Midweek Message

February 3, 2015

Midweek Message

February 3, 2015

Jim Hopkins

February 3, 2015

Dear LABC Family,
As African-American History month continues I invite you to join in worship on Sunday as our own Rev. Carolyn Matthews leads us in a Service of Song and Spoken Word featuring the music of the late, great Andrae Crouch.
One of our partners in our Aspire and Achieve effort at Oakland Technical High School, Yalie Kamara of Holy Names University, will lead the Forum. The Adult  Bible Class and the Grief and Loss Ministry will also meet following worship. The Coffee Hour will honor our February birthdays.
I hope a good number of us will come back to church to stand and sing for justice on the corner of Lakeshore and Mandana from 2:00-2:30.  This information will be distributed as we sing.

Stand and Sing For Justice
February 8, 2015
A Public Witness of Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church
What We Are Asking For

  1. A continued commitment on the part of Oakland’s elected officials and Oakland Police Department leadership to support  Ceasefire and other proven violence reducing and life enhancing initiatives.
  2. A continued commitment on the part of Oakland’s elected officials, Oakland Police Department leadership and Oakland Fire Department leadership to cultivate a police force and fire department that reflects that diversity of Oakland. This includes prioritizing  the hiring of Oakland residents by the OPD and OFD.
  3. A continued commitment on the part of Oakland’s elected officials and Oakland Police Department leadership to the hiring, training and disciplining of OPD officers in such a manner that insures the members of the force are committed to offering community and constitutionally oriented police services.
  4. A continued commitment on the part of Oakland’s elected officials and Oakland Police Department leadership to data driven deployment of OPD officers.
  5. A commitment on the part of Oakland’s elected officials and Oakland Police Department leadership to correct the wrong of racial profiling whereby 75% of the stops by OPD officers are of African-Americans and Hispanics, members of groups that make up approximately 40% of the population. Of these stops, less than 20% result in arrests.

Be mindful – Dehumanizing those who are dehumanizing you only contributes to the cycle of dehumanization in the world. Cornel West
Peace,
Jim H.

Prayers of the Congregation

  • Myra Saxton for her mom
  • Bjoe Morris, recovering from a fall
  • Sydney Webster for her dad and for her uncle Charles, health concerns
  • Joan Patten as she mourns the death of her friend John
  • Larry Sims as he honors the second anniversary of Leona’s death and for his brother Leslie and extended family
  • Angela Sherman for her friend Bryan
  • Teresa Hopkins for her mom, health concerns
  • Virginia McClow for our community, country and creation
  • The Kachin people as they mourn the death of for young coal miners at the hands of the Burmese Army
  • Thanksgiving with Pastor Tanner on a visit from her parents and prayers for sister Jenny as she prepares to adopt a child
  • Thanksgiving with Pastor Hopkins that the health of his sister Beth is greatly improved and for Karen Hopkins as she prepares for shoulder surgery
  • Thanksgiving that Irene Jennings was able to be in worship
  • Thanksgiving for the ministry of Karen Okusu at Lakeshore and at Elmwood Correctional Facility
  • Thanksgiving for the ministry of Robert Wilkins at Faith Presbyterian Church
  • Thanksgiving for the ministry of Naomi Willis with Dr. Gillette O. James at Beth Eden Baptist Church. Beth Eden is celebrating 125 years of worship and service in Oakland this year.
  • Kay Baxter for her family and herself
  • Marie Johnson as she continues to recuperate from a broken ankle
  • Doris and Ted Evans for the Evans, Leche and Edwards families
  • Abe and Mary Alice Cirimele for Aletha
  • Alean Saunders-Coffey for the Panatoja and Reddick families
  • Wally Bryen for the daughter of his colleague
  • Jessie Guiton, recuperating from surgery

Announcements

On Saturday the Seafarers Ministry of the Golden Gate invites everyone to their Swedish Pancake Breakfast, 10-Noon at the Seafarers Center, 4001 7th Street, Berth 40. For reservations call 510-893-3104.
Also on Saturday the March for Real Climate Leadership will leave from Frank Ogawa Plaza in front of City Hall at 11:30. There will be a Faith Community Contingent in the march. I hope some of our members will join Mary Sue Meads in representing us in this call for care of all creation.