August 14, 2012

Mid-August Greetings,
As impossible as it seems, the mid-point of August finds many families in the back to school mode. The newspapers and airwaves are filled with back to school advertising, many schools will soon begin their fall semester and our own Teacher Match effort (providing the school teachers in our congregation with some needed supplies) will begin on Sunday. I was in Sacramento on Monday speaking on AB 5, a bill which would mandate reform in the way teachers are evaluated. My point was that the bill should be amended to require parent and student involvement in the process. If you would like to see my testimony go to www.calchannel.com and look up the August 13  Senate Appropriations Committee meeting.  I appear near the 8 minute mark.
The sermon I am working on for Sunday is titled “A Time For Letting Go.”  The central Scripture will be Proverbs 9: 1-6. In this text Woman Wisdom is portrayed as preparing a banquet in her home and issuing an open invitation to all to attend. She sends her servants out with this invitation with a particular concern that the “simple and those without sense” be urged to come. The conclusion of the invitation is “Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”
The question that comes to us as we consider this text is “What do we need to lay aside in order to walk in the way of wisdom and thus find life?”

Prayers of the Congregation

• Arnold Anderson – In hospice care
• Thanksgiving that Virginia Cheatham (Piedmont Gardens) was with us in worship
• Bette Pancoe (home)
• Kay Baxter for Jamie, Stacey, and self
• Mary Karne for cousins Sharon, Jim and Millie
• Phil and Gloria Meads for Alonzo, June, Carlos and Billie
• All who are mourning
• Jeanette Paige for her dad
• Al Johnson and Roy Browner
• Helen Harrison for Chris, Ty and Laverne
• Edna Dorenzo
• Theresako Harris for her aunt
• All who are traveling
• All our teachers, school employees, students and their families
• The people of Syria and the world’s response to their situation
• Thanksgiving for inspiring events like the Olympics
• My sister Beth – knee replacement surgery on August 28
• Karen Okusu
• Marie Johnson for Donnie as he continues his training at Fort Benning
• LCC Teacher Angelique recuperating from surgery
• Phyllis Miller
• Our business owners in these challenging economic times

Announcements

• Thanks to everyone who who has volunteered to be involved in the phone banking in support of Proposition 30.  OCO/PICO is impressed with our commitment.
• Assistance Needed: Dave Gattey is going to be away during September and needs someone to help with the recycling. Tuesday morning are preferred but it can be done at some other time. Please contact me if you can help.