Prayers 4 15 2007
*Redwood Glen Special Offering today; goal of $3000
*Mrs. J.S. Chu’s CE Award nomination; see nomination forms in vestibule
*Register for the All-Church Retreat Day, April 28 today! Pass out registration forms; 2 weeks away!
Prayer Concerns
*Howard Lee’s cancer treatment and Anne Lee for strength and encouragement
*Billy and Cassandra Lai’s daughter Larrisa was hospitalized for pneumonia but okay now
Prayer of God’s People
God of life and newness, we confess that we are people who understand what we can see and hear and touch and feel. We are people who like to feel the ground solid beneath our feet. We are people who like to know where the trail goes and how long it will take to get there. We want to know what our next meal is and where we will have it. Yet, to our surprise, you so often turn the tables on us, bringing newness and resurrection. Forgive us for our closed minds, our doubts, and open our eyes and our hearts to the unexpected gifts you bring.
Loving God, we thank you for the miracle of life and how you have created us with the desire to live and strive for wholeness. We pray for Howard Lee at this time of suffering and discomfort as he continues to undergo chemotherapy with the hope to live and improve. Bless Anne as she helps him and support him with all of his needs. We pray for Larrisa Lai that she continues to recover from her pneumonia and for her parents who love her and care for her. We lift up in prayer …
O God, in Jesus, you have shown us that there is more to life than we can see with our human eyes. In Jesus you have stepped into our human time and our human history to give us a glimpse of eternal life with you. We thank you for this wondrous gift of eternal life in you, life that begins when we simply believe—and pray that you will give us a heart to share this life with others.
We know that there are many people like Thomas in our Gospel lesson today, who struggle to believe because of doubt. Still others have been hurt in some way and believe you to be an enemy. Some have never heard the good news of your Gospel. So, teach us, Lord. Teach us how to bear the message of eternal life to all we meet. Let us tell the stories of Jesus again and again, until that day when all peoples and all creation will rise up and honor him. In Jesus name we pray together, saying, “Our Father…”
Benediction
We can’t lock him down, can’t lock him in, can’t lock him out.
As we go through the open doors of our church today,
the Christ will go with us and walk with us on the way ahead.
Christ is risen!
May Christ’s peace be with you. Amen.