About Us

Lakeside Temple of Practical Christianity is a spiritually inclusive community located in Oakland, California, dedicated to exploring and practicing a metaphysical approach to Christianity. Founded in 1939 by Rev. Alma Morse, the church embraces the belief that the divine presence of God dwells within every person and that spiritual growth comes through inner transformation. Rooted in the New Thought tradition, Lakeside Temple teaches that our thoughts and beliefs shape our reality, and that through prayer, meditation, and spiritual understanding, we can align ourselves with the healing, creative power of God.

The church offers weekly Sunday services, midweek meditation and study classes, and a 24-hour prayer ministry to support individuals on their spiritual path. With an emphasis on compassion, self-awareness, and the inner journey, Lakeside Temple fosters a nurturing environment where people from all backgrounds can deepen their connection to Spirit, discover their divine potential, and live with greater peace, purpose, and joy.

Lakeside Temple is a community of spiritual seekers.

We welcome all and support each other on our spiritual journey. Do not be detered if you are a member of any church or specific denomination. We are non-denominational and welcome everyone to join us in experiencing the light, love, power and wisdom of God within and surrounding us.

Our Ministry -

embodies Peace.
shows how to cooperate with Divine Law and so live freely, fully, and wel
demonstrates we are all of God: infinitely capable, infinitely loved.
tithes generously, as it is holy unto the Lord.

We believe God the Good is all there is. There is no other power.

We believe good is present within absolutely everything, regardless of outer appearance. What people call 'evil' is just limited expression of good, arising from thoughts of lack and limitation. Such thoughts lead to fear, and it all comes from the error belief that we are separate from God.

We believe we are all spiritual beings, One in God.

We believe our thoughts shape and form our outer circumstances.

We believe we are always and ever becoming more than we have been.

We believe what Jesus Christ said.

Jesus Christ is our model - He cooperated fully with Divine Love and Divine Law and fulfilled His potential on earth. He proved for us that Life never ends. Our teachings are based on the Bible, which we interpret metaphysically - there are several layers of meaning.

We want to become our true selves. We are each children of the Most High, yet in many ways we're like spiritual toddlers right now. We want to fulfill our potential. Spirit is within us and we are learning to cooperate fully with Spirit.

We are each master of our own consciousness - we get to choose our thoughts. If we decide we're separate from God, that's how it will feel to us. Yet that's not true. Spirit is right here, in us and around us, closer than breathing.

First we learn to slow our thoughts down so we know what they are. Then we redirect them as we choose. Through prayer and meditation, we improve our conscious communion with God and receive Divine guidance from within. As we know better, we do better. We come to know God is Love.

Please use our Spiritual Toolbox (below) to re-center yourself. It contains Scripture, prayers, affirmations, Truth statements, and a short video on how to meditate.

Lakeside Temple of Practical Christianity, originally known as Lakeside Unity Temple, was founded in 1939 by Rev. Alma M. Morse in Oakland, California. The church initially held services at 1433 Madison Street, a building that had previously served as a Masonic Temple. In 1950, the congregation moved to its current location at 144 Athol Avenue, situated near Lake Merritt. The church's teachings are rooted in the Unity School of Christianity and the broader New Thought movement, emphasizing the power of prayer, positive thinking, and the inherent divinity within each individual.
Rev. Alma Morse was a prominent figure in the Unity movement. Before founding Lakeside Temple, she served as a minister at Unity Wayside Center in Oakland from 1923 to 1936, and held positions at Unity centers in Milwaukee and Alameda. Ordained by Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore, she also taught at the Unity Training School for two decades and edited the writings of metaphysical author W. Frederic Keeler. After more than 27 years of leadership, Rev. Morse retired in 1966 and was succeeded by Rev. Katheryn Jarvis. Today, Lakeside Temple continues to honor its legacy by offering spiritual education, healing practices, and community services that reflect its foundational principles.

When you walk into the Temple you can feel the peace. We believe God is always with us, closer than breathing. When we choose to think we're separate from God, that's how it feels to us. But God didn't go anywhere. God is right here, caring, guiding, and loving us inexhaustibly. We're all spiritual beings. We want to feel God's Love, and live effectively, fully and well. We want to move through each day feeling centered and at peace, spiritually connected with all.

And we come to the Temple to learn how. The Temple is a center of Peace, where we come together, worship, meditate, grow in Spirit and enjoy fellowship with other spiritual seekers. We're all growing, we'll always be growing, and we laugh, sing, serve and support one another on the journey.

Since we're practical Christians, we apply what we learn in daily living. Many of our members are part of the Prayer Ministry. We receive requests for prayer from all over, and we each pray with a set of names (first names only) each day for two weeks before starting on a new set. The results are miraculous.

We tithe to Silent Unity, Habitat For Humanity, the Alameda County Community Food Bank, and A Safe Place.

It's been an incredible journey so far and we know God is growing us. We don't know what's next, but God does, and we'd love to have you along for whatever God has in store for us.

GOD IS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, RIGHT WHERE WE ARE

ABOUT US

WHO WE ARE

OUR VISION

OUR MISSION

WHAT WE BELIEVE

OUR HISTORY

SMALL BEGINNINGS

MESSAGE FROM OUR MINISTER EMERITUS

MEET OUR PEOPLE