October 4, 2017

Dear LABC,
I am happy to be safely home after a quick trip to Washington D.C. for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty board meetings. I am also happy to have completed my two year term as board secretary. Religious liberty is an essential freedom for human beings and human communities. One reason it matters greatly is that it creates safe space for people to freely express their faith in the form of work for justice.
It was stunning to wake up on Monday morning to the news of the horrific act of terrorism in Las Vegas. As we pray for the grieving  let us honor the dead and  stand with the first responders by working to prevent such attacks from taking place. We can do this by confessing that we human beings are prone to violence and supporting laws which mitigate against this reality.
Jim H.

A Prayer

Loving God,
Many of us woke up this morning to the fact that today is likely going to be a very hard day. Many will go to bed tonight  fearful in heart and anxious in mind. Speak to us your peace, breathe on us your spirit, that we might find comfort in the face of struggle and strength in face of a long, hard road.
Amen

Announcements

Skyline Community Church (12540 Skyline Blvd) invites the community to a Candlelight Vigil for Peace. Thursday evening, October 5 at 7:00.
Lakeshore’s  Blessing of the Animals is this Saturday, October 7 at 2:00 on the steps of the church. Bring a pet, a picture or a thought.
Our preacher on Sunday will the Jim Brenneman, the new President of the American Baptist Seminary of the West. Taken from Philippians 3: 4b-14, his sermon will be “Privilege, Rubbish and Call.” I trust that there will be a good turnout to welcome Dr, Brenneman to Oakland and to Lakeshore.