January 30, 2018

Dear Church Family,
January is almost past. The LABC Annual Meeting is in the history books. African-American History Month awaits. I hope to see you Sunday.
In worship this Sunday we will consider the example of Frederick Douglass as a leader who took the teaching of Jesus (in Luke 6: 45-49) to “build upon the rock” to heart. Some words to remember come from a speech he made in 1857. “If there is not struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightening. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.”
Communion will be part of our worship on Sunday as will be a greeting from Oakland’s mayor, Libby Schaff

Prayers of the Congregation

• Leslyn Henry and family as they mourn the death of Anthony Marshall (a memorial service is scheduled for February 24th at 10:30)
• Barbara Hunt for her friend Sam as she mourns the death of her husband John
• Larry Sims on the fifth anniversary of Leona’s death (January 31)
• Thanksgiving with Tyrone Mack on the birth of his granddaughter who is still to be named. The daughter to T.J. (Tyrone’s son) and Shamanay she is in the NICU at Kaiser Hospital San Leandro.
• Jesus Portillo for Merle, Max and family
• Dayle Scott (health)
• Ann Fields for her family and herself
• Alean Saunders-Coffey for her family
• Peggy Rogers for her family
• Cecil White for his niece and nephew
• Ruben Artery for his step-mother
• Celestine Bennett for her sisters
• Brenda Mabry (health)
• Sandra Dunn (health)
• Alice Butler for her sister Pat as well as for friends Betty and Leonard Heath
• Gloria and Phil Meads for Jean
• Larry Hutchings for friend Ina (health), friend Bill’s son Tim (health)  and friend Diane (health)
• Camille Parker for her daughter Carolyn (health)
• LeAnn Flesher and Jennifer Davidson as they represent ABSW in Northeast India
• The homeless of Oakland, Bay Area and California
• Pastor Tanner as she chairs the Community Advisory Board of Grand Lake Gardens

Announcements

COFFEE HOUR – Join us for a Special Coffee Hour sponsored by the African American History Month Committee and Department of Educational Ministries followed by a Forum on Foods of Our Hearts.