Prayers 12 6 98
Call to Worship
Rejoice together, people of God.
Let all the earth praise our Creator.
We have gathered to honor our God.
In awe and holiness, we seek God’s Word.
Invocation
Come, O God, to rest on our community, embracing the poor, bringing equity to the meek, turning away all expressions of evil. Come into this congregation to enliven our worship, to immerse us in righteousness, to prompt our faithfulness. Shine on us your hope and love and joy and peace, filling the whole earth with your glory. Amen.
Prayers for God’s People
God of steadfast love, you come with an encouraging word in our baptism. You wade with us in the water and uphold us with renewing words of forgiveness. Even when we are not worthy of your grace, you come among us with your spirit to cleanse our wounded souls. With our sins, we search for your word of assurance. We welcome it as you have welcomed us in Christ.
Gracious Lord, we pray for those among us who need your comfort and healing power. Strengthen them in ways that will bring back health and well-being. We pray especially for Anne Lee as she is recovering from surgery this week. Continue to bathe her in the love that she has felt during her time in the hospital. Be with Pauline Chin and her family as they comfort one another in the passing of their mother, Ying Wong Chin. We celebrate her long life and the love that she had for her family.
Compassionate Father God, redeem our lives so that we may joyously become helpers of the poor, healers of the weary, and homemakers of the needy. Shorten that distance that we perceive that is between our daily lifestyles with those who are less fortunate than we are. Move us by your spirit of compassion to come closer to ministering in your name particularly during this time of human need in a hurting world.
In this season of Christmas time, we give thanks for the love of family, the support from friends, and the generosity in giving. Invite us to give and receive one another as well. Let disagreements subside so that we can build on seeing the whole. Let misunderstandings fall by the wayside so that we can walk side by side. Let any trace of hate that we may have in our hearts be dissolved so that the love of God can renew our hearts for a new day.
With anticipation we await your coming, O Lord. Teach us a new way of living as you have taught us to pray together, Our Father,….
Offertory
As we join our voices in prayer and praise, so, too, we bring together the symbols of our life resources: money we have earned, the hours we have before us, the abilities that are ours alone. Let us give ourselves with love.
Offertory Prayer
Dear Gracious and Loving Father God, what a joy to give! Lead us, together, to your holy mountain, where all are valued and no one is excluded. May our offerings spread the knowledge of your ways across this earth, widening your circle of love to embrace all your children, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Communion
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser…Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing… By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.”
For the Bread
The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Roger Tom will pray.
For the Cup
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
John Tom will pray.
Benediction
Go in love, and may the grace, mercy, and peace of God abide in you. Amen.