August 23, 2016
We continue to give thanks with and for the LABC team that served as part of American Baptist Home Mission Societies’ “‘Till the Work is Done” effort in New Orleans several weeks ago. This past Sunday’s Service, Forum and Lunch gave us a sense of the significance of their ministry. In 2017 LABC is planning to be part of mission trips to New Orleans (first week of August) and Cuba (early November).
This coming Sunday I will deliver the third sermon in my three-part,”Dangerous, But Life-Giving Verses,” series. Reading from John 14: 1-7 we will consider several ways of interpreting Jesus’ words in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
I will note that there are exclusive as well as inclusive ways of interpreting this text and that I find the inclusive interpretations to be life-giving. A consistent point in the inclusive interpretations is that it just doesn’t make much sense for Jesus’ way to be loving, compassionate, including, healing, accepting and forgiving and for the way to “The Father” to be exclusive, narrow, and constricted. Thus, however we interpret John 14:6, the focus of our interpretation must not be on the perceived theological deficiencies of others but on what the invitation to walk with Jesus on the way of love.
Carolyn Matthews will be celebrating her birthday this weekend and as a birthday gift to the congregation will be singing in our worship service!
Prayers of the Congregation
- The global Baptist family as it mourns the death of Desmond Hoffmeister
- Charlotte Myers and family as they mourn the death of her sister, Myrna Davis
- Ruben Artery for his dad
- The Broadnax family for Aaliyah (health concerns)
- Edie Parrott (Bancroft Convalescent Hospital)
- Jessie Guiton and family for Baby Valentina
- Mary Karne for her daughter, Maryla
- Joel Reyes for his sister, Virginia (health concerns)
- Barbara Bowman (health concerns)
- Kay Baxter for her family
- Our Long Range Planning Committee as it gathers this Saturday to prepare for the coming all-congregation conversations
- All our homebound members
- The victims of fire and flood
- Thanksgiving for American Baptist and Alliance of Baptists mission partners
- Public health workers
- All who have medical appointments and treatments this week
- Our students, teachers and school employees
- Thanksgiving with Whitley Joachim for a very successful Relay for Life (Thanks for all who participated by walking and/or contributing. May cancer research continue to yield hope.)
- Thanksgiving with Dave and Jo Robinson (Jo is feeling better)
- Bruce Quan and all candidates for public office in Oakland. Our city is the better when good people run against good people.
Announcements
From Paul K:
“We Shall Not Be Moved” by Tom Wooten and “Overcoming Katrina” by D’Ann R. Penner and Keith C. Ferdinand are the two books that I referenced at the forum. They are great resources for learning more about Katrina and the aftermath.
From Charlotte M:
Myrna’s services will be:
- August 27, Saturday at 10AM This is youngest son, Auston Davis’ congregation Maranatha Christian Center 1811 S. 7th Street, San Jose 95112.
- September 3, Saturday at 10AM This is husband, Bill Davis’ congregation Church of Latter Day Saints Antioch Stake Center 2350 Jeffrey Way, Brentwood 94513.
Condolences, cards and flowers may be sent to: 5540 Cedar Point Way, Antioch CA 94531.