July 12, 2016
Dear LABC,
Last week was a very hard week in the United States of America. We pray for those who experienced grievous loss most directly even as we pray for our communities and ourselves. May we find the courage and wisdom needed to take strides toward peace and leaps toward justice.
The central scriptures in our worship on July 17 will be Revelation 1:5, focusing on “Jesus Christ…the ruler of the kings of earth,” and Luke 4:5-8, focusing on “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” These texts make it clear that the true center of our lives is the God we know in Jesus the Christ. In the words of Pastor Eugene Peterson, “If we don’t have a sense of the primacy of God, we will never get it right, get life right, get our lives right. Not God on the margins; not God as an option; not God on the weekends, God at the center and circumference.”
When God is at the center of our lives we learn, as the first hearers of Revelation were learning, that the rule of Caesar will cease, that the pain of persecution will pass and that only the mercy of Jesus will last.
Prayers of the Congregation
- Wally Bryen for his brother Dave (health concerns)
- Jeanette Paige as she cares for her father
- Georgia Upshaw as she cares for her brother
- Myra Saxton as she cares for her mom
- Nedra Hathaway (health concerns)
- Katrina Lau, searching for a good job
- Carol and Wil Ash for the Small family as they mourn the death of Aunt Chris
- Our young adults as they deal with transitions, student debt and family concerns
- Jeanne Robinson as she remembers Bessie Adams
- Mary Karne for Bab Hale (health concerns)
- Ann Fields for her family and for canine companion Ruby
- Chris Schelin as he delivers a paper at Regent’s College in Oxford, England.
- Joan Patten for Paula
- Ted and Doris Evans
- Virginia Damretsky
- Evan Wilkinson for continued healing
- Sandra Dunn (health concerns)
- Gloria and Phil Meads for family and friends
- Alean Saunders-Coffey for her family and Luis Pantoja
- Kay Baxter for her family
- Ruben Artery for his family
- Zondra Martin for her family
- Allison and Roehl for Dennis Tanner
- Barbara Bowman (health concerns)
- Geetha Thaker as she prepares for her state medical licensing exams
- Margaret, Olu and Ife Oladoja (all now residing in Pullman, WA)
- The homeless residents of our neighborhood
- Thanksgiving for the ministry of Esther Hargis as she retires as Chaplain at Grand Lake Gardens
Announcements
Thanks to all who joined in our prayer for an end to violence by police, and violence against police, by joining me in the seven laps of Lake Merritt walk on Saturday. Gwen Edwards summarized our efforts well in an email she sent Saturday evening. “I know your muscles must be a little sore, as are mine, but it is a small penance for the tragedies affecting so many of our brethren in the world today. Thanks again for the opportunity to share in love with you and LABC today.”
This Sunday brings another opportunity to witness to our community as, after worship, we gather on Mandana Green to Stand and Sing for Justice. The weather forecast is for a warm weekend so wear hats, bring umbrellas and dress comfortably.