September 25, 2012
Hi All,
I played golf yesterday in the American Baptist Homes of the West Foundation Golf Tournament. The tournament raises funds for ABHOW’s affordable housing programs. Patrick Dawkins, Declan Brown, Ethan and I were the Lakeshore foursome. Pam Claassen was our sponsor. The good news is that I won the putting contest. The bad news is that I lost my Blackberry and now I am both behind a day and disconnected.
Our hearts go out to the members of the San Francisco Kachin Baptist Church on the death of their moderator Zau Awng Luksing in a work accident at SFO this past Saturday morning. Cards of caring can be addressed to the SF Kachin Baptist Church at 3534 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland, 94610.
Paula Clayton Dempsey, the Minister of Partnership Relations for the Alliance of Baptists will be our preacher this Sunday. Paula is a Baptist leader of great energy, insight and wisdom. Her sermon will be “Would That All God’s People Were Prophets!.” The sermon texts are Numbers 11:25-29 and Mark 9:38-50.
Paula will also be preaching at the ABSW chapel service on Monday evening, October 1. Chapel begins at 6:00 and will be followed by a community dinner and conversation with Paula at 6:45. Birthday cake will be served to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Alliance of Baptists. Please contact me if you would like to attend.
The memorial service for Arnold Anderson will be this Saturday, September 29, at 2:00 at the church. There will be some wonderful music, some words from his grandchildren and recognition of his service to his country. Please contact Paige Bence if you are able to help with the reception.
Prayers of the Congregation
- The SF Kachin Baptist church as it mourns the death of Zau Awng Laksing
- Barbara Bowman as she mourns the death of her nephew, John Johnson
- The Dees-Dickerson family
- Larry Hutchings for his mother Ethel and for Dennis’ mother Jean
- Phil and Gloria Meads for Cynthia Nelson and for Martha
- Kay Baxter of Stacey, Jamie and Dizzy the Cat
- Joan Patten for Paula and for Lois
- Declan and Sheila as they mourn the death of Miranda their cat
- Thanksgiving with Laura Martin that she escaped injury in an automobile accident
- Chuck Johnston for his father
- Richard Ice
- Edna Dorenzo
- Sandra Dunn for her father
- John Claassen for his workplace
- My sister Beth
- Thanksgiving that Bette Pancoe was with us in worship
- Thanksgiving with Dale Edmondson and family as they celebrate his 80th birthday
- Shirley Jones as she travels to the memorial service for her brother
- Katrina Lau
- All victims of crime
- Jim Robinson
- Al Johnson and Roy Browner
- Chris Boisvert for his mom
- Ted and Doris Evans
- Ann Fields for her family
- Thanksgiving that Greg Reimer continues to improve
- Marie Johnson for Donnie
- Ruth Smith
- Georgia Smith
Announcements
From Michael-Ray Mathews, Friend and PICO’s National Director of Community Organizing
Today is National Voter Registration Day. Across the country, volunteers are hitting the streets to make sure every eligible member of their community has the opportunity to vote. The goal is to prevent what happened in 2008, when 6 million eligible Americans didn’t vote simply because they didn’t have access to registration. We cannot let that happen again in 2012.
I invite you to take a moment today to pay tribute to the giants who walked before us and who walk with us to defend our right to vote. As an African American, I am grateful to my elders and other civil rights activists who fought for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, ensuring my right to vote. We are all indebted to the brave women that organized for decades before the 19th Amendment was adopted in 1920 to give women a voice in elections. Many of our brothers and sisters facing voter suppression laws in Colorado, Pennsylvania and many other states are still fighting for their right to vote freely and without discrimination.
The right to vote is a hard-won and clearly fragile one. So let us honor this precious right by exercising it, and making sure that no one misses their chance.