November 21, 2017
Happy Thanksgiving Week Everyone,
In 2009 Congress passed, and President Barack Obama signed, legislation that established the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving Day of each year as “Native American Heritage Day.” Also, for the past few decades the President of the United States has issued a declaration naming November as “Native American Heritage Month.”
This year President Trump followed that tradition. His declaration begins:
American Indians and Alaska Natives are inextricably linked with the history of the United States. Beginning with the Pilgrims’ arrival at Plymouth Colony and continuing until the present day, Native American’s contributions are woven deeply into our Nation’s rich tapestry. During National Native American Heritage Month, we honor and celebrate the first Americans and recognize their contributions and sacrifices.
Native Americans have influenced every stage of America’s development. They helped early European settlers survive and thrive in a new land. They contributed democratic ideas to our constitutional Framers. And, for more than 200 years, they have bravely answered the call to defend our Nation, serving with distinction in every branch of the United States Armed Forces. The Nation is grateful for the service and sacrifice of all American Indians and Alaska Natives
In acknowledgement of Native American Heritage Day and Month I ask you to include the following prayer in your Thanksgiving weekend prayers. The prayer comes from Creation Justice Ministries which has identified public lands stewardship as this year’s NAHM theme.
Creator of All,
We pray for our nation’s decision-makers who are responsible for public lands. It is our collective responsibility to safeguard the natural, spiritual and cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples on public lands. We especially lift up prayers for public lands with national monument conservation protections: Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah, Cascade-Siskiyou in Oregon, Gold Butte in Nevada, Organ Mountains Desert Peaks and Rio Grande del Norte National Monuments in New Mexico, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts off the coast of New England, the Pacific Remote Islands near Hawaii, and Rose Atoll near American Samoa.
Amen
Prayers of the Congregation
- The Singh family for Ratna (recuperating at home)
- Dave Gattey (recuperating at home)
- All who are traveling
- Anthony Marshall (Kaiser Hospital, Oakland)
- Thanksgiving with Jessie Guiton, Jesse Lucas, Marie Johnson and Mary Sue Meads on a wonderful mission trip to Cuba. They ask that we continue to hold the Baptist churches they visited in prayer: Ciego de Avila (Emmanuel), Bolivia, and Champas
- Rafael Soto for his family and the people of Puerto Rico
- The churches of the Evergreen Baptist Association as they prepare for Advent and Christmas
- Tess Benin for Chris
- Larry Sims and family
- Edie Parrott (Bancroft Convalescent Hospital)
- Jeanette Paige as she cares for her dad
- All our students and teachers
- All our home-bound members
- The North Bay residents preparing to rebuild following the fires of October
- Mary Karne for Maryla
- Zondra Martin for Marty
- Ann Fields for her family
- Thanksgiving for the work that Christine Daniel and Joe DeVries of the City of Oakland are doing to respond to the housing crisis in our city
- All who are looking for housing and employment
- LCC Teachers Teresita and Joni (health concerns)
- Sandra Dunn
- Robert Wilkins
- Thanksgiving with Gloria Meads on a good medical report
- Bruce Quan for his son and daughter as they serve in the United States armed forces
- Thanksgiving with Crena Alexander that her dad is doing well
- Al Johnson and Roy Browner
- Lloyd Scott for wife, Doris, and family
- All who live with depression and anxiety
- Sydney Webster as she prepares for her December 16 Service of Ordination
- Thanksgiving for all who contributed the 42 turkeys to the City Team Ministries’ Turkey Drop
- Thanksgiving for all who responded to Jesse Lucas’ plea for help at the Lake Merritt United Methodist/Kiwanis Club of Oakland Community Thanksgiving Meal
- Thanksgiving for all who helped/will help with the LABC Thanksgiving Basket Distribution
Our worship service this Sunday will have a Thanksgiving theme and will be lead by our youth.