March 1, 2016

How to describe African-History Month at LABC? How about Wow!? How to describe Soul Food Sunday at LABC? How about Wow!? How to describe the efforts and talents of everyone who gave of their time, talent and treasure to teach, bless, encourage, and feed us? How about Wow!?
As Lent continues, and as we move into March, we will recognize Women’s History Month. In my sermon on Sunday, “On Giving and Giving Up” I will lift up the remarkable story of Florence Li Tim-Oi, a Chinese woman consecrated by the Anglican Bishop of Hong Kong to the priesthood on January 25, 1944. My theme will be that as we give we learn that we are neither helpless nor hopeless, that giving is the best antidote to giving up. The central Scripture will be I Corinthians 8: 1-7.
Some Further Invitations:
Even if you are not a Soup and Study regular I invite you to join us tonight at 6:00 (Study at 6:30) to hear Rabbi Steve Chester’s presentation on the prophet Jeremiah.
On Friday Night, March 4, I invite you to join me in the West Oakland Ceasefire Night Walk at Center Street Baptist Church, 940 Center Street. The West Oakland Walks begin at 6:00 p.m..
All middle school students are invited to Middle School Game Night this Friday from 7-10:30 in Barnett Hall. Dinner is provided. The cost is $3.00.
At the Forum on Sunday, Dr. Ryan Parker, our expert on all things Hollywood, in conversation with movie buffs Jill and Julian Nesbitt, will discuss racism in the movie industry, the recent Academy Awards and the response of the powers that be in the entertainment world to other social, moral and ethical concerns.
On Sunday there will once again be paper and envelopes available for you to write letters to San Mateo County officials regard to the supply of water to Redwood Glen Camp and Conference Center.
Peace,
Jim H.

Prayers of the Congregation

• Karen Okusu and family for an uncle who is very ill
• Aaron Singh (health concerns) and his family
• Joan Thatcher (health concerns)
• Ted and Doris Evans and family (health concerns)
• All who would love to be able to attend church but are not able, Edna Dorenzo, Warren Parker, Irene Jennings, Peggy Shaw, Phyllis Nutting, Virginia Damretzky, Frances Graham
• The United States Supreme Court as it hears Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt
• The families of the Russian Coal Mine disaster
• Ruben Artery for his family
• Oakland’s Ceasefire/Lifelines To Healing efforts
• Thanksgiving with Stacy Newsom (Remer), niece of Lari Musatti and Susan Bradley, as she is sworn in (Friday 2:00, Hayward District Court Department 512) as a member of the California Bar Association
• Thanksgiving for Jesse Lucas and all the members of Evergreen Baptist Association Churches who will be representing us in Haiti
• Tyrone Mack for his neighbor Sophie as she mourns her husband, Dale
• The leaders of the American Baptist Seminary of the West as they prepare for a mid-March accreditation review by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
• Thanksgiving with Bonnie Sato for good news
• The members of the San Francisco Kachin Baptist Church as they mourn the death of noted Kachin historian and Baptist pastor, The Reverend Ja Gun
• Dr. Rosa James (health concerns)
• Sydney Webster as she begins joins Paul Keener as an interim pastoral leader at Alameda First Baptist Church
• Michelle Sampson or her mother (health concerns)
• Gloria Meads (health concerns)
• Kay Baxter for Stacy, Jamie and herself
• The family and friends of John Burke as the mourn his death
• Virginia Axtel (health concerns)