Prayer for God’s People
O Gracious and Loving God, we come to you today tired, worn out, and wasted from a long week of work and activities. Although we said that we would keep you in the forefront of our thinking, the demands of life push you to our sub-consciousness and we forgot. We forget how you continue to create and remake old things new again. We forget the many times you fed the hungry and gave drink to the thirsty when we were too busy eating. We forget that it is your love for the world that is transforming lives and institutions to know you when we think that these resulted from our efforts. O Lord, direct our hearts to turn to you for renewal. Make us new again.
Lord, you are the Great Physician and Creator of all life. We come to you with the readiness for you to change us, heal us, strengthen us, and empower us. If it is your will, we pray for wholeness and health in the lives of many in our congregation. We pray for Pauline Tom as she adjusts and seek comfort for her second chemo treatment. We pray for James Chuck as he begins his radiation treatment for the next 8 weeks. We pray for Pearl Jang as she is sadden by the passing of her father this past week. May your comforting presence be known in her household. We pray for Freddie Hee as he continues to recovery from his angioplasty surgery and that he would gain his strength back soon. Bless all of these your children and others who need your mighty power of healing and wholeness.
We are thankful, dear God for the Women’s Retreat this weekend. May this time of spiritual journey and personal sharing deepen their faith in you. We pray for the upcoming Lenten Bible Study Groups to deepen our commitment to Jesus, our Lord and to examine our faith with questions of life. In a big church like ours, we pray for the Care Ministry Partners who are dedicating their lives to care for one another. Bless these servants as they serve as your ambassadors of love and peace. May these efforts, big or small, all contribute to the furthering of your kingdom on earth.
Dear Lord, we give thanks for the legacy of First Chinese Baptist. For its vision and courage to start a new church. For its enduring faith to retrofit Waverly Place because its mission is continuing. For its love and fellowship that bring visitors and strangers to feel welcome in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. For its members who trust in your plan for its future because it is your will that ultimately counts. Almighty God, we pray in deep humility as brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ who taught us to pray together, saying, “Our Father…”
Benediction
May the mind of Christ our Savior live in us from day to day;
By his love and power controlling all we do and say.
May the Word of God dwell richly in our hearts from hour to hour,
So that all may see we triumph only through God’s power.
May we run the race before us, strong and brave to reach the goal,
looking only unto Jesus as we onward go. Amen.