September 27, 2016

Dear LABC,
I believe that a wonderful early autumn awaits us. Among the themes and celebrations for this coming Friday,  Saturday and Sunday are:

• (Pause): A Place To Reflect in the Sanctuary, Friday evening from 7-8:30
• Blessing of the Animals, on the Sanctuary steps, Saturday afternoon  at 2:00
• World Communion Sunday
• World Mission Offering begins
• Latino/Hispanic Heritage celebration including food, music, dancing and a discussion with  Community Leader Viola Gonzalez

In my sermon I will lift up the theme of Latino/Hispanic heritage by telling of one the towering figures in my life, The Reverend Ruth Morales. Reading from Mark 10: 46-52 I will speak of the ways Ruth helped me learn the verbs that define Jesus’ response to a world in which cries for mercy often overwhelm us. Those verbs are:  Stop, Ask and Act.

Prayers of the Congregation

• Thanksgiving with Gloria and Phil Meads on the birth of their granddaughter (Parents are Philip Oliver and Sarah)
• Thanksgiving with James and Jewelle Gibbs on their visit to Washington D.C. for the opening of the Smithsonian’s African American Museum
• Thanksgiving with Larry Hutchings as his mom, Ethel, celebrates her 100th Birthday on October 2nd
• Peace with justice for the people of Tulsa and Charlotte
• Nedra Hathaway (hospice care) and family
• Barry Breaux (health concerns)
• Sydney Webster for Gigi (health concerns)
• Joan Thatcher (health concerns)
• Barbara Bowman (health concerns)
• Carolyn Matthews for her son William, and for all teachers, as he teaches at Castlemont HS
• All who struggle to overcome destructive addictions
• All who are in need of housing and all who work for housing justice
• Ethan Hopkins as he continues to recuperate from an injury
• Margaret Alexander for Tayari’s friend Derian as he deals with a traumatic event
• Larry Sims for his family
• Kay Baxter for Stacey, Jamie, Tess Benin and herself
• Al Johnson and Roy Browner her Roy’s sister (health concerns)
• Edwina Hunter (health concerns)
• All who are traveling
• The people of the United States as Election Day approaches
• The families and colleagues of Juan Fernandez (Miami Marlins Pitcher) and Arnold Palmer (Golfing Great) as they mourn their deaths
• The people of Syria as a cruel civil war grinds on
• The people of Columbia on the signing of a peace treaty between the government and the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia
• The people of Taiwan in the aftermath of Typhoon Megi
• The people of Iowa in the face of record-setting floods
• Katrina Lau for a grieving family in her neighborhood
• Thanksgiving for the Seafarers Ministry of the Golden Gate
• Thanksgiving for the ministry of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
• Thanksgiving with Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty on the naming of Amanda R. Tyler as Executive Director. Amanda will succeed Brent Walker who is retiring at year’s end.
• Thanksgiving with The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists on the naming of Catherine Chapman as Executive Director
• Thanksgiving with Jesus Portillo as he retires
• Thanksgiving for the leadership of Sandra Dunn and Helen Harrison who were honored on Sunday
• Thanksgiving with Chris and Kelly Schelin as they prepare for the birth of their second child.

Announcements

The Memorial Service for the father of Cathy Leaks will be Sunday, October 2 at 4:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church on Park Boulevard in Oakland.
Save the date: The Second All Church Conversation will be Sunday, October 26 in Barnett Hall following worship.