July 12, 2011
Carol Travis called on Sunday evening to let me know that Jack had died. He was at home. There will be a memorial service this Friday, July 15 at 11:00 in the Sanctuary. Rabbi Jackie Mates-Muchin from Temple Sinai and I will co-0fficiate. Jack is one of the reasons for the wording in our Church Affirmations that “We welcome and embrace all followers of Jesus Chrust regardless of race, religion, political affiliation or sexual orientation.” While we remember Jack with gratitude our prayers are with Carol and family.
This Sunday Jim McAllister will be with us to begin the after worship Forum series on “Altar in the World” by Barbara Brown Taylor. Taylor’s most basic point is her understandingthat, “What is saving my life now is the conviction that there is no spiritual treasure to be found apart from the bodily experiences of human life on earth. My life dependson engaging the most ordinary physical activities with the most exquisite attention I can give them.”
Beginning with our worship on July 10, with its emphasis on Jesus’ instruction to “Look at the birds” and “Consider the lilies,” our worship in the coming Sundays has been and will be shaped by themes that come out of Altar in the World. This Sunday we will consider how Jacob, while running for his life, met God in the wilderness. On July 24 my sermon will be “A Physical Faith.” On August 4 Stan Fong will interpret the Scriptures with the voice of the organ.
The beginning of Ally’s Pastoral Prayer on July 10 expressed these themes very well – “God of all Creation, The Psalmist said it best – the earth is Yours and all that is in it, the world and those who live in it. We are grateful to be a part of such a brilliant blue and white sphere. For the earth in all its splendor and beauty and for the ways it nourishes and sustains our very existence, we give thanks. For oceans and skies, birds and squirrels, for watermelon and peaches, barbecue and bands, dandelions and poppies. eucalyptus and oak, we give thanks. It is with deep appreciation for all that we have and with an understanding of our interconnections to everything and everyone, that we lift up our prayers for the world.”
I look forward to the opportunities for ongoing formation that we are presented with this July.
Prayers of the Congregation
- Carol Travis and family
- Phyllis Deer (hospice care)
- Peace with justice in Oakland
- Mary Karne for Mildred
- Thanksgiving with Fannye Leary for many blessing
- Shirley Jones for the city of Richmond
- Barbra MacNair for her brother Richard
- Margaret Alexander for LaShaya
- Arnold Anderson (recuperating from broken hip)
- Paul Keener for his mother
- Paige Bence for her niece
- Kay Baxter for her family
- Bette Pancoe (Bay View Care Center, Alameda)
- Idella Berry (Excel Care Center, Oakland)
- Pat Hughes for her brother
- The Kachin people of Burma
- Sheila Sims for her parents
- Lisa Pound for her husband (hospice care)
- Al Johnson and Roy Browner
- Marie Johnson as she travels to Fort Lewis, Washington as Don Jr. is commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army
- Bonnie Sato for her friend Camille (hospice care)
- Helen Harrison for Bill Godward as well as Vilma Celis and family
- Ted and Doris Evans for their family
- Joan Patten for Paula and John
- Thanksgiving for the life of Betty Ford
- Susan Joachim
Many thanks and much appreciation to Declan, Tyrone, Casey, Larry and Darnell for providing us with most delicious barbecue on Sunday. Thanks also to Don and Brassa Vola for the wonderful music.