Prayers 11 6 2011
*Welcome to 9:00 at the Y!/Daylight Saving Time—1 hr. back last night
*”Harvest Time” canvass—please turn in your pledges
*WMO—almost at our annual goal—can anyone help us surpass it?
*Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes are due next Sunday, Nov. 13th
*Thanksgiving & Seniors Appreciation Luncheon, Nov. 20th tickets available for purchase; only 2 weeks away
*Senior Center, Wednesday, “Hand Health” with Nancy Chee, sign up with Dick and Anna Wong
*Northern CA Asian Caucus event, Saturday, First Christian Church, Pleasant Valley, 10:00; see Dr. Chuck
*Seafarers Ministry 50th Anniversary event, Saturday, FBC, Alameda,
Prayer Concerns
*Funerals yesterday for Ed Chan and Betty Quey
*Funeral for Katharine Lee’s father, Herman Lee, 12:00, Evergreen, McAvoy today
*Gina Chew’s mother, Martha Fong Mew died on Oct. 30, 91, private services
*Pauline Chen’s mother, Mei Young Ng, 99/100 years old passed on Monday, Oct. 31st; Funeral on Friday, Nov. 11, 10:00 AM, Green St. Mortuary
*Bill Chin had surgery on Friday for bowel obstruction
*James Wong with ruptured appendix and will need surgery
*Pastoral search interviews; one more tonight before making a decision
Prayer of God’s People
Jesus, Savior, Source of Promise and Hope, you expect believers to go about our daily tasks as all others—sowing, nurturing, gathering, storing. Our jobs may differ, our lives are varied, but you have called us to share one thing which others may have missed—a sense of expectation! We know that in your time, when you choose, at last all will be well with the world. We expect, we wait longingly, for your entrance into history and the beginning of your eternal reign. That is one reason we have come together, to praise your name and share in your story. May we, through faith, demonstrate to the world that you are the real hope, you are the real aim and glory of history.
As our community of faith have experienced a number of loved ones having completed their lives on earth are now at peace with you in heaven, we pray for comfort and the reassurance that all is well as the result of your grace and mercy in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Help us to remember how we have been blessed because these departed loved ones have sacrificed and given so generously of their lives with us.
We pray for those among us who are in need of special prayers of healing and improved health. Bless Bill Chin and James Wong as their bodies become stronger because of the miracle of life. Grant them patience and the encouragement that things will get better.
As our church continue to remain faithful to its historic and life-changing ministries, we pray for the search committee to complete its important work of recommending a suitable candidate for our pastoral position, for the Nominating Committee to recruit dedicated laborers for the harvest since it’s harvest time, and for each one of us to make a promise to support the work of this church through our pledge for 2012.
During this past week of social unrest in the Occupy Wall Street movement, we pray for justice and equality in our country. Where there is greed, we pray for sharing and generosity. Where there is hopelessness and despair, we pray for the reassurance of a new tomorrow. Where there are ways where we can create a better society, we pray that our faithful witness will be present.
As Joshua declared that for him, he and his household will serve the Lord, we pray that we will put all things aside and to serve only Jesus Christ who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
The Lord’s Supper
The question that Joshua posed to the people long ago, and the question that he poses to us even today, is: are we prepared to enter into that kind of a committed relationship with God? Are we prepared to make the tough choices and say no to those things that try to lead us off in the wrong directions, so that with all our heart we can say yes to God?
One of the Native American tribes, the Hopis, had a rather unique way of getting engaged. In our culture today, of course, couples usually get engaged when the man gets down on one knee and then puts a diamond ring on the woman’s finger. But the Hopi Indians had a different way. A young woman would bake a loaf of bread. She then takes it and offers the bread to the man that she wanted to marry. If the man accepted the bread that meant that they were engaged. By accepting the bread, the man was saying he was willing to say “no” to being attached to anyone else. He was saying “yes” to the woman who had offered him bread.
As we share in communion, it is Jesus who is offering us a loaf of bread. Jesus does that as a sign of his deep and abiding love for us. Jesus offers us that bread as a sign that his love for us has no end. In doing so, Jesus hopes with all his heart that we’ll accept that bread, accept his love, and enter into a lifetime relationship with him.
Benediction
Now therefore revere the Lord,
And serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness;
Put away the gods that may lead you in wrong directions.
Now if you are willing to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve.
As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Amen.