October 24, 2017

Thank you for your expressions of concern for the Hopkins family as we traveled to Portland for the memorial service for Karen’s dad. Our travel went smoothly, it was good to reconnect with family and the memorial service was warm. Unfortunately, Karen became very ill and was unable to attend the service. She had written a wonderful tribute to her Dad which Aaron read. I posted the tribute on my Facebook page and will be glad to share it with you if you like.
This Sunday is an intergenerational worship service. The theme will be “All Saints Sunday” and there will be a time to remember the saints (those who help us understand what it means to love God and love neighbor in our lives) as well as a commissioning of Jessie Guiton, Jesse Lucas, Marie Johnson and Mary Sue Meads who will be representing us in Cuba for a week beginning on November 1.

Prayers of the Congregation

• All who are grieving
• All trying to rebuild after fire, hurricane, earthquake and flood
• Tess Benin
• Joel Reyes
• Peggy Rogers-Tamayo
• Whitley Joachim
• Edie Parrott (Bancroft Convalescent Hospital)
• Leslyn Henry and Anthony Marshall for Christopher Rodriguez and his mom, Jennifer
• Sheila Sims for her mom, Kaiser Hospital, San Leandro
• David Sundman (City Team Ministries) Thanksgiving for the work Lakeshore and City Team are doing together
• Gail Carter for the health of friends Diane and Janet
• Gloria and Phil Meads for Jeffery and Elizabeth
• Larry Hutchings for Dennis and family
• Mary Karne for Maryla
• Zondra Martin for Marty
• Kay Baxter for Stacey and Jamie
• Wisdom for all our elected leaders
• Katrina Lau

Announcements

An update from Puerto Rico via Marcia Patton, Executive Minister, Evergreen Baptist Association.

Dear EBA Pastors:
Here is a report from a colleague about the current situation in Puerto Rico as reported from ABHMS as of October 16:

• 90% are still without electric power.
• 40% still do not have water, and those that do are not sure if it is contaminated or not.
• 22 Baptist churches were totally destroyed.
• 26 churches had significant damage.
• 5 Baptist schools were badly damaged.
• The seminary was badly damaged. The chapel and classrooms were destroyed, and the library and administrative offices were badly damaged.
• The region office had $80,000 worth of damage.
• The Las Cruces office had $60,000 in damages.
• There is trouble filing with FEMA because it has to be done online, and many have no power or internet.

Good News: So far $80,000 of goods and money have been sent to Puerto Rico from ABHMS. A container ship with 500 tarps, 22,5000 hygiene kits, 2,550 school kits and 1,800 tubes of toothpaste departed on the 17th. So far about $122,000 has been given to OGHS.
Please keep the churches, pastors and leaders of the region of Puerto Rico in your prayers. We will keep you updated as we get more information.
Grace and Peace,
Marcia

Some coming events

• Pre-Inaugural Lecture, “Free To Think! Free To Speak?” Friday evening, 7:00, ABSW, First Floor of Hobart Hall
• LABC Reads, Saturday, 9:00, Library
• Community Halloween Party and Parade, Saturday, 10:30, Church Lawn
• Inauguration of ABSW President James Brenneman, Saturday 2:00, First Church of Christ Scientist, Berkeley (across the street from ABSW on Dwight Way)