{"id":3836,"date":"2013-07-07T11:36:00","date_gmt":"2013-07-07T15:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/?p=3836"},"modified":"2021-01-01T11:37:19","modified_gmt":"2021-01-01T16:37:19","slug":"prayers-july-7-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/prayers-july-7-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Prayers: July 7, 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Prayers 7 7 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Welcome<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Summer Series began today at 10:00, YMCA when the delegates who attended the ABC Biennial Mission Summit gave their report; next Sunday is the first of a 2-part report from the group who traveled to Germany this past spring on the Lands of Luther tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Sunday Morning Schedule Survey Report today at 1:00 in the Sanctuary; led by the Deacons and CE board<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Day Camp Open House is this Thursday evening<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Youth Camp registration is still open; encourage your youth to attend<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prayer Concerns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Thailand Mission Team returned home safely<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Judith Wong is receiving physical therapy to get back on her feet and become mobile again after back surgery<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prayer of God\u2019s People<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God who is present among the hungry, abiding with the persecuted, God who strengthens the survivors of disasters and afflicts the consciences of those who have plenty, we praise you as the author of all good things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You delight in us when we gather together, for in this fellowship we mirror your active love, which moves in our midst. Even as we settle comfortably in our places, unsettle us. Open our eyes to the opportunities for ministry that you have given us. Show us Lord how we as your witnesses on earth model a loving and covenanting community always watching out for another\u2019s need and interest over our own. It is only when we trust in your grace and mercy that we are able to see that all fall short of your plan for us. When we meet this afternoon, Lord, lead us to listen with respect and share out of love as you would want us to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reveal in our hearts the joy you feel when we freely abandon the false security of riches and take hold of your full and abundant life. Make us one with all who give and all who receive. Lead us to hear all about the mission opportunities that we have across the ocean in Thailand as well as outside our doors in Chinatown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God of life and healing, we pray for Judith Wong as she makes good progress to recover from her recent back surgery. Bless her and keep her and we praise you, Lord for healing us from our physical illnesses as well as for our spiritual needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together as one people the world over, we pray that we may be saved in the name of Jesus Christ who taught us to pray together, \u201cOur Father\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lord\u2019s Supper<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Luke passage we read this morning reveals how important showing hospitality is in those days. People would strive to outdo each other in order to impress the guest. By eating at the Pharisee Peter\u2019s home, Jesus was doing him a great favor!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the story gets more complicated. Enter a woman who, weeping, anoints the feet of Jesus. And in so going, she serves Jesus in a way that ought to have shamed the host, who\u2019d neglected to do any such thing. When the Pharisee criticizes Jesus, he tells a parable about the forgiveness of debt, and how the gratitude of those who are forgiven more ought to be greater, and ought to lead them to forgive others and do more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not clear that the Pharisee gets it, but in the few verses that follow we learn that Mary of Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna, among others, do get it! They are people of substance who, despite their wealth, were not able to achieve healing and wholeness until they received it from Jesus. Their response is to serve Jesus in the way they best can, by supporting his ministry financially. They help make it possible for Jesus to tell parables that just might get through to others, to bless those who need forgiveness, to feed the hungry, to grant sight to the blind, and well, you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have all received from God in greater or lesser measure. We haven\u2019t been treated the same\u2014thanks heaven! And we can all respond differently, but abundantly, in response to God\u2019s goodness. Not begrudging what others have received from Jesus, we receive inspiration to praise God more for God\u2019s relationship to all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the table of our Lord, we see the ultimate example of God\u2019s relationship with us through Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benediction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Receive the blessings,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only from what you have sown cheerfully<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the poor, the distressed, and the forgiven,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But also from God who gives freely regardless of our response!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go forward in peace!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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