April 10, 2012

Tuesday Greetings.
I trust that the hope of Easter lingers even as we move past Easter Sunday and encounter all the stones of  our existence, stones that both block  our way consistently and appear unexpectedly, that are still waiting to be rolled away.
It was almost ten years ago that I began writing the Midweek Message.  My intent was to stay in touch with the congregation, to lift up a thought about the Scripture for the the coming Sunday and to encourage prayer for one another and for our world.  Though the form and style have changed a bit, these three goals remain. Because these are worthy goals I, as I begin my sabbatical leave, am entrusting the writing of the Midweek Message to Pastor Tanner. It is her intent to continue to send it on a weekly basis.
Michael Sumrall will be our preacher this Sunday (I have much appreciated his presence at Lakeshore. He will be completing his Minister in Training program in mid-May with the promise of staying at LABC to assist the pastoral staff thru mid-July.)  Michael will be preaching from 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, one of the earliest statements by the followers of Jesus on the significance of the Resurrection. In this text Paul asserts that by the power of the Resurrection “everything has become new.” Of course Paul is clear, we carry this “newness” in the fragile containers, the earthen vessels, that are our selves, that is our community.
A portion of a prayer by Frederick Buechner speaks to this understanding. “O Thou who didst rise again, Thou Holy Spirit of Christ, arise and live within us now, that we may be they body, that we may be thy feet to walk into the world’s pain, they hands to heal, thy heart to break, if need must be, for the love of the world. Thou risen Christ, make Christs of us all. Amen
See you Sunday,
Jim H.

Prayers of the Congregation

• The Joachim family as they grieve Susan’s death (A memorial service will be held at LABC on Saturday, June 16)
• The grieving families of those slain at Oikos University on April 2
• The peace of Oakland
• Thanksgiving for all who made Holy Week at Lakeshore a most meaningful and spirited week (The April 8 Chronicle had a wonderful story about our Easter Parade and Party. One thing the article didn’t make entirely clear was that it was jointly sponsored by the church and the Lakeshore Business Improvement District.)
• The war torn lands of our world represented by Syria, Myanmar, and Sudan
• Edna Dorenzo
• Richard Ice
• The children and youth of our church and our community
• All who are facing medical and financial emergencies
• Carol Leichter for Steve and for George and Janet White as they move into retirement
• Theresako Harris for her aunt
• Phil Meads for Gloria who was not feeling well on Sunday
• Kay Baxter for Stacey and Jamie and herself as she honors the 4th anniversary of Larry’s passing
• Judy Hayes and family as they remember the 1st anniversary of John’s death
• For all who were in worship on Sunday, may the spirit of Easter abide
• Karen Hopkins for her aunt Shirley
• For our work as part of OCO and PICO California in support of quality public education for all communities
• Homer and Zondra Martin
• Sandra Dunn for her father
• Pastor Hopkins as he begins his sabbatical
• Bjoe Morris for Geneva Kiedu
• Teufa Gemechu as he seeks employment
• All those who are home-bound and those who bringing them lilies
• Marie Johnson for Donny as he begins officer training at Fort Benning, Georgia
• Declan and Sheila Brown for Gahiji on the death of his mother
• Sarah Hogan (Pastor Jim’s sister) and family for Jim Golf
• Larry Sims for his family

Here is a link to a Washington Post report from Burma regarding the plight of the Kachin people.