October 21, 2014

Dear Lakeshore,
I hope everyone will be able to attend worship, and the Diversity Month potluck following worship, this Sunday. The day promises to be a wonderful end to a month that has been full of wonderful events. Thanks to the Department of Worship and Congregational Care for their careful planning and excellent leadership. I also hope that we will have a good number of folks at the Harvest Festival and  Parade (Saturday, 10) the Blessing of the Animals (Saturday, 2:00) and the Recognition of Carolyn Matthews by the Friends of Negro Spirituals (Saturday, 2:30, West Oakland Senior Center).
Having proclaimed that diversity is a divine gift, having noted that there are roadblocks on the road to diversity, having been urged to do our due diligence and listen appreciatively to each other’s stories and struggles, we will, this Sunday  read Paul’s soaring words about diversity in his letter to the Galatians. We will note that while the vision of, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus,” inspires us, the actual implementation of the vision remains elusive. There is still hard work to be done.
This quote from Gil Rendle in the Alban Institute Newsletter says it well. “It is the moving from intent to purposeful action that remains the hard work for most of us. We allow ourselves to be aspirational – to aspire to better lives and a better world. The hard work is in finding a faithful path to our aspirations. What is it that we actually have to do next?”
Jim H.

Prayers of the Congregation

• Marion Scire (GLG Resident who has been attending LABC) on the death of her brother
• Cecil White for his niece on the death of her ex-husband
• All who are grieving
• Families dealing with suicide
• Edie Parrot for her son as he prepares for surgery
• Ruben Artery for his father as he prepares for surgery
• Jessie Guiton for her sister
• Ivan Cole (ABSW Student) for his family in Sierra Leone. Ivan’s cousin, a physician, recently succumbed to the Ebola virus
• The global response to Ebola
• Rowena Jackson for her family and for herself
• Wisdom for the  voters of Oakland, California and the United States. (Election Day is Tuesday, November 4)
• Margaret Oladoja for her family
• All our younger adults
• The LABC Nominating Committee
• The LABC Budget Committee
• Warren and Camille Parker (Warren’s recuperation at home seems to be going well)
• The Harrison family for their neighbor, Herman
• Katrina Lau and family
• Kay Baxter for Stacey and Jamie
• The missionaries who serve as part of the American Baptist International Ministries (Supported by the World Mission Offering)
• Our Aspire and Achieve program at Oakland Tech
• John Townsend, continuing health concerns
• Larry Sims for his family

Reminder from the Department of Worship and Congregational Care

Please join us Sunday, October 26, for a potluck, as Diversity month ends. If your last name begins with A-L, please bring a main dish, and if your last name begins with M-Z, please bring a salad or side dish. Beverages, rolls, and desserts will be provided.