Prayers 3 22 2015
*Welcome
*Welcome Rev. Steve Bils, Executive Minister of the ABC of the Central Pacific Coast to bring the message this morning
*Membership Meeting at 1:00 today: Testimony from Bonnie Lim who will be baptized next Sunday at 11:20 Worship and to hear about regional affiliation with Steve Bils; please plan to attend
*Palm Sunday, next Sunday; Joint English Worship at 11:20
*Spring All-Church Clean-up Day, Saturday, March 28, 8:30-Lunch; please come to clean up our church for the Easter season
*YMCA Easter Pancake Breakfast, April 5 beginning at 8:00; $15 per ticket; no breakfast at FCBC on that day
*Easter services: Maundy Thursday with CCC at FCBC, 7:30; CCU Bilingual Good Friday, 7:30 at FCBC; and Sunrise, 7:00 at CCC with youth from CCC and FCBC leading
*AFC Offering—Additional $427 to what is listed in the bulletin; two more Sundays to give toward this offering
Prayer Concerns
*Jenny Hu’s father is receiving cancer treatment
*Ian and Alexa Heung announced that they are having a baby girl
Prayer of God’s People
Holy God, in your love and wisdom, you seek continually to draw us closer, knowing that only in intimate relationship with you can our souls be fulfilled. Give us steadfast faith to believe in your presence and your power as we walk through the wilderness times of our lives. And give us the courage to open the depths of ourselves to you, trusting that you are waiting and longing to transform us, even in the most difficult and painful experiences of life.
We pray for the Membership Meeting we’ll have this afternoon as we hear how you have powerfully undergirded Bonnie Lim’s life that today she is prepared to give her life to Christ in baptism. We lift up our ongoing discussions of the importance to associate with other Baptist churches in common ministry and mission that we can do together.
Lord, as we approach Holy Week when we turn our focus on your powerful love for us and the world by taking on our sins on the cross to grant us a second chance in life that we may become more dedicated and committed to the life and ministry of discipleship today. Reveal to us how we can live our lives to bear witness to Jesus Christ and to bring about your Kingdom on earth.
In our midst we have petitions and requests because these things are beyond our human abilities to understand. Grant us peace and comfort when our loved ones are suffering and are in need of comfort. Bless Jenny Hu and give her strength as she ministers to her father during this time of cancer treatments. Be with many others who are in need of your mercy and guidance.
Receive the worship and prayers we offer now in the name of Jesus, the Savior, who walked through suffering into the glory of victory and in whose name we pray and taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
Benediction
Go forth to live your life, trusting that whatever happens, God’s redemptive love will enable you to discover the good in all circumstances.
The blessing of the God of love,
Incarnate in Christ Jesus,
Is upon and within you always. Amen.