Prayers 6 30 2013
*Welcome!
*OGHS—last Sunday to make a donation to relieve suffering around the country and in the world
*Sunday Morning Schedule Survey report next Sunday at 1:00; thanks for your feedback
*Summer Adult Series begins next Sunday, 10:00 on 2013 ABC Mission Summit, YMCA
Prayers
*Thailand Mission Team is coming home today
*Patrick Au had his gall bladder removed on Wednesday and is recuperating at home
*Judith Wong had back surgery on Wednesday and will have a MRI on her left leg since it’s not functioning as well
*Day Camp begins its third week
Prayer of God’s People
Gracious God, thank you on this warm Sunday gathering your people to come to worship and to give you praise. We offer all that we have for the sake of your Kingdom and seek your will for us in this time and place.
The work indeed is before us, your work of good news to those who are suffering around the world. We pray for the members of the Thailand Mission Team as they complete their hard and dedicated service with a Karen hill tribe village and begin to make their journeys home to rest and restoration. We look forward to hearing the great things that they performed in your name in spreading the Gospel Good News with many others. We pray for the work that the One Great Hour of Sharing will do to alleviate suffering and pain due to both natural and human-made disasters.
There are those who experience injustice, those who suffer hunger and thirst, those who have never known freedom, and those who are victims of constant, grinding oppression. Lord, regardless where each of us might be in regards to the privilege we have to interpret Scriptures founded in our Baptist convictions, we do acknowledge the significant Supreme Court decisions that were made this past week that would provide basic human and civil rights to all members in our beloved country.
There are those who have been told so many lies from birth that the truth seems a lie. We pray this year’s Summer Series and the commitment of all of us to be opened to the Scriptures and our hearts to become a compassionate people.
The way to your realm is forward, yet we confess we look behind. The challenges of the world call for innovation, yet we cling to the past. The goal is in sight, yet we have grown weary. We lift up the powerful experiences of transformation that happened at last week’s ABC Mission Summit in Kansas and hope that such openness to new things will continue to bless our church in the days to come.
Inspire us, Jesus, whose eyes were set upon the prize that lay both through and beyond the cross. We pray for those in our midst who are in need of that hope of healing and to be made whole again. Be with Judith Wong and Patrick Au to be well so that they may testify to your grace and mercy.
May we dare to hope again, to strive once more, to seek and find comfort in the fruit of the Spirit and the promise of your good news in the name of Jesus Christ we pray and who taught us to say together, “Our Father…”
Benediction
Set your eyes upon God’s Jerusalem for you,
your heart upon God’s people,
your will towards the fruit of the Spirit,
and come to follow Christ Jesus in hope.
Amen.