St. Patrick’s Day 2015

St. Patrick’s Day Greetings to All,
It was Monday morning and I thought the work week was off to a good start. I drove Karen to Alameda Hospital for her first day of work post-surgery. She was feeling well and the traffic was cooperative.
I got to the church a little early and in a good mood. Then, I looked at my mobile phone and saw that I had three missed calls from Rae Rita Thompson, our Children’s Center Director. With some great apprehension I called her back and she told me that unless, for some strange reason I was driving the LCC van, it had apparently been stolen. Ugh. Such are the frustrations of life in the city. May God’s peace be on the person or persons who took it and may it be recovered in usable condition.
Ironically, or perhaps providentially, the first thing I had planned to do upon arrival at my desk was to spend some time with the Scripture for Sunday, Luke 12: 22-34. This passage begins with Jesus saying to his disciples, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.” If fifteen passenger vans had existed in his time,  Jesus might  have added, “Do not worry about  getting the kids to school. Rae Rita’s old van will suffice for the moment.”  Regardless, the teachings of Jesus have a way of helping us to keep things in perspective.
Yesterday I recieved an email from Isabel Docampo, a former colleague on the Alliance of Baptists Board. Isabel, a staff member at Perkins Theological Seminary in Dallas has a 29-year-old son who is a graduate student who attends school in SF but lives in Oakland. Her son’s (Benjamin) roommate is getting married meaning  Ben needs to find a new room to rent or apartment to share by April 15.  If you have ideas let me know and I will put you in touch with him.
The Oakland Running Festival will be held this Sunday.  Please be aware that your normal route to church might be blocked. Good luck to Paul Templeton who is running the marathon.
There will be a planning meeting for the Evergreen Baptist Association Annual Meeting this Saturday, March 21 at 9:30 a.m. at FBC Palo Alto.
The Hunger Task Force Bake Sale and Luncheon follows worship this Sunday. Bon appetite!