Prayers 8 7 2011
*Welcome!
*Special welcome to Agnes and Paul Martin, ABSW to be with us this morning! Agnes will sing for worship and Paul will be delivering the message
*Summer Series—“Theological Education Today” with Dr. Paul Martin
*Family Camp registration due; over the Labor Day weekend
*Annual Church Picnic on August 28; tickets available for purchase today
*Church Tennis Tourney, Saturday in San Bruno; see John Tom to register
Prayer Concerns
*Youth Camp was a great success on the theme, “Do the Right Thing” on social justice; thanks to Kenneth Tom and Jonathan Wong as directors and a host of dedicated staff and counselors
*Debt crisis was averted in the eleventh hour; pray for the stability of the world markets and the global economical progress
Prayer of God’s People
Living Word, we pray that we are near you today. May we hear this Word in Jesus Christ in the voices of all who sing your praises today. May we see this Word in all the natural wonders that surround us like the way the tall redwoods surrounded our youth this past week. May we know this Word through the reading of the Bible and the telling of Good News. We pray that you move among us this moment so that you may guide our every step.
We come with confessions of how you make us in your image yet we doubt your love of us. You give us creativity but we remain stuck in the same old patterns because of the fear of the unknown. You give us intelligence but we hang on to unsatisfactory answers to our problems. You give is love, but we prefer to worship our wounds. Forgive us for our stubbornness and arrogance and cleanse us of our sin and fear. Remove our guilt and shame so that we can feel free to love you and do your will.
We lift up those among us who are overwhelmed with the anxieties of the day, who have lost work, who battle disease, who shoulder grief and who bear the responsibilities of leadership in these difficult times. Be with… Bless Dr. Paul Martin as he leads our Baptist seminary to continue training and preparing men and women for Christian ministries and missions. May the faithful vision and strong skills that Dr. Martin has been blessed with begin to strengthen the vitality of the seminary to do your will.
As our church that has stood on this corner of your beautiful world for over 130 years continue to remain committed and focused on Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, help our church to remain a place of healing, learning, and transformation to becoming renewed in Christ. Lead a humble servant whom you have been preparing for, for some time to come to this place of ministry to preach good news and to nurture Christian maturity. Be with the Search Committee as they will soon begin their work of reviewing applicants and making important decisions.
Thank you, God for this time of prayer as your children strive to be loyal to Christ Jesus who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
The Lord’s Supper
At Youth Camp, I was in God’s beautiful outdoors—redwood trees all around and all kinds of critters and bugs. Have you heard some bugs being called, “Jesus Bugs?” They also have names as Water Skeeters, Water Skippers, Water Skimmers, Water Skaters, and Water Scooters—this list is pretty long. Actually there are more than 500 insects that are classified as Gerridae. All these bugs have one thing in common—they can walk on water.
There are various physical explanations why they can walk on water, but we can imagine that these bugs don’t think about it. They just do it. There’s a story about Jesus walking on water toward the apostles. Peter, shocked by what he is seeing, asks Jesus to encourage him to walk on water. Jesus does so. At first Peter walks towards Jesus, but when he looks around, notices the waves and the winds—stops doing and starts thinking—the trouble starts. Peter begins to sink, and only the hand of Jesus saves him.
When we come to the Lord’s Table, we are reminded that Jesus walked on water. The Son of the Father came on earth so that all of our sins may be placed on him. And on the cross, all our sins are forgiven now and forever when we seek God’s forgiveness. Just like the Jesus Bugs don’t think about the fact that they are skating and skimming on top of the water, Jesus probably didn’t think much about it either when he walked on water.
As his disciples, let us not think too much about whether we are ready to follow him or not, just follow and soon enough God will lead us to perform miraculous faithful works in the world and just maybe walk on water too.
Benediction
You have feasted at Christ’s table. Your hunger has been satisfied and your thirts quenched. Go, therefore, and give drink to the thirsty and bread to the hungry, that they too may find life. Amen.