Prayers 12 11 2011
*Welcome to the Third Sunday of Advent
*Baby Dedications today—Quincy Abigail Chou and Jonas Grayson Ng
*CCU Annual Dinner, Jan. 15, 5:30, Far East, $25; see Dick Wong for tickets
*Membership Meeting today, 1:30, adopting the 2012 Budget, electing 2012 officers, board and committee members, hear one testimony of a candidate for church membership
Pledge Update—165 Giving units (11 over last Year!), $481,666, 84.33% of current goal; 13 more outstanding pledges that will help close the gap
*Pastor Jane Lam preaching today; welcome
*Senior Center Christmas Celebration, Wednesday
*Christmas Eve Service, Saturday, Dec. 24, 7:30, reception follows
*Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on Sundays this year; the YMCA will be closed; on both Sundays, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, we’ll have Joint English worship at 9:30 in the sanctuary
*Staff Love Gift—John Tom and David Louie
Prayer Concerns
*Bill Chin, doctor’s visit on Monday to look at his healing incision and hoping that he would not have to use a vacuum vac
*Mae Lee’s Memorial Service, Saturday, Dec. 17, 11:00, here at FCBC followed by a luncheon at Far East; in lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to FCBC in memory of Mrs. Lee
Prayer of God’s People
Lord Jesus Christ, in your first Advent you showed us your glory, you demonstrated your love, and you walked among us as God incarnate, God with us.
In these present days we live on the basis of what we know of you in your first advent. We know enough of you to have hope that you will continue to come among us, that you will continue to perform your signs and wonders, and that you will ultimately fulfill your gracious promises to us.
Forgive us Lord when we blindly wonder through our lives tripping over things we fail to see that you have place before us. We keep looking at our cell phones or our TV to find the answer. We keep expecting to find what we really need to know from the next self-help guru. We keep looking at Google sure that we will find the answer somewhere in the internet. Lord, we keep looking at the wrong places. In this season of Advent, lead us to the manger where the Baby Jesus lies to discover true meaning and purpose for our lives. It is here that we can find eternal hope and joy.
We pray this day for those who are suffering, who are struggling, unseen to all, unknown, by any but you. Be with Bill Chin and Flo Chin as they are restored to health. Be with…
Even as we pray that you lift up those who are fallen, we pray just as earnestly that we might become your hands, your face, your heart, to all of these, to the least of these. Let that which is hidden become known, that all may come to know you through the actions of your people.
This we pray, believing all things are possible with you. In the precious name, Jesus Christ, we pray and who taught his people whenever we are together to say, “Our Father…”
Benediction
God, the Lord is your strength;
He makes your feet like the feet of deer,
And makes you tread upon the heights.
As we await the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ.
The grace of our Savior Jesus Christ be with you.
Amen.