Prayers 12 15 2013
*Welcome! It’s good to be back and to participate in Advent with you! Thanks to many including Charcoal and Pastor Visal for covering the pulpit while I was away!
*Lanna Coffee again is available for purchase today if you would like to give coffee with a mission at Christmas
*2014 Walk in the Light Canvass is still underway—if you have yet to submit your pledge or contribution, please do so today—we are on our way to reaching the budget; never how much that you pledge but the fact that you have made a decision to give to the Lord is of utmost importance!
Number of pledge cards: 122
Amount pledge received: $450,623
Percent of total pledge: 79.91%
*Thanks to the Social Committee for the Sidewalk Tea reception prior to worship this morning to welcome our new members to FCBC
*Today is a Service of Believers Baptism and Right Hand of Fellowship; no more celebrative time in the life of the church than to see people become reborn in Christ!
*Next Sunday, Christmas Sunday—another new schedule—10:00 Cantonese in sanctuary; 10:00 Joint English at the Y followed by a Christmas pageant by our SS children classes at the YMCA; no adult English classes next Sunday
*Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on Dec. 24th, Pot-luck at 6:00 followed by service at 7:00; no reception afterward
Prayer Concerns
*Lois Chin Lym; donations in memory can be given to FCBC
Prayer of God’s People
God of history, in the deeps of time you contemplated the creation of the universe coming to a point when everything is fulfilled according to your will. All are reconciled in your righteousness. Help us to find delight in each other this morning as you delight in us. Fill our hearts with longing for your presence as we worship and pray to you at this time.
We are thankful and have no words to offer that measure up, even in part, to the wonders you have accomplished in setting aside your divinity and sharing our infirmity. We are thankful, God with us, that you set aside your dignity and came to a people on the fringe to affirm the dignity of this life on earth. We thank you, O Lord for the manner of your living and hope it gives us the commitment to walk in your footsteps as these three persons this morning will be received into the membership of this church and its mission in the world. May these new friends set an example for all of us to live faithfully.
On this third Sunday of Advent, help us to strive as your beloved to remain patient until your coming. We have planted the seeds of hope in the world, through prayer, acts of kindness and service, and the love we share with each other and with our neighbors near and far. Now we wait for you to rain down your peace, that the seeds we have planted may sprout with precious crop of your gospel for the world. We know you are near! We know you are standing at the door! Strengthen our hearts, so that we, like your prophets, may be examples of suffering and patience. For it is in your name, with your Spirit, we aspire to your hope, through your love in Jesus Christ who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
Benediction
Go out with joy
Joyfully proclaim peace!
Peacefully receive the love of God,
Sharing with all. Amen.