Prayers 7 18 2010
*Welcome!
*More children chairs on the 3rd floor to take home for a $5.00 donation
*Family Camp registration and brochures in the vestibule; featuring Rev. Margaret Marcuson speaking on the topic of “Unshaken Families”
*Church Picnic tickets available for purchase
*Adult Summer Series—Shannon Kong on Editing and Publishing
*Special meeting on conversations in forming a new Baptist region in the Bay Area, Tuesday, July 20, 10:00 at Allen Temple, Oakland
*Norwegian choir visiting and singing at our church next Sunday; come to greet them as they are on their way to Hawaii for the BWA meetings
Prayer Concerns
*Celebrate Tommy and Jimmy Lim’s mother who is turning 99 years old
*Search Committee that will be meeting this Tuesday night as they continue to finalize the job description to invite potential candidates
Prayer of God’s People
Gracious God, we come into your house seeking your presence and singing your praise. We thank you that we can worship you in freedom. You gift us with brothers and sisters in Christ who love you and one another, and for that we are grateful. We know that it is not good for us to be alone, but instead that we belong together so that we can strengthen and encourage one another, in good times and bad.
We come with many concerns, some pertaining to ourselves, and many dealing with others. We pray for those who are sick and feel discouraged: may our prayers and presence lift them up and make them aware that they do not suffer alone. We pray for…
Some of us are worried about our employment; payments on our mortgages; about our children—and much more. Calm our minds and fill us with a trust in you that banishes all fear.
Dear God, you continue to bless us with so much joy and signs of promise that we are most grateful. Thank you for granting Tommy and Jimmy Lim’s mother with long life and the opportunity to see the hope of future generations. We pray that you continue to watch over her as well as watching over all of our senior members in our church community. Be present with the Search Committee this week as they continue to make progress in developing a position description that will identify the special person whom you are preparing to serve at our church for the 9:10 Worship and young families.
Speak to us, God of truth, with the words we need to hear today in worship. Clear away the clutter with which we have surrounded ourselves—the data, the drives, the phones, the devices, devised to connect us, but which conspire to cut us off from each other, and most of all from you. Forgive us for not having made a place for you amid all our connections. Call us to account, create in us a pure heart, clear away in the chaos a place that is calm and serene, where you, who always speaks, can finally be heard.
All this we pray in the name of Christ who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
Offertory
As we give, be prepared to receive!
O God, you have created everything and thus everything belongs to you. We do not bring anything that is ours. We only return to you a portion that you have given us in trust. This we do, freely and gladly, praying that through this church the lives of many will be touched by the gospel. Amen.
Benediction
You have chosen the good part.
You have chosen Jesus.
Go forth in service and prayer.
May God bless you and keep you.
May God make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May God lift up the heavens and give you peace.
Amen.