Prayers 12 14 2014
*Welcome to Joint English Worship and Believers Baptism! We have a baby dedication, special and Advent music, and much more!
*Lanna Coffee for purchase today; the half pound gift bags makes great Christmas gifts to others
*Next Sunday, Christmas Sunday; Joint English Worship at 10:00 at the YMCA followed by an All-Church Christmas Musical program at the Y; Plan to attend
*Traditional Christmas Eve Service of Candles and Lessons on Dec. 24, 7:30; plan to attend this special and meaningful service of the birth of Christ
*2015 pledges and contributions are still welcome to complete our canvass; never the amount that you pledge, always the pledge that you make that is important!
*New Church Website launched on Friday primarily for visitors and seekers; a second phase of the website for members with passcode protection will be available soon
*Church Staff Love Offering; special envelopes
Prayer Concerns
*Jimmy and Erica Yung’s marriage
*Lindsey Sok’s grandfather passed on Dec. 10th and the memorial service will be on Tuesday, Dec. 16th that Pastor Visal will be officiating; as the result of this, Pastor Visal will be home in Portland on Dec. 21 and 28
*Racial justice in America; signed a, ABC Statement for Examination
Prayer of God’s People
Gracious God, help us to hear a voice crying out to us in the darkness, the voice of John the Baptist, testifying to the light. Teach us to watch and wait for the dawning of what will yet to be for we have the confidence that all things are made possible in you.
While we are living on earth but knowing fully that the work of the kingdom is still unfolding upon us, we have been called to point to Jesus in whatever we do. Grant us encouragement and a renewed sense of purpose for our lives and mission through this church. We pray that as this year comes to an end, we are beginning to look toward the New Year and the opportunities that it brings. Be with the many new church officers, board and committee members as they serve Jesus in partnership with you through this church. Teach us how to continue doing mission in Chinatown as our forefathers and mothers have done in the past. We pray that the Good News of Christ is made known through the examples in our lives.
Today, we thank you for being real and present in the lives of those who are publicly professing their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior in Baptism. Continue to bless and watch over Hailey Ung, Craig Lai, and Ivan Szeto as they begin their witness in a lifetime of active discipleship. We pray that their witness today leads us to rededicate ourselves to the work of your kingdom.
We pray for Lindsey and Pastor Visal as they travel home this week to be with their families and to celebrate Lindsey’s grandfather’s life. Grant them safe travels and a time to remember and praise you for your mercies and blessings. We celebrate and congratulate the marriage of Jimmy and Erica Yung as they begin their new life together as one in the Lord. Bless our relationships, dear God as you have reunited our lives with you in the incarnation of our Lord, your Son, Jesus Christ.
Merciful God, show us how to love one another as Jesus has loved us. We are troubled by the loss of people’s lives and want to cry out for justice and retribution. We are troubled by senseless acts of violence that destroy people’s properties that only lead to more fear and mistrust. And, O God, we must admit to the truth that we are unable to understand all that needs understanding and must have confidence in the systems in this land however imperfect they may be to bring about reconciliation and the end of anger and hatred. We pray to commit ourselves to examine the systems that seem to give preference to one group over others and that the self-evidence of human rights that we have as sons and daughters created in your holy image has been violated. Lord, we pray for peace that passes all understanding to come.
Grant us the assurance, O God that your voice that speaks in our present darkness and the nighttime of our fear, promises to make all things new in Jesus Christ, the light and the Savior of the world who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
Benediction
Encourage our new baptized members to point to the Word.
Let us live our Advent days pointing to the Word.
Let us go into our daily life where there is fear and mistrust pointing to the Word.
May the blessing of God of our salvation be upon us.
Amen.