September 11, 2012
Today marks the eleventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. As we remember the lives that were lost and the courageous response of many, let us also pray for the wisdom and faith to live beyond fear in a world where many would manipulate our fear to their own advantage.
Another important date to remember this week is September 15. On September 15, 1963 the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama was bombed and four young girls – Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carol Robertson and Cynthia Wesley were killed. Twenty-two others were injured in this act of terrorism which proved to be one of turning points in the struggle for civil rights. Let us remember this sacrifice of the innocent.
Our preacher this Sunday will be our own LeAnn Snow Flesher, Dean and Professor of Old Testament at the American Baptist Seminary of the West. LeAnn’s sermon, taken from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, is titled “Keep Hope Alive.”
The Thessalonians text is one often used by proponents of a “Rapture Theology” popularized in the best selling “Left Behind” series. LeAnn has written an informed and helpful book in response to this trend titled “Left Behind? The Facts Behind the Fiction.” (Judson Press, 2006) In this book she argues that a rapture theology is a misuse and misinterpretation of Thessalonians, Revelation and other biblical texts. She further argues that these texts were very meaningful to the communities to which they were addressed and that, when we place them in their proper historical contexts, we can derive meaning and inspiration from them as well. I trust you will be with us as she speaks to this very important theme.
Prayers of the Congregation
- Shirley Jones as she mourns the death of her brother Dennis (Portland, OR)
- Greg Reimer as continues to recuperate in Costa Rica
- Jim Dorr for his neighbor Vivian
- The Sims family
- All who are working to keep relationships and families intact
- The victims of human trafficking and those working to combat it
- Sandra Dunn for her father
- Luke Oladoja for his mother as she celebrates her birthday
- Phil, Gloria and Mary Sue Meads for Cynthia Nelson
- Richard Ice
- All who are traveling
- Declan and Sheila Brown for Marty Keating and family
- Helen Harrison for Karen and Mike Casey
- Marie Johnson for Donnie in the midst of U.S. Army Ranger training
- Beth Rice (my sister) as she recuperates from surgery
- Joan Patten for Paula
- Naomi and Phyllis Nutting
- Thanksgiving for all our grandparents (Grandparents Day was September 9)
- Thanksgiving that Katrina Lau was with us in worship
- Thanksgiving for Declan Brown (2012 Recipient of the Daisy Funderburk Award for Excellence in Christian Education) and with Declan on a new job
- Thanksgiving with our 2012 Scholarship Recipients (Whitley Joachim, Chuck Johnston, Katrina Lau, Chris Sims, Michael Singh)
- Thanksgiving with Elizabeth Harrison and her family on her baptism
Accouncements
Correction – If you receive the Transmitter you may have noticed an error in listing the birthdays on page 15 as September Birthdays. They are indeed October Birthdays. I apologize for the confusion.
The Forum this Sunday will be a discussion with our Youth and Youth Leaders about their trip to Washington D.C. this summer.