June 24, 2014
Dear Church Family,
I am really looking forward to worship this Sunday, the first of our Fifth Sunday “Family Friendly Worship Services.” This is the way Ally describes our intent for these services. “We welcome children, families and adults to a worship service that allows kids to move and wiggle, parent to engage with children in worship and adults to reconnect with the childlike spirit within them that points us all toward the kingdom of heaven.” I would simply add that though our youngest members are the focus of this service, it is my hope that there will be something in the service for everyone. As always, our worship will be greatly enhanced if you are able to join us.
My sermon will be a conversation with the kids and the congregation about the movie “Frozen” and the lessons we might learn from it. In the movie Princess Elsa has the amazing ability to “freeze the summer.” Yet this ability appears to be more of a curse than a blessing. Elsa’s predicament helps us all to think about the abilities that we have and the way we use them. It helps us to think about Jesus’ abilities and the way he used them to bless and encourage all people, including children and their families.
I invite you to view the movie, and read Mark 10: 13-16, in advance of Sunday.
Peace,
Jim H.
Prayers of the Congregation
- Thanksgiving that Anne Branch, Ruth Ann Crawford and Alodia Corpuz were with us in worship
- Thanksgiving for the arrival of summer
- Thanksgiving with Sydney Webster that her father is feeling better
- The Singh for family for Rashan
- Georgia Upshaw for Irene and Rita Jennings
- Karen Hopkins for her friend Connie and all who are looking for jobs
- Paige Bence and John Lee for Rick Zavala
- Kay and Jamie Reid for Stacey, and Candace
- Abe and Mary Alice Cirimele as they grieve the death of their beloved Willow
- Celestine Bennett as she cares for her sister
- Connie Hector as she cares for her mother in law
- Ann Fields for her family
- Helen Roberson and family
- Barry Breaux for his mom
- Dwight Dickerson for his family
- The country of Brazil (host of Soccer’s World Cup), so representative of the world – great beauty, deep pain, magnificent accomplishments and profound need all intertwined and interconnected
- Toni Daniels and all who are incarcerated
- Ann Fields for her family
- Sandra Dunn for her father
- Virginia Cheatham (hospice care)
- Helen Harrison for the Buchanan family
- Mary Karne for her daughter Maryla
- Shirley Jones
- Steve and Carol Leichter
- Katrina Lau for her grandmother
- Margaret Oladoja and family
- Charlene Wolf for her mom
- A prayer for Iraq – may the chaos of civil war be replaced by the shalom of civil society
- Ken Kirkey for his father Ken Kirkey Sr., recuperating from cancer
- The immigrant children being held at the border and at centers around the country
- All who are traveling
- Thanksgiving with Grace Baptist Church of San Jose on its 100th anniversary
- Thanksgiving for the strong financial support of the ministry of Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church
Announcements
California Interfaith Power & Light (Congregations working to address the climate crisis) asks that member congregations offer this prayer:
Divine Creator; bless the work of California Interfaith Power & Light as members gather in Sacramento on Wednesday June 25th across religious and political differences to speak collectively about the need to act to protect the climate. May their witness inspire right action for the common good and the safeguarding of your Creation. Amen.
Duo Boheme in concert, Saturday June 28, 5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary (Highly recommended)