Prayers 11 2 2014
*Welcome to All Saints Day! You remembered to change your clocks last night
*Giants and the World Series
*Thank you for your contributions to WMO this year
*OGHS for West Africa; Deacons voted to give the Communion Offering today as well as a special offering next Sunday, Nov. 9th; ABC has given $140,000 already; more financial needs for food, water, and medical supplies
*Welcome Ken Marsenberg from ABC; meeting with some FCBC people who may be interested in making a special gift to the denomination
*2015 Canvass—“Mission in Chinatown;” please turn in your pledge card today to help us reach our goal
*Church Membership Meeting, Nov. 30, 4 Sundays from today when we will adopt the budget, hear testimonies from candidates for Baptism and church membership, and elect new officers, board and committee members
*Thanksgiving Luncheon, Nov. 23; tickets available for purchase; Senior Appreciation—65 and older, you are our guests!
*Operation Christmas Child, boxes in the vestibule; bring boxes in no later than Nov. 16th
*Lanna Coffee for purchase today; special price $10, $1 discount!
*Reception Ministry today, 2:00, come out to meet our neighbors and make new friends
*Get out to vote on Tuesday—Vote “YES” on Prop G (Anti-speculation tax to prevent flippers) and Prop K (SF to build more affordable housing)
Prayer Concerns
*Bill Chin
*George Chen and Jimmy Chen
Prayer of God’s People
O God, your life enriches us simply by its presence, speaking to us of authentic journeys, reminding us of a transforming dream. Come into our lives here, and open our hearts to all that you are.
Hear our prayers, not from a distance, but as one who steps into the rivers of life ahead of us, who feels our every doubt and fear, and laughs in joy in the midst of our faithful living. Be with those in our community who are in need of saving grace. Bless those who are ill and combatting diseases that ravage life and we pray for those who have been affected by the Ebola virus that there will be a cure and restoration. Touch our hearts and our generosity to contribute more resources to fight this disease so that people in West Africa can once again return to their normal lives.
O God, as our church rededicates itself to the life-changing ministries in Chinatown and beyond, we pray for our sacrifice of time and talents when we are called to serve as officers, board and committee members. We pray for our sacrifice of resources that can be used to fund programs that will reach into our neighborhood with the Good News of the gospel because we still have a Mission in Chinatown. We pray for our willingness to give of our lives to Jesus Christ knowing that he gave up his life for us, redeeming us to become new persons in the world.
Today we remember all those who have returned to you. These are the saints of the church, the loved ones in our families, the leaders in our communities, all who under your mercy lived in this world to fulfill your plans for their lives have also made a difference in ours to which we give thanks.
Lord, when we wander in deserts of despair and our hearts are hungry and thirsty and our souls grow faint within us, we give you thanks for the rivers in the desert and springs of water in the dry ground. Thank you, O God for your merciful love found in Jesus Christ, our Lord who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
The Lord’s Supper
There are lots of things in life that you can try first to see if you like it. And if you don’t you can return it for a full refund. You might buy a top but when you wore it at home, you decide that it’s not you so you take it back. At the ice cream shop, you can try a little spoon of a new flavor before you need to buy a triple-decker cone. When you are at the swimming pool, you might dip your toes at the edge of the water before jumping into the deepest end.
Joshua and the Israelites led by the priests first dipped their feet at the edge of the River Jordan before committing to crossing the river to go on dry ground to the other side.
In Christ, we believe that he first dipped his feet in the rivers of life and when he was on the cross to die for our sins, he prepared a dry ground for us to travel across from our old lives into new life. Jesus has gone before us so that we may follow him. Jesus has first tasted the Kingdom of God showing us the way to eventually enter God’s kingdom on earth as we know is already in heaven.
Benediction
Go forward in faith.
Step into the waters of life, confident that the Christ is walking there ahead of you.
Go forward in faith.
May the whole earth ring with truth as we stand before God and pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us forever. Amen.