PBPC Announcements

PBPC Family, On Sunday, I shared a number of prayers written by Martin Luther King Jr. I have found them to be helpful words to pray in this season. I'm including them in this newsletter in the hopes they may be life giving to you as well. These prayers were taken from Never to Leave Us Alone: The Prayer Life of Martin Luther King Jr by Lewis Baldwin. Most gracious and all wise God, before whose face the generations rise and fall; Thou in whom we live, and move, and have our being. We thank thee [for] all of thy good and gracious gifts, for life and for health; for food and for raiment; for the beauties of nature and human nature. We come before thee painfully aware of our inadequacies and shortcomings. We realize that we stand surrounded with the mountains of love and we deliberately dwell in the valley of hate. We stand amid the forces of truth and deliberately lie. We are forever offered the high road and yet we choose to travel the low road. For these sins O God forgive. Break ...

PBPC Family, A number of you have asked about Bible Reading bookmarks. I wasn't planning on making new bible reading plans for the congregation; instead, here's a link to a great list of Bible (and Theology) reading plans. (You may have to create a sign in account to access the article. It's worth it - Mere Orthodoxy has some great articles!) Personally, I'm doing the Bible Plan for Shirkers and Slackers . I've found that when each calendar day has a specific reading to it, when I inevitably fall behind, I feel as if I'm always playing catch up. This plan has readings assigned for each day of the week but if you miss one day, you pick it up the next week. This year, I'll also follow the reading plan for Augustine's City of God.  It's a book I've always wanted to read but have always wondered when I would find the time. This reading plan  breaks it up into small readings for each day. If you are already quite good at daily Scripture reading, I ...

PBPC Family, I'm delighted to share that we have hired a new Church Office and Facility Manager. Darshania Domingo started yesterday and will be in the office Monday - Thursday from 9:00-1:30. She was born and raised in the Bay Area and lives in the neighborhood. She has 4 kids ranging from 8-16 (pray for her!) and is currently attending Laney College to get a degree in Public Health. She has years of administrative experience and is excited to explore ways that our church can connect and serve with our community and the city of Oakland. If you'd like to reach her, you can call the office at 510.530.5311 or email her at darshania@pbpc.org Looking forward to worshipping with you on Sunday! Grace and Peace, Pastor Calvin " The Experience of Prayer" Matthew 6:5-7 Calvin Sodestrom Pre-Service prayer in the Cafe from 9:30-9:45 Click here to join Livestream Lectionary Readings for January 11 Contemplative Prayer: Tuesdays from 12:15-12:45 The sanctuary will be open from 12:...