Thursday, April 17, 2025
Welcome: Elder Larry Childs, Director of the Oakland Temple Visitors’ Center
Opening Prayer: By Invitation
Testimony and remarks: Brother Lawrence Stewart, Head of security at Temple Hill
Musical Number: Kristen Bradford, vocal solo, singing Savior, Redeemer of My Soul composed by Rob Gardner, accompanied by Christ Jackson.
○ Kristen is in the Foothill Ward of the Livermore Stake. Kristen is the new director of the Temple Hill Symphony Orchestra. She is also singing the role of Mary Magdalene in the Lamb of God oratorio this weekend here at the Temple Hill Auditorium.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Karen Hernandez, Executive Director of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County
○ Message Title: “Finding the Sacred in All, On this Holy Thursday and Every Day”
Musical number: Elder Castleton, piano solo (Service Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the California Oakland San Francisco Mission)
Closing Prayer: By Invitation
Dr. Karen Hernandez, Executive Director of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County
Dr. Karen Leslie Hernandez is the Executive Director of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County, Director of NextGen Ministries at San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church, and Founder and Director of The Living Restoratively, Dying Peacefully Project. She holds a Doctor of Ministry from Claremont School of Theology, a Master of Sacred Theology from Boston University School of Theology, a Master of Arts from Andover Newton Theological School, and a B.A. from Wellesley College. The only Chicana in the United States working at this level of interfaith activism, she has 20+ years of expertise in interfaith peacebuilding throughout the world. Karen spends her spare time hanging out with her daughter, Katy, watching foreign films, kayaking, and you can find her practicing hot yoga and hot pilates at least four times a week.
The Visitors’ Center is open year-round with exhibits, activities, and events that are family-friendly, free of charge, and open to the public.
Visitors’ Center Hours
Daily: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
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