September 18, 2012
This is the final Summer 2012 edition of the Midweek Message. Autumn 2012 arrives this Saturday September 22. My prayer is that the autumn will hold peace, joy and health for each of you. With our Jewish neighbors we honor Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and the anticipate the coming of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
My sermon for Sunday the 23rd is titled “Of Goodness and Greatness.” The central Scripture is Proverbs 31: 10-31
In this election year there are many themes and sub-themes, plots and sub-plots. One of the significant themes is what is being called the “war on women.” There is legitimate concern that legislation regarding health care, birth control, reproductive rights, violence against women and equal pay for equal work does not, in the the long run, bode well for the the well being of women or their families. There has been no lack of rhetoric about the importance and worth of women, what is in question is which polices truly ensure their well being.
In this context we do well to consider what a frequently quoted passage of Scripture, Proverbs 31: 10-31, a passage which concludes “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gate,” might say to us.
I plan to make that point that this text not only praises women but presses us to think about partnerships between men and women in the work of the community and the pursuit of the common good.
Prayers of the Congregation
- Jamal Fountaine (firefighter) – recuperating from injured hand
- Thanksgiving with Steve and Katy Reimer that Greg is back in Oakland (Kaiser Hospital) and doing much better
- Marie Johnson for Donnie as his Ranger training continues
- Helen Harrison for Mike and Karen Casey
- Luke Oladoja for his mom as she celebrates her birthday
- Marian Ott
- Richard Ice
- Bette Pancoe
- Ted and Doris Evans
- Karen Okusu
- Chuck Johnston
- All our students, teachers and school employees
- The people of the Middle East, regardless of their religion
- The people of the United States as Election Day 2012 approaches
- Families in turmoil
- Joan Patten for Carla and Paula
- Phil and Gloria Meads for Cynthia Nelson
- Gene Bass
- Sandra Dunn for her father
- Edna Dorenzo
- My sister Beth (She is appreciative of your prayers, thoughts and cards)
- Mary Karne for her family
- Jeannie, a visitor to Wednesday Morning Prayer and Bible Study
- Al Johnson and Roy Browner
- The ministry of the American Baptist Seminary of the West
- The ministry of the Alliance of Baptists
- The ministry in Haiti of the American Baptist Churches of Metropolitan New York
- The ministry of the Seafarers Ministry of the Golden Gate
- Tess Benin for the Bardoquillo family
- Leslie Fields for her family
- Ann Fields for her family
- Brenda McCarthy for the Maldonado family
- Rowena Jackson for the Oakland Police
- Tyrone Mack for his daughter (stolen car) and for Mrs. Moore
- Bonnie Sato
- Paul Hardwick
- Karen Hopkins for a friend recuperating from surgery
Announcements
Membership Invitation Breakfast – This Sunday at 8:45 in the Family Room, Please RSVP with Church Office 510-329-2484 or by emailing me at jim@labcoakland.org. I am happy that we are going to have a great turnout.
Are you registered to vote? The PICO National Network, PICO California and Oakland Community Organizations are all urging their congregations to participate in a Voter Registration/Civic Engagement Sabbath on September 28, 29 and 30.
Paula Clayton Dempsey, part of the Alliance of Baptists Leadership Team, will be preaching at LABC on September 30 and at the ABSW Chapel on Monday evening, October 1. ABSW is encouraging members of Alliance Churches to attend chapel and stay for the community dinner and conversation with Paula. Let me know if you can come or have questions. Chapel begins at 6:00, 2606 Dwight Way in Berkeley.