Prayers 3 27 2011
*Special Offerings: Japan OGHS; AFC Offering
*Lanna Coffee for purchase after worship today; weather permitting
*Farewell & Appreciation Reception for Pastor Chris Otani today, 12:30, Fellowship Hall
*Thanks to Nate Lee, Joyce and Jon Ng, and Wendy Quan for a successful Inside Out event last night
*Need helpers and teachers for Toddler Time; you can volunteer after 10:20 worship; see Genevieve Yow or Melanie Low
*Men’s Fellowship, Saturday, Chinese American Historical Museum, Santa Clara, led by Wes Chan; RSVP to Wes or Nelson Wong
Prayer Concerns
*Howard Choy, Charcoal’s brother died of a heart attack on Tuesday; services are private
*Dr. James Chuck has an angiogram that inserted 2 stents on Saturday
*Japan disasters
*Bombing and conflict in Libya as well as in other places around the world
Prayer of God’s People
Gracious God, we pray for this world. We pray for the countries that are at war, including our own for the past 10 years—sometimes when it isn’t on our soil, we forget. We pray for protection for our service men and women who are in Libya, Afghanistan, and Iraq. We pray for boldness for our missionaries who are in many countries around the world as well as those in the US whom we support through our America for Christ Offering. We lift up the missionaries in Japan and the life-saving work that they and many are doing to alleviate the suffering and danger resulting from the recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear reactor failures. We pray for world leaders who do not know Christ, or who use terror and intimidation to rule that they know you and be concerned for the welfare of their people. We pray for world leaders who willingly admit to your rule, O God and put you first in their lives.
O God, we pray for this nation and this city that we call home. We pray for protection and guidance for our President, Cabinet, and Congress, as well as local leaders that they would act with moral judgment and concern for all people. We pray for those in our bountiful country who are hungry—so often we go home and decide what we will eat and forget that there are adults and children right in our midst who have no food. Teach us to be compassionate and generous in our giving and service to others.
Lord God, we pray for this church. Thank you for the faithful and sustaining ministry that Pastor Chris provided us in the areas of Christian education and youth ministry over these 10 ½ years that have led many to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We pray that you continue to bless her in the days to come and that you would open up a door for her to begin new ministries in your name. Thank you for calling us together to worship you—for times of fellowship and prayer, bearing one another’s burdens and rejoicing with each other in our blessings.
And when life is tender and precious, Lord, we pray for mercy and grace. Be with the family of Howard Choy as they grieve his passing and give thanks for his spirit. We pray for Dr. James Chuck as he heals and rests after his heart procedure yesterday to restore his active and faithful life in service to you.
We offer you, Lord, words of thanksgiving and praise. You have sought us out and spoken to our hearts with words we understand from our own experience. We pray this in your mighty name and in the name of Christ Jesus who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
Benediction
May Christ be near you to defend you, within you to refresh you, around you to preserve you, before you to guide you, behind you to justify you, and above you to bless you. Amen.