Prayers 10 2 2011
*Welcome
*WMO—support missions overseas in the month of October
*Next Sunday is Mission Sunday with Rev. Lauran Bethell preaching at all 3 services followed by a Q & A Luncheon sponsored by the Missions Committee
*Membership Meeting today at 1:30 with ham and egg sandwiches; review the 2012 Proposed Budget and hear about the 2012 Canvass challenge
*Seniors Retreat beginning on Tuesday and ending on Thursday this week at Redwood Glen; last chance to register with Joel Jang
*Bowling at Sea Bowl, 3:00 this Saturday; See Jayson Gatula or John Tom to sign up
Prayer Concerns
*Edmund___ , known as Bozo passed and his services was yesterday; pray for his family
*Miles Smith has been home and slowly recovering from the accident; he is making progress
*Fred Hee returned to the hospital with a fever and is now moderating any rejection of his new kidney; may be discharged this afternoon so call Carolyn before you decide to visit at the hospital
*Bill Chin had prostate surgery on Tuesday and is still resting in the hospital this weekend
*Victor Lee had a benign tumor removed from his right temple and is resting
*Search Committee tomorrow night when they meet
Prayer of God’s People
Wise Lord of the Universe, you know the needs of our hearts and the challenges of our lives even before the words are formed on our tongues. We praise you for the abundant gifts in our lives, the mercies, which sustain us from day to day, and the glory of the earth upon which we walk.
You surround us with opportunities to grow in faith and mark out a clear pathway toward life. Be with the Search Committee tomorrow night as they discern your plan for our church and make decisions that will strengthen our ministries especially at the 9:10 service.
We raise to you the concerns of our lives, knowing that a single word from you will banish suffering and restore our peace. Continue to watch over Miles Smith as he recovers from a horrible car accident and we are happy that he is now home in his familiar surroundings. Be with Fred Hee as he looks forward to a more normal and active life of service and faithfulness. Bless Bill Chin as he recuperates from his recent prostate cancer surgery that has caused some great pain. May this be short-term so that he will feel better soon. Bless Victor Lee granting him a quick recovery as well.
Heal those among us who suffer from illness, guide those among us who are confused and fearful, protect those among us whose work or circumstances place them at risk, and empower all of us to courageously live out our faith at home, in the workplace and around our neighborhoods.
For the sake of Jesus Christ in whom we pray and who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
The Lord’s Supper
Theologian Karl Barth said that we are judged by Christ’s resurrection as much as by his cross. The resurrection is God’s final “verdict” upon our sin. God judges the world with the aim of saving it.
On Easter evening the Risen Christ returns to his disciples where they huddle behind locked doors filled with fear. They have much indeed to fear for the way they denied and deserted Jesus when the soldiers came to arrest him.
Yet the Risen Christ, rather than condemn them for their infidelity, breathes upon them, giving them the Holy Spirit, commissioning them to go into the world with the power of the keys to the prison doors, binding and loosing others as he has bound and loosed them in his resurrection. His return to them and his calling of them are not only his blessing of them but surely his judgment as well.
Judge Jesus loves us so much that he took time to correct our false ways.
Benediction
Judge Jesus is calling us to
Go forward as fellow servants of God to work together in the holy vineyard.
As people who are the least, the lost and the last,
may we become the most, the found,
and the first who have all been loved by God. Amen.