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

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, 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.

WHO WE ARE

OUR VISION

Lakeside Temple is a place of deep Peace, where we feel Spirit flowing freely. 

 

 

Here, we - 

 

  • become quiet and let Spirit speak.
  • think about what we really want, and let ourselves receive it.
  • find our true ability to accomplish.
  • learn to stay with Divine Love and cooperate with Divine Law.

   

  As we realize our unlimited spiritual nature, we learn to live abundantly and fully, accepting the bounty of our loving God.

 

 

 

OUR MISSION

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 well
  • demonstrates we are all of God: infinitely capable, infinitely loved.
  • tithes generously, as it is holy unto the Lord.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

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.

He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

 

—John 14:12

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.

TOOLBOX

OUR HISTORY

SMALL BEGINNINGS

  • 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.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR MINISTER

Rev. Damon A Powell, PhD.

Minister

Lakeside Temple is a very unique place or worship. From the minute I entered the front doors and stepped into the narthex, I knew something was different from other places of worship. Once I stepped through the double doors opening into the sanctuary, I was taken aback by its spacious beauty. As I looked around, taking it all in, I began to feel a sense of peace and calm which I do not often encounter in other temples I've visited. 

 

As the current Minister, I stand upon the shoulders of some powerful, anointed women who birthed and nurtured Lakeside Temple into the place of peace it represents. I am grateful and humbled when I recall the sacrifices made to bring Lakeside this far along way. But I am also inspired by the prospect of helping to lead this spiritual community into the future. There is no doubt in my mind, that the vision, purpose, and theology that has characterized Lakeside Temple, is more relevant now than ever before, and I look forward to laboring alongside our memebership as we step into a new season.

 

If you are searching for something that goes beyond the traditonal worship expereince, Lakeside Temple of Practical Christianty is the place for you. Our approach is both spiritual, and practical. We are higly spiritual in our approach because we don't see our spiritualuty as something that is separate, or divorced from the things we expereince in daily life. We emphasize the cultivation of a spiritual orientation toward life that helps us to be more conscious of the divine's presence in every moment. We are practical, in the sense that we believe you should clearly understand how your spirituality fits into your daily living, and be able to apply that understanding in concrete, practical ways as you go about the task of daily living.

MEET OUR PEOPLE

Darlene Harris

Chaplain 

Dietrich Erbelding

Choral Director

Robert Harrison

Director, Lakeside Singers

Melinda McCollister Ho

Accountant / Bookkeeper

Kate Avedissian

Administrator & Prayer Minister

Althea Lowe

Ministry & Sound Assistant