January 18, 2026
Welcome to Worship and Announcements
Welcome to Lakeshore!
If you are visiting us, please take a moment to fill out a visitor’s card so that we might follow up with you if you so inclined. Those of you on YouTube, we share a personal welcome to you too.
Today following worship, we have a Coffee Hour to celebrate Barbara Hunt who retired from her position as Office Assistant. Come to share your appreciation for her service.
Also, we’ll have another Transitional Listening Session in the sanctuary after you have had some coffee. We know you have thoughts and ideas about where God is calling Lakeshore in the future. Every comment is recorded and will be useful to set priorities and to be used by the Search Committee to seek for a new pastor. We’ll meet for one hour.
Next Sunday is our Annual Meeting so please make plans to attend. We’ll celebrate remarkable ministries, adopt a budget that trusts God to deliver as God has done over the many years, and remember those who have returned to the Lord. Following our meeting, there will be another Coffee Hour to meet and greet.
Inquirers/Baptism/New Members Class begin on Feb. 8th. Come see me to join the class!
More Transition/Interim Events coming up:
Great Purge this Saturday, 8:00-4:00, come to declutter and help!
All-Church Envisioning Event, Feb. 28, 8:00-4:30, Sign up with the information in the bulletin to tell us your choice for lunch and a special program track for children and youth.
Pastoral Prayer
Gracious and merciful God, we have experienced yet another week of troubling and disturbing news that cause us to come through these front doors of this church to seek for truth and comfort. When we see and hear our elected national leaders are acting out of self-interest or national exceptionalism and de-appreciate the importance of respect for each other, we are traumatized and wonder what has happened to us. Lord, we may even wish to detach ourselves from these persons but that would only be seen as giving up our faith in you to bring about peace and reconciliation. Empower us to stay informed and do part, how little that might be, to watch out for our neighbors and friends in peril.
We pray for peaceful protest around the country and especially in Minnesota. O God, we pray for the victims and the protesters as well as the ICE agents or police enforcement officers because they too are human beings who have loved ones who worry about their safety. On this Sunday when we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who protested for civil rights for all people in the form non-violence, we pray that we too would have the faith and courage to stand up to power in love and peace. Teach us to learn the ways of Christ who taught us that God forgives us for our sins.
There are times when our hearts are broken and there are times when our bodies are broken too. We ask for healing and restoration of both body and soul. Be with those who are lonely that they may find fellowship from us. Be with those who are ill that their bodies would be made whole again from rest and caring from us. Be with those who are dismay and confused that their spirits and minds would find meaning and purpose in life by being in the life of Lakeshore church. We lift up Richard Jue who is recovering from brain surgery, for Viola Bradshaw, for…
In this brand, new year, we are open to your guidance and leadership to remain faithful on this corner of Oakland. Many dedicated and active people have come before us and we believe that many will follow us in the years to come. Open our eyes, unplug our ears, erase our set ways to do a new thing in your name as we listen attentively to each other about the future of Lakeshore. With your help, O Lord, we will declutter on the Great Purge Day to enable us to say goodbye to the old ways and to welcome the new. With your help, O Lord, we will prioritize and envision your calling of us to make a difference in this neighborhood that you have entrusted in us to bring Good News.
Grant us clear mind in the midst of the loud noises of today to do your will on earth as we know it is already in heaven. May we participate in your realm of peace, love, and justice today, we pray in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Zidane’s speech on MLK, Jr.