Prayers 12 24 2010
*Welcome
*Listening Forum, 1:00, Sanctuary
*YMCA/FCBC Partnership Q&A, 1:00-2:00, Fellowship Hall
*YMCA Walk-Through of the construction site, next Sunday, 1:00
*Haiti Earthquake Relief Offering
*Yosemite Registration materials available in the vestibule; April 17-19
Prayer Concerns
*Mrs. Yoot Sun Chew Chin, Bill Chin’s mother is in the hospital and plans are to move her to hospice care on Monday; she is 98 and still lucid in her mind; congestive heart failure and kidney disease
*Josie Poon with shingles
*Wally Poon went in for a CT scan for side chest pains
*Deacons Envisioning/Long-range Planning session this Saturday morning
*Haiti Earthquake victims and families
Prayer of God’s People
Gracious and merciful God, we praise you for the wondrous love that we know in Jesus Christ. In Christ, we believe that you know us by name and care for all of our many needs. In Christ, we have been given a diversity of gifts to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. In Christ, we know that we are saved from all our wrongdoings when we seek your forgiveness and confess our sins. Forgive us today as we pray.
Lord, you are the God and Creator of this beautiful world yet we are shocked by the miseries of the Haitian people as they try to bring back normalcy to their devastated country. We pray for the numerous relief efforts including our own special offerings to even in a very small way bring restoration and hope to Haiti. While the reconstruction will take many years, we also pray that we would not lose patience to assist and reach out to our sisters and brothers. Teach us to care as you have cared for us.
Come, dear Jesus to restore our souls and our bodies. We pray for Josie Poon as she recovers from a case of shingles and for Wally Poon to discover what may be causing pain on his side. Grant them comfort and the confidence to get well. We lift up Mrs. Yoot Sun Chew Chin in our prayers as she rests and her family takes the time to reminisce and appreciate the long life of faithfulness and service to the Lord. We thank you, Lord for giving Mrs. Chin such great health and her kind ways of sharing your love with everyone she meets. Bless the Chin family at this time of Mrs. Chin’s long life. We pray for…
God of the ages, continue to watch over and lead our church in mission in this world. Be with the Deacons and the pastoral staff this Saturday as they begin to envision and discern your will for us as a living witness of your love. Continue to guide our discussions in the Listening Forums and the YMCA Partnership sessions as we plan in the future trusting that you have been with us for 130 years, you are actively present today, and we trust that you will be with us in the years to come.
All our prayers both spoken and kept deep in our hearts are sincere. We pray with the hope that your will be done here on earth in the name of Christ Jesus who taught us to pray…”Our Father…”
Offertory
We are part of the body of Christ which extends around the world. Together, we form a caring community, united in spite of many differences in appearance, understanding, and function. If others are suffering, we too, suffer. When we have the ability to help, it is a joy to do so.
Let us pray.
In the spirit of Christ, we give our best for the world. Your rule among us, O God, is more to be desired than riches. Therefore, we share what you have allowed us to use, giving thanks for the joy of helping others and entering into partnership with them. This is only the beginning of our offering, for we dedicate here our varied gifts, talents and abilities. In all we do, we will seek to serve you by sharing your love. Amen.
Benediction
May the words of our mouths proclaim God’s love.
May the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to God.
Let s go forward as praying, witnessing, and gifted people.
We greet this week with the quiet confidence that the joy of God is our strength.
Amen.