Prayers 11 23 2008
*Thanksgiving Luncheon & Seniors Appreciation today; serving begins at 12:00 for children and parents in the SS, 12:30 for those in adult SS; some tickets may still be available
*MMBB Thank you offering
*2009 Pledge—Footprints for Christ; please make a pledge if you haven’t done so already; 2 weeks to go before the Dec. Membership Meeting to adopt the Proposed Budget
*Christmas Crafte Faire next Sunday, 1:00
*Advent Bible Study in SF begins this Tuesday with dinner at 6:00 at Dick and Anna Quan Wong’s; for books see Lea
*Advent Bible Study in Berkeley begins next Tuesday, Dec. 2, 7:30 at Curtis Poon and Kathy Mar’s home; see James for books
*See church website for many new pictures; thanks to Don Fong
Prayer Concerns:
*Joy falling last Monday in Berkeley; healing at home
Prayer of God’s People
On this Thanksgiving Sunday, we give you thanks, almighty and gracious God, for the little treasures we receive from you. We are grateful for a night of rest and the opportunity to begin a new day. Thank you for the rhythms of day and night, work and rest, sunshine and clouds, normal days and times of excitement.
Thank you for the food we eat and for the appetite and taste buds that allow us to enjoy it. Thank you for the wonderful luncheon that we will enjoy later today as we gather around the tables and build upon the Christian fellowship that we have in Christ Jesus.
We are thankful for the gift of music that helps us to worship you. Thank you for sounds and words that please our ears and delight our soul. Thank you for those who lead our music and share their gifts with all. Each day is filled with moments when your grace breaks through to us, and these moments make up our little treasures for which we give you thanks. But we thank you also for the greatest treasure of all, the gift of trust in you, made possible for us through the presence of Jesus. Thank you for your holy and redeeming love, the forgiveness of sin, and the hope of life beyond this one where there is no more sadness, grieving, or death.
Lord, we also seek your deliverance and watch over those who are sick in body, mind, and spirit, and grant your healing presence on them. Bless Joy today as she heals from her fall last week—may her headache subsides and that her body is restored. We pray for those who are caught up in the crossfire of violence, those who feel hopeless in poverty, those who are hungry, thirsty, alienated, sick, naked, and in prison. Help us to be strong and confident in our faith to see the face of Jesus in these, the least of them as Christ calls them his sisters and brothers.
O God, in this coming holiday season, remind us again that you have blessed us beyond measure by coming to us, receiving us as your children, and daily blessing us with the awareness that you desire the best for all of creation. Forgive us for those times we take all this for granted, but accept now our joy and gratitude for gifts of such ultimate value. In Jesus’ name we pray and in whom taught us to pray together, saying, “Our Father…”
Benediction
Go with the confidence that you will find Jesus in the faces of those in need.
Those in need will know Jesus through your faithfulness and discipleship.
May Christ the King who sits on the throne grants you grace, mercy and love everlasting.
Go in God’s peace.