November 1, 2016
Dear LABC,
Thanks to all for your many expressions of care for the Hopkins and Phillips families on the news of the death of our mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother, Nedra Hathaway. We will remember Nedra in worship this coming Sunday and will travel to Oregon for a memorial service in Forest Grove, her home of many years, on November 27th. The city of Forest Grove will plant a tree in a city park in her honor while we are there.
Thanks also to all who helped us host the neighborhood for a splendid Halloween Festival on Saturday, October 29th. Nowhere in the Bible do we read “Thou shalt welcome thy neighbors into thy yard for a Halloween Party.” Yet, over 200 people (based on the number of corn dogs John Claassen served), most of them children, went home happy from this wonderful event. That seems to be quite consistent with the values of our faith.
The title of this week’s sermon, which I will dedicate to the memory of my mother-in-law, will be “Hospice.” The word hospice comes from the Latin word hospes; meaning to host a guest or stranger. The Amitabha Hospice website tells us that in current usage “hospice is a philosophy of care for the patient with a life-limiting illness as well as their loved ones who also face a difficult journey. The purpose remains the same – for them to find rest, to be cared for and to gather courage to face the remaining days of their journey together.”
As I lift up the hospice philosophy I will also invite us to pay attention to life’s hospice moments, such as gathering at the Communion Table, in which we find rest, in which we are cared for, and in which we gather courage for the journey ahead.
Peace,
Jim H.
Prayers of the Congregation
- Karen Hopkins and family as they mourn the death of Karen’s mom, Nedra
- Rae Rita Thompson and family as they mourn the death of her Uncle Billy
- Tess Benin and family as they mourn the death of her Aunt Rose
- Roy Browner and family as they mourn the death of his sister, Brigette
- Alean Saunders-Coffey for the Morgan-Braden family as they mourn
- Margaret Alexander for the Lopez family as they mourn
- Brenda Mabry as she prepares for surgery
- Katrina Lau as she continues to recuperate
- Barbara Bowman (health concerns)
- Ann Fields for the homeless people she interacts with everyday and for her daughter Tamera
- Zondra Martin for her niece, Crystal
- Elizabeth Harrison for her friend Alisa and family
- Phil Meads, health concerns
- Ginny Axtell, health concerns
- Joan Thatcher, health concerns
- Rita Jennings, health concerns
- Ted and Doris Evans and family
- Warren and Camille Parker and family
- Kay Baxter and family
- Cecil White (health concerns)
- Thanksgiving for the global servants who minister as part of American Baptist International Ministries
- The people of Aleppo (Syria), Mosul (Iraq) and Sanaa (Yemen)
- Thanksgiving for the witness of Martin Luther who posted his 95 Theses on the door of Wittenberg Chapel on October 31, 1517, effectively beginning the Protestant Reformation
- The people of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation
- The people of the United States as Election Day approaches
- Thanksgiving with Maxwell Vines that he is feeling stronger
- Thanksgiving with Ethan Hopkins that he is able to return to work
- Thanksgiving with the Grand Lake Gardens Community on 50 years of service
We will gather on Mandana Green following worship this week to “Stand and Sing for Justice.”
Daylight Savings Time Ends- Put your clocks back one hour before going to bed this Saturday night.
Congregational Conversation #3 – Sunday, November 13, following worship. Lunch provided with the invitation to help defray the cost if you wish.
November 13 will also be Pledge Sunday. The theme will be claiming our identity as philanthropists, lovers of humanity.