December 8, 2015
Advent Greetings,
The week ahead is full of good things. Tuesday Night Soup and Study and Wednesday Morning Prayer and Bible Study will, as part of our study of leadership in the Bible, read some of the accounts of the prophet Elijah. Forever Young will gather in the Family Room for a Christmas Luncheon on Saturday at 12:30 (RSVP to George Lee or Alodia Corpuz). The Social Club will gather at the home of Johanna and Paul Wilkinson at 5:00 (RSVP to the Wilkinson’s and bring an appetizer!).
The Scripture for the Third Sunday of Advent is Zephaniah 3: 14-20. In this text the prophet Zephaniah speaks to the beleaguered people promising them that their shattered lives can be healed. His words are, “At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.” With this utterance Zephaniah fulfills well his prophet’s job description which, in the words of Pastor Deborah Block, is to “feel God’s compassion for us, God’s anger with us, God’s joy in us.” In worship we will consider some ways in which this fragile promise connects with our lives.
During the Forum time our Grief and Loss Ministry will lead our Blue Christmas Service, a time to acknowledge the losses we have experienced and to honor the truth that the holidays can be very hard, reminding us of who and what we miss.
Let us seek Peace,
Jim H.
Prayers of the Congregation
- Charlene and Jerry Wolf as they mourn the death of Charlene’s mom, Emma
- Carol Leichter and family as they mourn Steve’s death
- Nedra Hathaway as she recuperates from surgery
- George and Sandra Lee for George’s brother, Herbert
- Rick McKillop for his dad (health concerns)
- Allison Tanner and Whitley Joachim for Anne Ronan as she mourns the loss of her nephew
- Declan and Sheila Brown, Sondra Price, Kay Washington and Joshua Bonette for Josh’s dad as he recuperates from surgery
- Doris and Ted Evans
- Edie Parrott as she recuperates
- Sandra Dunn for her family and for herself
- Kay Baxter – encouragement for Stacey, continued recovery for Jamie, continued strength for Kay
- Cordia Lee – strength for John and Paige, healing for Christopher, unity for Alta Bates -Summit, thanksgiving in all things
- Gloria and Phil Meads – school success for Alfonso
- Marie Johnson for her co-workers and their families and for Donnie and Nicole as they prepare for the birth of Donald Lee Johnson III
- Roy Browner and Al Johnson for Roy’s family (his sister is very ill)
- Joan Patten for Peter and Paula
- Joan Thatcher (health concerns)
- All the refugees and displaced persons of the world
- The victims of the shooting at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino and our response to terrorism around the globe
- Paul Keener as he leads FBC Alameda as their Interim Pastor
- All who are traveling
- Thanksgiving with Larry Hutchings on a strong recovery
- Thanksgiving for the ministry of Katie Choy Wong as she celebrates the 35th anniversary of her ordination
- Thanksgiving with New Life Christian Fellowship on the ordination of Thuiya Rumthao
- Thanksgiving with Mary Karne on good news from her Cousin Jim
- Thanksgiving for the ministry of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
- Thanksgiving for the United Nations Conference on the Environment in Paris
- Thanksgiving for the ministry of the Samaritan Neighborhood Center
Announcements
I have asked Dale Edmondson to draft a letter to the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California for members of LABC to sign decrying the anti-Muslim rhetoric and threats against Muslims and the Muslim community that are so prevalent right now. That letter will be available for you to sign on Sunday.