Prayers 10 9 2011
*Welcome!
*Welcome Rev. Lauran Bethell to our church, Chiang Mai, Thailand and Prague; preached at all three services and a Q&A Luncheon in the Fellowship Hall this afternoon at 1:00
*Welcome Mike and Cathy Socia! Mike is the new Executive Director of Redwood Glen; moved from NJ; have known Mike in Baptist camping for many years
*WMO—Please make a generous gift
*Men’s Fellowship with David Louie on Men’s Health, Nov. 5th; please register with Nelson Wong
*9:10 Worship
Marcus Dong’s class in Fellowship Hall outside the choir robe closet for this Sunday and next Sunday
*Senior Center, Wednesday, Optimal Healing with Chinese Medicine, Patrick Tsang, Program at 12:00, Lunch at 1:00; sign up with Anna and Dick Wong
*Dr. Chuck’s second Overview Course class this Saturday, Oct. 15, Christian Faith and World Religions; please attend for only $10 includes lunch
*2012 Canvass—Harvest Time; received materials in the mail this past week; please prayerfully consider making your pledge by Oct. 30th ; the goal is not the amount but everyone pledging something—could be $1 a week or $1 a month
*Inquirers Class, begins next Sunday, Oct. 16; please see me if you are interested
*L’Adonai Praise Team led by Ian Heung is in need for guitars to be donated or loaned for youth to learn how to play; currently there’s a need for 12 (2 already) guitars; see me or Ian
Prayer Concerns
*Dedication to Christ’s church made evident from our pledges and contributions
*Candidates for our pastoral position
*Flo Chin—left vocal paralyzed from thyroid surgery that caused her to lose her voice
*Fred Hee—doing much better and the early rejection was expected; walking and going to Safeway to buy his favorite foods
Prayer of God’s People
Gracious God, as your faithful people who have gathered to give you praise and seek your guidance for the purpose of our living, we thank you for this time of worship and discernment. Bless us with focus and an absolute loyalty to Christ. Challenge us with resolve to envision solutions to problems. Breathe the Holy Spirit among us so that we may continue to be unified in spirit and in truth.
On this special Sunday dedicated to missions, we ask you to open our hearts and minds to the need for being the hands and feet of Christ. Only we can go to those who are in great need of knowing the Good News of salvation in Christ. Only we can support the livelihood of missionaries overseas when we give to the World Mission Offering. And when a person like, Rev. Lauran Bethell is present with us today, only we can decide if we are ready to partner with her to become active missionaries ourselves to make a difference in the world.
There are people in our lives whom we wish to pray for. Be with Flo Chin as she is working to have her voice return to normal so that she can give you praise and sing in the choir. Be with Fred Hee as he gains strength every day toward a better health with the gift of a new kidney. Watch over… Bless those who are thinking and praying about coming to the Inquirers Class to ask questions and to learn what it means to be a Christian. Bless those candidates who are seeking a new call in ministry by serving as the new Associate Pastor of English-speaking Ministries. May they be opened to your leading and may we be opened to the new and exciting possibilities a new minister may bring to our church.
In times of trouble and uncertainty, we pray for the leaders in our lands to be compassionate for the least of these, to be watching out for all the people’s needs and not just trying to be re-elected, and to set a good example for the whole world to see. After 10 years fighting a war in Afghanistan, where a small percentage of Americans are giving their lives for our country, we pray for peace and the end of conflict. Lead our country to wholeness and the healing of it’s people.
O God, may our thoughts be your thoughts, our words your words, and our lifestyle during the rest of the week is like that of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
Benediction
Go out into the world and know that our neighbors have no borders.
May God bless you and keep you, makes his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May God lift up the heavens and give you his everlasting peace.
Amen.