Prayer 2 3 2013
*Welcome to FCBC!
*While most of you might think that today is Super Bowl Sunday, it’s also our Church Annual Meeting and the Lord’s Supper! Our Annual Meeting will begin at 1:00 and will conclude hopefully before 3:00. The opening kick-off is at 3:30!
*To facilitate us to start promptly at 1:00, there will be pork buns after today’s worship
*Lenten Bible Studies; San Jose and SF, beginning on Thursday, Feb. 14, 7:30 at Nelson and Lea Wong’s; see Lea for a book
*Inquirers Class begins next Sunday, Feb. 10, 10:00; see me if you want to know more about Baptism and church membership at FCBC
Prayer Concerns
*Fred Hee who is hospitalized with some issues related to his kidney transplant is now home
Prayer of God’s People
Gracious Lord God, it is you who have placed the stars in the heavens and created the life-giving bright sun to give fruits to sustain our living. It is you, Lord God who felt lonely and out of your desire to have relationships, created human beings in your own image so that we may have fellowship with you. We pray that as members of this historic and faithful church, we have remained faithful in our relationship with you and that we have lived up to your calling of us as your disciples of Jesus Christ. For another year, Lord, we have served you diligently and purposely as the First Chinese Baptist Church. When we meet today to reflect and celebrate all that has happened and all that will be done in the coming years that you will continue to be our guiding hand so that we can be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in the world.
Thank you, O God for the days of our lives and the new day that we have when we awake in the morning. Every time, we see a sunrise and take our first breath in another day, we thank you for good health and another opportunity to give you praise and thanksgiving. We pray for those who are not in good health to receive your healing power of life and restoration. You made us in a way that naturally seeks for wholeness and wellbeing. We pray today for Fred Hee that he will improve in his health and that the gift of his kidney will grant him life and vitality. We lift up…
Almighty God, as you have shown us how you care for each one of us demonstrated in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you also showed us that you have compassion for the rest of the world. We pray that our government will have compassion for the strangers and aliens by passing merciful immigration legislation. In the rampage of violence and the death of people from guns, we pray that our society seek out remedies to eliminate gun violence, provide mental health to those who are troubled, and to do everything in our powers to protect our children from harm.
As your people, dear God, we come with humility and seek your forgiveness for the times when we could have spoken up for justice, the times when we could have helped those in need, and for times when we could have shared the Good News of Christ with others. Give us the courage to be your servant leaders in the world as we pray together in Jesus’ name, “Our Father…”
The Lord’s Supper
In 1783, the Montgolfier brothers demonstrated their great invention to the people of France, the hot-air balloon. People were stunned when one of the brothers rode the balloon, filled with hot air, into the sky! Nothing like it had ever been seen.
But there was someone who was not impressed. He turned to Benjamin Franklin, the great American scientist, printer, and inventor, and asked, “What good is it?”
Benjamin Franklin is said to have replied, “Of what use is an infant?” By that he meant that a baby will seem helpless, and not much use in some ways, but eventually babies grow up and become mechanics, bankers, doctors, store clerks, computer geeks, lawyers, ministers—all kinds of skilled people! The hot-air balloon was part of the infancy of air travel. Now we not only send jets all over the world; we send ships into space and to the planets!
In today’s Bible passage God tells Jeremiah he will be a prophet. Jeremiah says he is only a child. What good can a child be for God’s work? God replies that even if Jeremiah is a child, God will give him the words he needs and the guidance he requires.
At the Lord’s Supper, we remember why God came to save the world through Jesus Christ. God came to save you and me so that we may grow into the job set aside for us to do. Remember that you are valuable to the church right now, just because you are you!
Benediction
You have been summoned!
God is raising you up to be his prophets!
God has placed his words in your mouth.
Be God’s prophets over nations and kingdoms.
Amen.