Prayers 1 10 99
Call to Worship
Worship with joy and give glory to God’s name.
Listen for the new thing God declares.
Invocation
O Gracious and Loving God, in this time of worship we come to you as children eager to learn your truth. Teach us through your word. Mold us according to your will. Take our hands and lead us into the paths of faithful living. Cause in our hearts a desire to know your presence in our lives and in our world which you love dearly. Help us to love you more and more, even as you love us. In the name of Christ to whom we pray, Amen.
Prayer of God’s People
God of strength and glory, we worship you in all your holy splendor. From the warmth of the sun during a San Francisco winter to the crispness in the air that awakens our souls, we see your beautiful creations. We stand in awe and wonder about how you still love us as your children and friends.
O God, when we contemplate who you are and all the wonderful and undeserving blessings that we receive from you, our hearts sink, aware that we have not honored you with our lives. Forgive us when we fashion other idols that consume our time and attention. Idols of material success, idols of status and power, idols of self-righteousness. Turn our attention to you, O God, and remind us of the meaning of our baptism and the promises we have made as a covenant people.
Ever-present God, we give thanks for the creative and productive meetings we had yesterday when the Deacons and the Christian education board members met to plan the new year. We dedicate these ideas and our parts in making these programs happen for the advancement of your kingdom here in Chinatown and in the Sunset District. May we continue to be faithful friends and brothers and sisters covenanting with each other in vibrant ministry.
Dear God, you have blessed this church with a loving and caring heart. Strengthen our ability to support each other in times of need. We ask that you be with Virginia Toy, Jane Lee Quon’s daughter who is seriously ill today. Work your hand to perform a healing miracle in her life and to sustain her family as they gather around Virginia to pray and to hope. We pray for those who are recovering and preparing for eye surgery: James K. Wong, Gilbert Ying, and Nellie Hee. Bless them and comfort them. And may these procedures result in living a lifestyle that is full of activities and meaning. Be also with…
Mighty God, we pray for the President to realize that he has disillusioned the American people. May there be reconciliation between him and you. We also pray for the U.S. Congress for them to recognize their priorities in leading this nation to close the gap between the rich and the poor; to engender hope in the lives of people; and to participate to bring peace and harmony in our fragile planet. Let us work for peace.
Precious God, we offer words of gratitude and thanksgiving for the families that we have in our apartments, houses, and condos. Be with them so that they may know you. Make your presence known to our whole church family as we seek your will. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior that we pray together, “Our Father…
Offertory
We give but little when we give our possessions. It is when we give of ourselves that we truly give.
Offertory Prayer
Give us grateful hearts, O God, for all your mercies to us, and make us mindful of the needs of others, that we may serve them and, through them, we serve you. Amen.
Benediction
As you, O God, have blessed our coming in, now bless our going forth; and grant that when we leave your house we may not leave your presence, but be ever near us and keep us near you. Amen.