Midweek Message

February 18, 2013

Jim Hopkins

February 18, 2013

Presidents Day Greetings. I am going to be in Sacramento most of the day tomorrow (I will be back in time for Soup and Study) as part of a PICO California delegation meeting with state lawmakers and their advisors as we begin our 2013 effort to insure that the revenue guaranteed to public education by the passage of Proposition 30 is distributed equitably. Thus, I am sending the message early this week.
The three major events in the life of the church this week are:

  1. Wednesday, February 19 – Lakeshore member, The Reverend David Robinson speaking about the work of the ministry he leads, Correctional Institutions Chaplaincy, at the Baptists Lunching together meeting at Grand Lake Gardens. Lunch at 12:00. Program at 1:00. Call Joan Thatcher to make reservations. I trust that a good number of us will show our support for Dave by attending.
  2. Saturday, February 23 – The Memorial Service for The Reverend Harrison Williams will be held in our Sanctuary at 2:00. Harry lived his life and conducted his ministry most admirably. In so doing he helped shape the Baptist family, the Baptist tradition, which enlivens us. His daughter Helen and family will be in attendance.
  3. Sunday, February 24 – African American History Month concludes with worship, Hat Sunday and our Annual Soul Food Dinner. Tickets are $15 at the door.

In worship I will be preaching from Luke 13:1-5. In this text Jesus challenges his disciples willingness to say that people who experienced grief and tragedy in their lives got what they deserved. He seems to urge caution in proclaiming that God caused any particular event, especially any particular calamity, to happen. The invitation will be to for us to repent of saying too much about God while trusting in God too little.

Prayers of the congregation

  • All who are grieving
  • All who are looking for work
  • All who are dealing with conflict
  • All who seeking justice
  • All who are caring for another
  • All who are traveling
  • Bette Pancoe – Summit Hospital
  • Helen and Marc Harrison for Marc’s Dad
  • Kay Baxter for her family
  • Our Church Council as it meets this Tuesday
  • Dave Robinson and the ministry of Correctional Institutions Chaplaincy
  • Steve Reimer and the ministry of The Samaritan Neighborhood Center
  • Edna Dorenzo for the family of her caregiver
  • Theresako Harris for her aunt
  • Dwight Dickerson for his family
  • Sandra Dunn for her father
  • Gloria and Phil Meads for their niece
  • Declan and Sheila Brown for Kay and Josh and David and Deidre
  • Sybil Alexander
  • All our teachers, students and school employees
  • Tess Benin on the death of her friend Muriel Phillips
  • The Kachin of people of the United States and of Burma
  • George and Sylvia Lee
  • Larry Hutchings for his mother
  • Joan Patten for Edna Dorenzo
  • Hallie Randel for the family of Chris Giovanolli who are mourning his loss
  • Brenda McCarthy for her family, several of whom she is caring for
  • Paige Bence and John Lee for Martha Norman
  • Keith Paramour for his grandparents