Working Purposefully

Bible Study, Prayer & Spiritual Renewal

Bible Study

The Thursday bible study group is named “Together in Spirit” and grew out of the pandemic. A bible book or specific topic forms the theme for this bible study.

Soup & Study

Since this Bible study is currently meeting on Zoom, it is better titled “BYOS and Study.” Pastor Jim leads us as we consider the meaning of a biblical passage or theme. We gather on Tuesday evenings.

Wednesday Prayer Group

Pastor Jim leads using the same biblical passage as Soup and Study. We gather on Wednesday from 10:30-11:30AM, taking time to pray for the congregation, the community, the country and all creation.

Saturday Prayer Group – A Time for Prayer

This group meets weekly on Saturday at 10:00 am to share in a time of reflection or discuss concerns on one of the Psalms.

Grief & Loss Group

The purpose of this group is to gain fellowship with others and discuss life transitions, whether a recent occurrence or an experience from some time ago. We share resources for managing grief and loss.

Adult Forum

The adult forum meets occasionally (after worship) to offer fellowship and community.

Life Groups

LABC Reads

This reading group meets the last Saturday of every month from 9-10AM to discuss the book of the month. On occasion, the author of the book is able to join us. The reading list is chosen by the participants and includes both fiction and nonfiction.

Forever Young

This group is for those who are young at heart and over the age of 55. On every second Saturday of the month from September to June, join this group for Food (lunch), Fellowship, and Fun.

Flick Flack

This is an person gathering that includes viewing and discussing significant movies. A meal or a dessert is often part of the evening.

Ladies Night Out

A women’s support group which meets one time per month to share a meal at a local restaurant, exchange personal concerns, laugh, talk about family and recent movies and TV shows, and strengthen friendships to support one another in each ones life journey. Positive
support for various happenings at LABC such as congregational meals, baby and wedding showers, and outreach events is provided as needed.

Music Ministry

Voices of Lakeshore

The Voices of Lakeshore provides vocal music for the church worship services. The group meets weekly for rehearsal from September through June.

Handbell Ensemble

The Lakeshore Handbell Ensemble meets weekly for rehearsal from September through June and provides music for worship throughout the year. This group also has musical engagements outside of Sunday morning at the church.

Social Activism & Engagement

Hunger Task Force

The LABC Hunger Task Force believes that every person has a right to adequate food obtained with dignity. The LABC Hunger Task Force works to prevent hunger and malnutrition by providing food to people in need today and by promoting social policies to achieve a hunger-free community tomorrow.

Immigration Justice

Lakeshore is a Sanctuary Congregation, standing with and for migrants, immigrants and refugees, who are an integral part of our community, our state and our nation. We participate in advocacy, accompaniment, education and public witness, working for freedom, justice and dignity for all who live in this land.

Public Witness

Lakeshore offers a variety of ways to express our faith in action in local, national, and international justice issues. We encourage both individual members and the larger congregation to put their faith in action in the public sphere. As the Spirit moves, we are continually discussing ways to engage in matters that concern our larger community and our congregational membership.

Stand & Sing for Justice

This is an occasional ministry of Lakeshore that takes place in the area across the street from the church. Through music and signage, we bring our justice witness to the public at large.

Justice Jam

We host quarterly events to educate and engage the community in a variety of justice issues that impact our life together. Recent topics include housing insecurity, immigration, decreasing gun violence and understanding mental illness. These events are open to the larger community and congregations.

Earth Stewardship Task Force

Our mission is to do our part to help combat climate change by reducing our carbon footprint. The major accomplishment of that effort has been the solar panels on the Sanctuary roof that are proving to be a net energy provider (meeting the Sanctuary’s need for electricity and sending a little extra back into the grid) For more information, please visit our project details.

Community Outreach

Lakeshore Children’s Center

For over fifty years LABC has provided quality childcare to the families of Oakland through our Lakeshore Children’s Center. We call the center “A Children’s Peace Academy” because we are committed to teaching the children respect for self, others and all creation. Contact our LCC director, Rae Rita Thompson at lcc.lakeshorechildrenscenter@gmail.com.
 

 

Easter Parade

This is a community event that takes place the Saturday before Easter Sunday. Community is encouraged to bring or make an Easter bonnet and join the parade down Lakeshore Avenue.

LGBTQ

Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church welcomes and affirms all. We celebrate the creativity and faith of our LGBTQ family members. We stand together to proclaim that God’s love is for all people everywhere. We struggle together to oppose the forces of intolerance and hate. We bring love to heal where hate has divided. We raise our voices in song to pour over the shouts of the intolerant.
 
Oakland’s annual Pride Celebration and Festival happens on the second weekend in September. Lakeshore generally participates in the parade and hosts an information table in the festival area. We usually hold our own Pride Sunday on the weekend before or after Oakland Pride. We rainbowize the sanctuary, invite guest speakers and host a Coffee Hour after Worship.

Harvest Festival

Takes place in the fall before Halloween. This is a community event where children go trick or treating down at the businesses on Lakeshore Avenue. A fun family time where children and adults can decorate a pumpkin or cupcake and also enjoy craft projects and activities.