00, 2022-06-26 10:00 - 12:00, 2022-07-03 10:00 - 12:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For Bay Area Muslim high schoolers, this 10-week interactive summer social justice training program hosted at MCC East Bay in Pleasanton equips teens with tools to critically understand their world, effectively challenge injustice & build legacies of positive change in our communities. Hosted at MCC, lunch is included weekly in this empowerment training grounded in a positive Islamic worldview.
10 a.m. to noon | Sundays | June 5 to August 7 | $50/teen (financial waivers available) | MCC Conference Room | Register by emailing San Francisco Bay Area’s Usmaan Alloo at ualloo@cair.com
Watch session recordings at mcceastbay.org/mgn

Sunday, June 5, 2022: Welcome, The Politics of Personhood & Exploring Identity (Ayesha Hamid)
Sunday, June 12, 2022: Power: Stereotypes & Knowledge (Maimoona Afzal Berta)
Sunday, June 19, 2022: Know History, Know Self (Fatima Mekkaoui)
Sunday, June 26, 2022: Know Family, Know Self (Usman Aloo)
Sunday, July 3, 2022: Engaging Local Government (Aziz Akbari)
Sunday, July 10, 2022: No session (Eid al-Adha holiday break)
Sunday, July 17, 2022: Social Movements & Community Organizing
Sunday, July 24, 2022: Capitalism & Consumerism
Sunday, July 31, 2022: Community Organizing Plan Presentation
Sunday, August 7, 2022: Graduation

Sponsored by CAIR-SFBA & MCC East Bay. Please email ualloo@cair.com if you need the fee reduced or waived for financial reasons.
MGN is a social justice training program for Muslim high school students that equips participants with the tools to critically understand their world, effectively challenge injustice, and build legacies of positive change in their communities. The program consists of weekly interactive sessions centered on themes of identity, history, social responsibility, and organizing tools, all grounded in an Islamic worldview.
The standard fee to become a member of the Muslim Gamechangers Network is $50, and payment must be received by the first day of the program to complete your registration. The MGN Membership fee helps us sustain this comprehensive empowerment project for our youth, including the cost of materials, staff time, and field trips.
The deadline to apply is on Sunday, May 29, 2022.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
