February 25, 2020

Family,

Thanks to all for another magnificent celebration of African-American History Month at LABC. The Golden State Warriors
are running a public service announcement urging that the spirit of AAHM be carried into the rest of the year. A message worth taking to heart.

With the Ash Wednesday Vigils (7-8 a.m., 12-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m.) we begin our observance of Lent. My sermons on March 1, 8 and 15 will be under the theme, “Our Need to Hear Critical Voices.” Understandably, most of us prefer compliments to criticisms. Yet, we face the danger of so insulating ourselves in cocoons of self-congratulation that we miss essential information. Information that can shape us if not save us.

Our central scriptures this coming Sunday will be Psalm 51, in which King David hears the prophet Nathan take him to task for his immoral behavior, and Luke 18: 9-14, the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

Prayers of the People

Ruben Artery and Cecil White as they mourn the death of Ruben’s aunt and cousin; Katrina Lau (job interview); Jewelle Gibbs (gaining strength; Jan Scott (health); Dale Edmondson (shoulder surgery soon); Brenda Mabry (knee surgery soon); Jamie Reid (recuperating); Al Johnson and Roy Browner; Zondra Martin (memorial service for Marty on April 4, 11:00a.m.); Rae Rita Thompson (for her dad); Teresita Arciaga (for her mom); The global response to the coronavirus epidemic; Guadalupe Vasquez (Evergreen Baptist Association) as he mourns the death of his eldest son; All the families of the world negatively impacted by the “Muslim Travel Ban” (Many Kachin families included);

Announcements

Death of Katherine Johnson, Pioneering African-American Mathematician