Prayers 11 9 2014
*Welcome! Young Lee Hertig,
*2015 Pledges—“Mission in Chinatown;” please turn in pledge cards soon; never the amount but the decision to give
*Ebola special offering today; use the OGHS envelopes
*Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes are due no later than next Sunday to be delivered; if you don’t seal them, you can put in a bracelet that the participants at this year’s Senior Retreat made
*Thanksgiving Luncheon and Senior Appreciation; 2 Sundays from today; purchase your tickets today; Free for Seniors 65 and older
*Membership Meeting, Nov. 30th—Adopt the 2015 budget, elect new officers, board and committee members, and hear testimonies from candidates for Baptism and church membership
*Senior Center, this Wednesday with Dr. Alan Wu on “Your Best Posture;” register with Dick & Anna Quan Wong or Jimmy Yee
Prayer Concerns
*Pastor Peter in China and Hong Kong
Prayer of God’s People
We Thank you, God, for this day that you give us, this day to love and worship you with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We praise you for your coming among us in Jesus, and for your continued coming in the Spirit. Through your inviting word, awaken us to the urgency of preparation.
Awaken us, O God to the needs around the world and help us to live less self-focused lives. Awaken us to the crisis that the Ebola epidemic is causing to entire nations in West Africa and lead us to give a small portion of our resources to help alleviate this threatening health problem. Awaken us to the needs of children everywhere especially during this time of giving and receiving. We dedicate the shoeboxes that will make a difference in the lives of children around the world.
Lord, we lift up the vitality and life-transforming ministries of this church to continue to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. As we consider the invitations to serve as officers, board and committee members next year and to make a pledge or contribution to sustain the work that we have in Chinatown, we pray for an awaken consciousness of responsibility and sacrifice. We sacrifice because we know that you sacrificed in Jesus Christ so that we would be saved and the whole world will be restored.
God of all times and places, we also pray for ourselves that we let go of sorrow for the missed opportunities of our lives and be alert and ready for all that you offer us. Help us to reject the worldly standard of conformity and be prepared to respond to you in the uniqueness of who we are. Awaken us today to hear your voice and to see your plans for our lives to be purposeful and a part of your kingdom work in the world. In the name of Christ Jesus we pray and in whom we have life and who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
Benediction
Be wise and ready for the coming of the Lord of life.
Be prepared to respond when Christ breaks into your present and invites you into a future.
May God the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit be with you always. Amen.