May 20, 2014
Dear Lakeshore,
I will be preaching at Shell Ridge Community Church in Walnut Creek this Sunday and discussing with them the vision of the Alliance of Baptists. Our own Chaplain Dave Robinson, Director of the Correctional Institutions Chaplaincy, which provides ministry to the prisoners and staff of the Santa Clara County Correctional Facilities, will be the preacher at LABC,
This “Blessing For the Parents of One Who Has Committed A Crime,” from John O’Donohue speaks to the utter importance of ministry to all who are part of the harsh and lonely community called jail.
No one else can see the beauty in his darkened life now. His image has closed like a shadow.
When people look at him, he has become the mirror of the damage he has done.
But he is yours; and you have different eyes that his yesterdays in pictures no one else remembers;
Waiting for him to be born, not knowing who he would be, the moments of his childhood, first steps, first words, smiles and cries, and all the big thresholds of his journey since…
He is yours in a way no words could ever tell; and you can see through the stranger this deed has made him and still find the countenance of your son.
Despite all the disappointment and shame, may you find in your belonging with him a kind place, where your spirit will find rest. May new words come alive between you to build small bridges of understanding.
May that serenity lead you beyond guilt and blame to find that bright field of the heart where he can come to fell your love
Until it heals whatever pain drove him and he can see what it is he has done and seek forgiveness and bring healing; may this foreboding door open a path that brightens constantly with new promise.
(Blessing slightly amended by HJH)
Prayers of the Congregation
- Marie Johnson for Dahlia, Oma (Marian) and several friends who are fighting fierce battles
- Phil and Gloria Meads and Cindy Nelson for the Kawon family
- Cordia Lee for children as they pursue their dreams, the daughter of Mary Harris, the Alta Bates Hospital system, and herself
- Kay Baxter for herself and her family
- Sandra Dunn for her father
- Jim Cheatham for his mom (hospice care) and his wife (recuperating from surgery).
- Ken Kirkey for his father
- Sheryl Gattey for her mom
- Shirley Jones
- Joan Thatcher, ongoing medical concerns
- Trish Mahoney, for her family and herself
- Margaret Oladoja, for her family and herself
- Ratna Singh for her family and herself
- Ann Fields for her family
- Peg Shaw
- All who are seeking employment
- George and Sylvia Lee
- Steve and Carol Leichter (Carol was with Steve at the ER after he fell on Sunday)
- Katrina Lau for her grandmother
- Jeanne Robinson for her daughter in law, Jo
- David Ferguson, Director of Open Door Mission, seriously ill
- Sarah Hogan (Pastor Hopkins’ sister) and family for Jim Golf
- Wally Bryen for his sister and brother
- The ABSW Community as it mourns the death of former Chairman of the Board, Ed McClenton
- All our Shut-ins
- The safe return of the kidnapped Nigerian school girls
- All who are incarcerated
- The world’s refugees
- Thanksgiving with the Joaquim family on Luke’s Graduation from Loyola University (New Orleans)
- Thanksgiving with Karen Hopkins on family on the high school graduation of her nephew Ryan (Karen will be traveling with her mom to Denver for this celebration)
- Thanksgiving with Ted and Doris Evans on their 72nd Anniversary
- Thanksgiving for the witness of the Alliance of Baptists
- Thanksgiving for the ministry of Shell Ridge Community Church
Announcements
LABC Reads meets this Saturday morning at 9:00 in the Library. We will discuss Jim Wallis’ “On God’s Side.”
Please join in our Annual Hunger Walk – June 1 following worship.