Prayers 10 3 2010
*Welcome
*Adult Sunday School classes in the new YMCA following worship service; coffee and snacks available
*Overview of the Bible & Theology stated yesterday in Berkeley; you are still invited to attend the last 2 sessions; see the bulletin for dates and time
*WMO in October to support ABC missions overseas
*130th Anniversary is next Sunday, Oct. 10th; Luncheon at Empress of China, 1:00; 450 people in attendance; last Sunday to sign-up for the luncheon; after worship, please verify your attendance by checking your assigned table (Butch Chan)
*Reception next Sunday at the Y (No adult classes); visit exhibits and meet one another
*ABC, Oregon annual gathering, Medford, Oct. 22-24; anyone else interested in attending?
*Membership Meeting today, 1:30; 2011 Proposed Budget; and updates
Prayer Concerns
*Sophie Tom’s mother, Mary Kwong passed yesterday at 95; Wake on Friday, 6:30 and funeral on Saturday, 10/9, 11:00 AM at Evergreen & McAvoy, Geary and 10th
*Faye Wong & David Wong
*Rodney Tom with shingles; sharp pain and uncomfortable
Prayer of God’s People
Dear God, your steadfast love never ceases and your mercies never come to an end. We thank you for your comfort and for the hope we share in Christ Jesus. We pray that our mustard-seed faith grow, planted in your Sprit, watered by your tears, and nurtured by your faith in us. We thank you, O Lord and give you praise today.
As we make final preparations for our 130th church anniversary celebration next Sunday, there is much excitement in the air. We are deeply thankful and appreciative of Butch and Gayle Chan and their committee for providing leadership to recognize and affirm your providence and guidance over our church across these many years. We pray that inasmuch as we take time to rejoice, we will also discover the joy of faithful and sacrificial discipleship in carrying out your work in Chinatown and to the four corners of the world.
We lift up the vibrant ministries of this church when we meet this afternoon to understand the 2011 Proposed Budget and how we intend to advance your kingdom work through the programs and ministries of this church. Guide our meeting by your presence, dear God.
Lord, we pray for those in our community of faith who are in need of your grace and healing. Continue to watch over Faye and David Wong and restore their health. Be with Rodney Rom and others are recovering from illness. Make you presence felt in the family of Mary Kwong who is now with you, dear Lord. Grant comfort to Sophie Tom and her family as we look forward to celebrating her mother’s life this coming weekend. Teach us to believe in the power of prayer as we share our times of great need with you and with one another.
We thank you for the joy of our fellowship, and for the faith that lived in our spiritual ancestors. We are thankful that your Spirit still lives in our midst. May we continue to serve you in all things, that the world may come to know you, serve you, and love you.
As we joyfully come together in prayer in the name above all names, Jesus, Messiah, anointed Savior who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
Offertory
With love we respond to Christ’s commands, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
These offering which we set before you were already yours, dear God. The gifts we place upon the altar are meant to fulfill your will, not ours. Accept them, bless them to your work, send them forth in the power of your Spirit, that all may know your love and caring through the action of your servants in this church. In Christ, we pray. Amen.
The Lord’s Supper
In October 2007, a crazed gunman murdered several Amish children before killing himself. The crime outraged people around the world. What astonished them even more was that the very day their children were killed, representatives of the Amish community visited the killer’s wife and parents to offer forgiveness. The Amish take seriously all the words of Jesus and expect to live according to the extraordinary expectations of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus’ words in the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our debts and we forgive our debtors,” are taken literally. The Amish believe they must forgive, even though they know it is very hard and must sometimes be repeated every day.
We are able to forgive others because God first forgave us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You have enough faith to forgive today because you have been forgiven already.
Benediction
You have feasted at Christ’s table.
Your hunger has been satisfied and your thirst quenched.
Go, therefore, and give drink to the thirsty
and bread to the hungry,
that they too may find life.
You have enough faith to do this. Amen.