January 28, 2014

Dear Lakeshore,
As always, the end of January finds me looking forward to February and African American History Month at LABC. This year our theme is “God Has Set Me Free.” Exodus 6:6-7 is the biblical text for the month. It begins, “Say therefore to the Israelites, ‘I am the LORD, and I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from slavery to them.” Our preacher this Sunday will be our own Carolyn Matthews.
Singing and music is an essential part of our celebration of AAHM as it is an essential component of African American History. An essay entitled “African American Music and the Freedom Movement,” found in our African American Heritage Hymnal,  by The Reverend Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. says it well.  “I remember being arrested and taken to a crowded jail in Atlanta and hearing a welcome song echoing from another section of the jail, ‘Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me ’round.’ I remember another occasion when the jailer called the Reverend A.D. King and myself aside for a private conversation. At first we were a little bit suspicious. But when he began to tell us how he did not want his ‘soul to be lost,’ we knew that the spirituality of our movement was akin to that of Paul, Silas and John. The jailer was carrying side arms with the authority to kill. We were armed with righteousness and the power to heal. The music of the movement did not create this power but communicated it and motivated, the messengers, teachers and leaders.”
Let us worship, learn, sing, study and feast together in the weeks ahead.
Jim H.
(Speaking of music laden with important meaning, singer Pete Seeger died on Monday. We give thanks for his life and music.)

Prayers of the Congregation

• Mary Alice and Abe Ciremele on the death of friends Diane Maass and Sal Tedesco
• Carolyn Person and Cameron Wilson for Hershal Vinson who is in hospice care
• Karen Okusu for her friend Christy who is recovering from surgery
• Irene Jennings, Piedmont Gardens SNF
• Fannye Leary, Piedmont Gardens SNF
• Ruth Smith, recuperating from a fall
• Charlene Wolf for her mom, Emma Heidinger, who is in a nursing home in North Dakota
• Cheryl Gattey for her mother, Dorothy Barton
• Alice Butler for her daughter Jill
• Sydney Webster for her aunt, Ayana, Marcia and Veronica
• Lari Musatti and grand baby Jazmyne
• Larry Sims and family on the first anniversary of Leona’s death
• Dwight Dickerson for his family and for the family of Reya Hendricksen as the mourn
• Mary Karne for her daughter Maryla and her friend Diane
• Gloria and Phil Meads for Carlos Elias, Carol Ecklund and the grieving mothers of Oakland
• Paul Keener for Erick Lawson, Gertrude Keener, H.G. Prince and the students and staff of ABSW as the spring semester begins
• Kay Baxter for Stacey, Jamie and self
• President Obama as he delivers his State of the Union address
• Ann Fields for her brother Ezra and her grandson Scott
• Esther Hargis and Martha Olney for their son Jimmy who has been ill
• Geetha Thaker as she continues her work as a medical
• Kristen Fry, niece of Jeanne Robinson, and the Dwelling Places orphanage in Uganda
• Ted and Doris Evans for their health and for their family

Announcements

Swedish Pancake Breakfast! Fundraiser for Seafarers Ministry of the Golden Gate. February 1, 10:00-12:00, International Maritime Center, 4001 7th Street in the Port of Oakland.