November 19, 2013

Dear Lakeshore,
While I do not like to say that any one Sunday is more important than another, Easter does not matter more than the Sunday after Easter, I will confess that I have been referring to this coming Sunday, November 24, as “a very important Sunday.”
The reason for this designation is twofold: 1. It is Pledge Sunday. There will be an invitation during the service to present our pledges of time, talent and treasure. 2. Kristen and D.P., along with their families and friends, will be dedicating themselves and Dashiel to the ways of Jesus and the care of the church. To have the opportunity to lead a service of dedication for my grandson is joyous gift.
In my sermon on Sunday I will use this quote from The Reverend Deborah Bennett Reynolds, Associate Pastor of Lake Avenue Baptist in Rochester, New York:
“As followers of Jesus we are called to care about children, to advocate for children, to welcome children. We are also called to look for Jesus not among the rich or powerful, but among the poor, the powerless, the vulnerable and to find Jesus in children. Welcoming children, we come closer to Jesus and closer to God. Look for Jesus . . . in the face of a child.”
I will endeavor to make the point that to support the ministry of Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church is to support programs of care and education for children, to advocate for justice and opportunity for children and their families, to stand with children against those who would harm and misuse them.
Further, borrowing from my mentor The Reverend Dr. John H. Townsend, I will endeavor to make the point that supporting the ministry of Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church is to affirm our belief that “there are arms that no child of God can ever fall through.”

Prayers of the Congregation

Concerns

• Lari Musatti as she cares for her family in Cuba
• Sandra Dunn for her brother in law, Eddie Carbin, and family
• Sheryl Gattey
• All who are seeking employment
• Kay Baxter for her family and for herself
• The people of the Philippines and those who are responding to their needs
• The people of Syria
• Mary Karne for her daughter Maryla and for Maryla’s friend Diane
• Myra Saxton and Lucille Riggins
• Carol and Steve Leichter
• All our shut ins
• Rowena Jackson for Elizabeth Treadwell
• Jessie Lucas for the DeBro family
• Larry Sims for his children and grandchildren
• Cordia Lee for Claudia Green, Erica and Elijah Green, Elysse Green, John Lee, Cordia Lee and President Obama
• Gloria and Phil Meads for Bob, Rhonda and Max
• Joan Patten for Marvin Fauscino in the Philippines. Marvin is the nephew of Edna Dorenzo’s caregiver
• Jesus Portillo for the family of George Fields, a friend and colleague who passed away
• Norman Allen, Bradford Crosby and other homeless citizens of Oakland
• All our parents, grandparents and great grandparents. May they be encouraged in their caring work.
• Fannye Leary
• Declan and Sheila Brown for their nephew David
• Dale and Alice Edmonson for Esther Carnaje
• Ted and Doris Evans for their family
• Karen Hopkins for Vicki, Bill and Malachi

Celebrations

• Thanksgiving with LeAnn Snow Flesher on the release of her new book
• Thanksgiving for the ministry of the LABC Hunger Task Force. An invitation to all to help fill the Thanksgiving Baskets after worship on Sunday
• Thanksgiving for Helen Harrison, Yvonne Young and the great work they helped our kids do last Sunday
• Thanksgiving for Mikki Boyd, Stan Fong, Carolyn Matthews, the Voices of Lakeshore and the Lakeshore Handbell Ensemble
• Thanksgiving with Charlene Wolf for a new opportunity to serve
• Thanksgiving for Robin Lunn and her leadership of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists. The international Baptist family is taking note of our stand for inclusion
• Thanksgiving with Channing Nesbitt and family on his invitation to become a student-athlete at the University of Washington
• Thanksgiving for the ministry of the American Baptist Homes of the West and the ABHOW Board which meets this weekend

Announcements

Thank you – Tyrone and I thank the Pastoral Relations Committee, and all who attended, for honoring our birthdays at the Coffee Hour on Sunday.  You made us feel very good!