June 16, 2015
Dear LABC,
It was 800 years ago yesterday that the Magna Carta was written. The tenants of this document, which was essentially a peace treaty brokered by the Archbishop of Canterbury between King John of England and a group of barons incensed over his abuse of power, have been enshrined in laws and constitutions around the world. The Magna Carta reminds us that texts, the memory of texts, the traditions surrounding texts and the interpretation of texts have great meaning, power and influence.
One of the biblical texts we will read on Sunday is Mark 4: 35-41. In this text Jesus and his disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat when a severe storm arises. The disciples awaken Jesus, who is napping in back of the boat on a cushion, with the plea, “Do you not care that we are perishing?”
Jesus goes on to restrain the wind and calm the sea, an ability beyond that of most fathers. However, to be awakened from a nap by some sort of emergency, is an experience familiar to fathers around the globe. In fact, if we were to define fatherhood as an ongoing response to the unexpected, as an ongoing attempt to respond positively to interruptions, we would be on very safe ground.
My plea to all fathers, grand-fathers and father-figures is to embrace this role, to find ways to stand with those we love in the face of the unexpected and in the face of situations that cause us to fear.
Prayers of the Congregation
- Karen Okusu as she cares for her mom
- The victims of the balcony collapse in Berkeley
- Joan Patten for her son, Peter
- The Brown family for a cousin following heart surgery
- Dayle Scott for Darlene as she recuperates from surgery
- Warren and Camille Parker
- The members of the Kachin Baptist Church and the people of Burma
- George Lee
- Michael Glann following a baseball injury
- Channing Nesbitt as adjusts to life in Bellingham, WA for the summer
- Sandra Dunn as she visits her dad
- Evan Joachim as he mourns the death of a co-worker
- Gloria Joseph
- Larry Sims for the Sims family
- Myra Saxton for her mom
- Jim Jeffery, healing of injured ankle
- The Meads family for family and friends
- Kay Baxter for Jamie and Stacey
- Ann Fields for her family
- Mary Karne for her daughter, Maryla
- Sybil Alexander for her husband, Greg
- All who are traveling
- Helen Harrison for the Casey family
- Steve and Carol Leichter
- The Picou-Broadnax family
- Larry Hutchings and Dennis Clark as they prepare to move
- Thanksgiving with Gail Carter that Dennis is recuperating well
- Thanksgiving with Rita Jennings that Irene is feeling some better
- Thanksgiving with all our graduates and their families
- Thanksgiving for all the musicians of LABC
- Thanksgiving with the Chins that their daughter- in-law ‘s health is improving
- Thanksgiving with Pat Hughes on her daughter’s new job
- Thanksgiving for the ministry of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Announcements
Stand and Sing for Justice
Join us on Mandana Green immediately following worship for fifteen minutes of public witness in support of racial and procedural justice for all the residents of Oakland.
P.S. I just got off the phone with Robert Stapp. He called to tell me that Elizabeth Patrick, a former Lakeshore leader, passed away at her home in Seattle during the night. During her time at LABC Elizabeth helped us live out our mission in many beautiful ways and she played a vital role in making Karen and I feel welcome when we first arrived on the scene. In recent years we were reunited through our connection with the Evergreen Baptist Association. We had coffee together last October when I was in Seattle for the EBA meetings. She continued to hold LABC in her heart and take a keen interest in the life of our congregation. She will be missed.