December 19, 2017
Dear LABC,
This year the Fourth Sunday of Advent is also Christmas Eve. We have two wonderful worship services planned. Our 10:00 a.m. service will include the lighting of the Candle of Love and music by Stan, the Voices of Lakeshore, Jan Scott and the Lakeshore Handbell Ensemble. Our children will lead a portion of the service. The central Scripture will be Romans 16: 25-27 in which Paul speaks of the “revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages.”
Our 5:00 p.m. service will include the lighting of the Christ candle, the singing of many carols, music by Gerry Grosz and band as well as Leon Taylor. The service will conclude with the singing of Silent Night and the candle lighting ceremony. The central Scripture will be Titus 2:11-14 in which Paul tells us that God is at work in the world creating a people who are “zealous for good deeds.”
There is a full slate of studies and meetings this week. The major service project is the delivery of the Sponsor-a-Family Christmas gifts on Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.. Delivery drivers and car loaders are needed and would be greatly appreciated. Contact Sheila Sims if you can help.
On Wednesday evening Pastor Allison will be one of the presenters at “Hope Resists The Walls of Empire.” This Interfaith Movement for Human Dignity presentation will be held at Buena Vista United Methodist Church, 2311 Buena Vista Avenue in Alameda.
The Concerns and Celebrations From Sunday
- George L. for Sophia Ho
- Paige for all who are traveling
- Gloria for all who are longing for the joy of Christmas
- Myra for her nephew
- Nikki for her father
- Lari for Greg and John
- Barbara for Eva and Imani
- Joan P. for Sean, Jim and Peter
- Beverly J. for her sister-in-law
- Jim J. for his brother
- Jesse L. for Sydney on her ordination
- Jesus P. for Merle, Max, Wayne and Jessica
- Virginia M. for leaders and elected officials
- John C. for the 5,700 homeless residents of Alameda County
- Jan S. prayers of gratitude
- Charlene W. for the children of Yemen
- Mark W. for our country in contentious times
- Rick M. for peace in his neighborhood
- Doris gratitude for many things, especially that great-grandson Obatola can be with her
- Joel for friend, Tom
- Lola for her children
- Ashley for the Cheatham family as they mourn the death of Jim C.
- Mary K. for the marginalized and for cousin Rolf
- Marie J. for her family, especially sister-in-law Brenda, as they mourn the death of Don’s sister Pat, also for the Baptist churches of Cuba
- Shakia for families traumatized by fire
- Jim H. for Anthony and Leslyn
Postscript to Sunday
In response to my noting that the Lord’s Prayer has been in the news recently Jan Scott told me that for years she has prayed “leave us not in temptation” rather than “lead us not into temptation,” I very much like her re-wording.