September 9, 2014
Dear Lakeshore,
On September 14 we will read one of my favorite passages of Scripture, Genesis 50: 15-21. In this text Joseph, whom was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers but whom rose to be the Pharaoh’s right hand man and whom used his power to help many, including his own family, to survive a famine, meets with his brothers following their father’s death. The brothers fear that Joseph will now seek his revenge for their mistreatment of him many years before. Joseph, however, says to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.”
The text does not say that God caused Joseph’s brothers to do him wrong. It simply asserts that God can take our misuse of our freedom and wrest good from it.” The text does not say that God causes all things. It simply asserts that God can use all things. In God’s economy nothing need be wasted, not even our missteps, misdeeds and mistakes. To me, the text stands as an enduring affirmation that God is, in all times and all places, seeking the well being of the created order, including we humans.
The Lakeshore Handbell Ensemble will be providing the Special Music and the Forum will be presented by the Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church and Oakland First Baptist Church Foundations.
Prayers of the Congregation
- All who are grieving
- All who are seeking employment and housing
- Warren and Camille Parker as Warren recovers from surgery to repair a broken hip
- Phil and Gloria Meads for June, Billy and Deanna
- Gloria Joseph
- Shirley Jones
- Kay Baxter-Reid and Family
- Cordia Lee for her family and her workplace
- Georgia Upshaw for Irene Jennings and Virginia Axtell
- Thomas and Maxine O’Guinn for their neighbor Horalee Alexander on the death of her husband
- Connie Hector as she cares for her family
- Thanksgiving with Pam and John Claassen that Pam’s mom, Jan, is recuperating well and prayers for John’s mom who is experiencing some health concerns
- Thanksgiving with Toni Daniels on the birth of her granddaughter
- The preparations for Homecoming Sunday
- The preparations for Diversity Month
- The preparations of our Grief and Loss Ministry
- The preparations of the Voices of Lakeshore and the Lakeshore Handbell Ensemble for the year ahead
- President Obama as he leads in the face of many challenges
- The state of California in the midst of the current drought
- Sydney Harris and family as she recuperates from an appendectomy
- My mentor, John Townsend, following surgery
- Jo Robinson for her sister
- Hallie Randel for her family
- Paul and Carla Keener for their mothers
- All our college students as the academic year begins
- Julian Nesbitt as travels to Yosemite
Announcements
Forever Young will meet again on Saturday, October 11 (Not this Saturday as listed in the 9-7 bulletin.)
The introduction to our Grief and Loss Ministry will follow Coffee Hour this Sunday. Please meet on the lower floor of Lieter Haus (Church Office).
Homecoming Sunday is September 21. A luncheon will follow worship. Thanks to the Women’s Night Out Group for coordinating. See the Bulletin or the Transmitter for details about what to bring.
There are a few tickets left for the September 19 A’s game. Contact Pastor Allison.
There will be a Memorial Service honoring the life of Sylvia Lee, Sunday, Sptember 28 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
There will be a Memorial Service honoring the life of Bette Pancoe, Saturday, October 4 at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.
In recent days the church has been informed of the deaths of Lillian Stewart, former ABCW employee and longtime LABC member and Dave Ferguson, the long time director of Open Door Mission. We hold their families and friends in our thoughts and prayers even as we acknowledge the beauty and caring they shared with us.