March 11, 2014
Well, we survived that most demanding of Sunday’s, “Spring Forward Sunday.” Several interviews I listened to on radio and television noted that the shock to our physical systems that the time change represents is not to be taken lightly. Monday morning at my Spin class several participants said their children’s schools were closed to help with the adjustment. What a good idea, anticipating a “Crankypants” day and scheduling around it. Prayers as our adjustments to Daylight Savings Time continue.
A look forward to Sunday, March 16
Sermon Title: “What We Live To Do”
Scripture: Matthew 20:2-28
Focus Verse: “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.”
Main Idea: Dorothy Sayers reminds that our career or our occupation is what we do to live while our vocation is what we live to do. We are fortunate if our careers and our vocations match but not everyone is so fortunate. Even they don’t, we can still pursue our vocation, that place where, in the words of Frederick Buechner, “our deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.”
Music To Look Forward To: The Choral Anthem will be “Lonesome Valley” (arranged by Brad Nix) performed by the Voices of Lakeshore
Prayers of the Congregation
- Richard Ice in Alameda Hospital
- The family of Mary Lysmer (long time member of Oakland First Baptist Church) as they mourn her death
- Kay Baxter for her family and for herself
- Anne Branch as she recuperates at home from surgery
- Irene Jennings
- Fannye Leary
- All who are searching for work
- All who are mourning
- The residents of St. Paul Towers as they endure a noro-virus quarantine
- Larry Sims for his family and himself
- Jesse Lucas as he prepares to participate in the Evergreen Baptist Association Mission Trip to Haiti
- Mary Karne for Mary and Diane
- Phil and Gloria Meads for June and Billy
- Charlene Wolf for her mom and for her ministry at Piedmont Gardens
- Jessica Ross for Jacob Thomas and family
- Zondra Martin for her family
- Ann Fields for her family
- Ted and Doris Evans and family
- Carol and Steve Leichter
- Thanksgiving with Allison and Roehl on Ally’s safe return from Europe
- Thanksgiving with Myra Saxton on signing a contract for the repair of her fire damaged home
- Thanksgiving with Marie Johnson as her family anticipates the August wedding of Donnie and Nicole
- Thanksgiving for our youth and adult leaders as they serve the meal at St. Mary’s Center this Saturday evening
Announcements
As part of our commitment to the Ceasefire Violence Prevention Effort and in solidarity with our Alliance of Baptists partner congregations, the Washington National Cathedral and Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, we are recognizing Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath this Sunday. We renew our commitment to pray and work for the peace of our city. In the words of Alliance President Carol Blythe of Calvary Baptist Church, Washington D.C., “We stand for justice. At all times the Church is called to rise in unequivocal defense of our most vulnerable neighbors. If the voice of the Church is heard right now, we can make society more just, more safe and more healthy.”
Sanctuary Art Field Trip – See the “Living Tree” being fabricated. Join us this Thursday, March 13 at 4:00 at Eric Powell’s studio, 770 Camelia Street in Berkeley.
Also this Thursday – OCO Citywide Leadership Assembly, 6:00pm-8:00pm at the OCO office
From OCO Executive Director Amy Fitzgerald – “Over the next several months, OCO has the opportunity to exercise our prophetic call and power on critical issues facing our families. We want to move together in a strategic, unified organizing campaign that restores the invisible humanity of our young black and brown men of color, fulfills the promise of a high quality education for every student, and ensures the safety of our neighborhoods. At the OCO Citywide Leadership Assembly we will begin our hand-in-hand journey of shared leadership and action. Can we count on you to be there?”