April 12, 2016

Dear LABC,
Thank you to  our Department of Worship and Congregational Care,  Alice Edmondson and Carolyn Matthews (co-chairs) Sydney Webster (our preacher) and Gigi Giscome and Jesse Lucas (Forum panelists)  for a most important recognition of Disability Awareness Sunday. I found myself challenged to remain mindful, to keep learning and to stop taking accessibility for granted.  One way to respond to the themes discussed on Sunday is to sign the letter “People of Faith Encourage Candidates to Address Disability Concerns’ at http://www.aapd.com/idac-letter-to-candidates/
Sydney’s sermon on April 10 was titled “Accidental Grace.” This week grace will also be the theme of my sermon, “Breaking the Web of Consequence.” Preaching from Jeremiah 32: 42-44, I will insist that while our actions have consequences it is the eternal purpose of God to break the web on consequence in which we are enmeshed. I will proclaim that another name for God’s eternal purpose is grace. Our text ends with the promise “For I will restore their fortunes, says the LORD.”
Sunday will also be our Hunger Task Force Fair and meeting. There will be time to get to know the ministries our HTF supports as well as a planning meeting. Becoming part of the LABC HTF is a very good way to work for the well being of our community.
The week also brings two other very good ways to work for the well being of our community. On Wednesday evening, April 13,  our Social Justice Committee will sponsor a Round Table Discussion  with our Aspire and Achieve partners at Oakland Technical High School. The Round Table will be held in the LABC Family Room and will begin at 6:30.
On Saturday the Seafarers Ministry of the Golden Gate will sponsor its Annual Swedish Pancake Breakfast from 10:00-11:30 at the International Maritime Center at the Port of Oakland, 4001 7th Street. The cost is $10.00. Several LABC members are part of this long-standing ministry of hospitality.

Prayers of the Congregation

Because the prayers on Sunday were spoken rather than written down let our prayer this week be for the concerns and celebrations which were lifted as part of the Pastoral Prayer. May the love of God, the grace of Jesus the Christ, and comfort  of the Holy Spirit be near to all.

Congratulations

To Paul Keener upon his appointment with American Baptist Home Mission Societies as a Volunteer Assistant for Til The Work is Done, the ABHMS rebuilding project in New Orleans.

Two More Events

Laura Landgraf will be launching her new book “The Fifth Sister” tomorrow night at 7:00 at the Octopus Literary Salon, 2101 Webster St, #170 in Oakland. Laura’s book tells of her journey to overcome childhood sexual abuse.
Carolyn Matthews will be preaching at the ABSW Chapel Service next Monday evening at 6:00.