Prayers 2 14 2010
*Welcome!
*Happy Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, and Presidents Day Holiday weekend!
*Give to the Seminarians Scholarship Fund today
*Inquirers Class—opportunity to explore the meaning of Baptism and church membership at FCBC, 11:30-12:30, my office
*Yosemite registration; materials in vestibule; make decision to attend today so that we may have a good count before releasing some of the rooms
*Next Sunday, Church Chinese New Year Luncheon and program, complimentary sponsored by the Adult Committee, food prepared by Dick Wong and his team, 12:45
*Lenten Bible studies in the Bay Area; contact the group leader for book and beginning date
*Good news—the church membership approved of the partnership with the Chinatown YMCA to renovate their gymnasium last Sunday; this will ensure much needed space for our church’s expanding ministries in the years to come
Prayer Concerns
*Pastor Peter Lee’s father suffered a stroke in Hong Kong
Prayer of God’s People
God of mystery, God of awe-inspiring wonder, reveal yourself to us again, speak to us through the word that is read, through the words that are spoken, through the songs that are sung, through the laughter and the tears that we share, through the smiles that we see and the hearts that we know. Let your will be done in our lives in our worship today.
As we approach the Lenten season that stretches before us, we pause on our journey, God of heaven and earth, and we find ourselves in the presence of our savior and all the saints, revealed in glory according to your will. Forgive us if we turn away for a moment when confronted by the challenge we live as disciples and not merely as followers. May we profess to the world that we have see Jesus Christ, your revelation in human flesh in the world so that all may believe.
We thank you, Lord for transforming our mission and vision of our church to reach out and expand into our Chinatown community as we partner with the YMCA for available facilities to start new worship services and add more Sunday school classes. Unveil our blindness so that we may see your glory and the joy of loving our neighbors as we love and care for ourselves.
As your beloved and compassionate people, we pray for those who are in need of your grace and mercy. Be with Pastor Peter Lee’s father in Hong Kong as he recovers from his recent stroke. Comfort their family and give them encouragement to know that you are always watching out for them every day. We lift up to you…
Gracious God, every new day is a new day to thank you for rest and sleep. Every new year is a new year of promise and new opportunities yet to be realized. Every gathering of families during this year’s Chinese New Year celebration is another gathering of wishing each other a blessing of peace, joy and hope. Guide us as our rich traditions and heritage remind us of the value of having family and friends as sisters and brothers in Christ. Bless our church as Christ’s living body spreading love and hope in a world filled with trouble and dismay.
For this, and more, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our savior, who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
Benediction
Receive the gospel, veiled truth,
Revealed in all its glory in the Living Christ,
Go forth to tell the story as it is revealed.
Walk down from the mount of transfiguration into the valley of Lent,
That together we join each other to bring healing and wholeness in the world. Amen.