Prayers 12 21 2014
*Welcome to 10:00 Joint English Worship!
*Christmas Musical by our SS children following this service here at the Y; our Cantonese congregation will be joining us after their service in the sanctuary concludes
*Lanna Coffee in the gift packs make excellent Christmas gifts if you are looking for those last minute holiday shopping
*Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols this Wednesday night at 7:30; Plan to come for a night of carols and expectant hope of the birth of the Prince of Peace; all the candles will be lit both in the sanctuary as well as luminaries on the sidewalk lighting your way; reception in the Fellowship Hall afterward
*Next Sunday, Dec. 28, we will return to the normal schedule of 10:00 and 11:20 English worship; I’ll be preaching at both as Pastor Visal and family are home in Oregon for the holidays
*Special notice in the bulletin regarding Memorial Funds given to the church; if you have a loved one listed and would like to suggest to the Finance Committee to move that fund to one of the 9 designated ministry areas, we’d like to hear from you by Jan. 31st
Prayer Concerns
*Lindsey Sok in the passing of her grandfather
*Charlene (Walter/Elaine Tom)’s relative Lalani with cancer
*Al Young suffered a stroke
*Redwood Glen announced that Larry Rice, an active supporter of Redwood Glen is the new director
Prayer of God’s People
We thank you, God, that in Christ’s birth, you have shown that you give, not what we expect, but what we need. You lift us into your embrace when we are as a little child, trusting and open, innocent and willing. Thank you for being with us through the stages of our human journey: the dependence of infancy and childhood, the temptation toward self-reliance of youth and adulthood, the reversion to the trust of a child in the fullness of maturity.
On this Christmas Sunday, we come to worship, praising you for this glorious and amazing plan you have to save us and the world from our own destruction in order to bring about peace and reconciliation. We confess that we look for the power of political clout, legal expertise, economic or educational advantage, or religious rules to save us. We pride ourselves in being big people and forget the way you entered this world as a baby. We confess the sin of ceasing to be open to grace and surprised by joy.
Merciful God, we pray for others who think they have to be strong, able, and capable at all times. Be with those who are broken today; for Lindsey Sok’s family in the passing of her grandfather, Lalani, a member of Walter and Elaine Tom’s family who is battling cancer, for Al Young who suffered a stroke, for all people both near and far who are in need of hope and the reassurance that all is well with you, dear Lord.
O God, your love came to us in a child, born to be vulnerable in love to the end. On the cross, love prayed for our forgiveness and died; love defeated sin and death, and arose. By the grace of love incarnate in the Christ Child we are saved. We pray in the name of that child, Jesus Christ who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
Benediction
It’s never too early for Christmas!
Go with the joy of little children to spread the good news that God is with us.
In the infant Christ, love is born and hope is fulfilled.
New life has come to earth!
May the blessing of God who comes,
The Christ who shares our human frame,
And the incarnating Spirit who births new life in us and creation, is upon us. Amen.