Prayers 12 27 98
Call to Worship
Praise God, all who dwell on this earth.
Praise God in the heights and depths of life.
We recount the deeds of God.
Surely God has shone us goodness and mercy.
Invocation
Redeemer God, we seek your presence here. Only our own attitudes can separate us from you. Re-create us in your own image so we may be true to your intentions for us and in tune with your purposes for our life together. In our times of distress, pour out your compassion and your love that we may know that we are not alone. Lift us up and carry us when our strength fails. Now, in the fellowship of this congregation, we praise you and honor your name. Amen.
Prayer of God’s People
Dear heavenly Father God, all your people of faith praise you in the highest heaven and in all the earth. We are gathered to sing your praises, glorious God, to marvel at the sun and moon and stars, to wonder at the mountains and valleys, birds and animals, sunshine and rainy days. Most of all, your revelation in Jesus Christ as a little baby, draws us together in amazement at the way of love that claims us as brothers and sisters.
O God, we also confess that we have not always lived as your children. We have dealt falsely with one another. We have lashed out against those who differ from us or who seem to stand in our way. Forgive us, dear Lord. We want to realize among us the oneness proclaimed in Christ’s atoning sacrifice for our sins. Release us, O God, from the powers of death so that we may truly live.
We pray for all who need your special direction and support today. For those who are sick and recovering from illnesses, we pray for healing and wholeness. May your power be present to bring about these miracles.
In this season of Christmas, we are especially thankful for the gift of Christ in the world. We pray for Christians all over the world to bring about peace and understanding so that no one is left outside the circle. May we discover the oneness of Christ in our differences; the solidarity that we have in our convictions, the spirit of love that we have in our faith. Continue to make yourself known to us in ways that we will not turn away from you, but to follow you and the will you have for our lives.
We give you thanksgiving for the blessings that you continue to grant to our church in Chinatown and in the Sunset district. The responses to our services and programs in recent weeks have demonstrated the great hunger for the message of Christ to be told. Equip us and empower us to share our faith with all who are seeking for meaning in their lives. May we support one another as brothers and sisters in these many efforts of Christian service.
We celebrate the wondrous acts in ministry this past year. And we pray that as we look toward the new year in 1999, that you will continue to fill us with your blessings so that we may help change the world for Christ.
All these, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together…. Our Father…
Offertory
On entering the house, the magi saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Offertory Prayer
Dear Gracious Lord, like the magi, we offer our treasures to you as our loyalty and commitment to the work of your ministry on earth. Bless them and use them to promote peace and goodwill in this place and throughout the world. Amen.
Benediction
O God, you have blessed our coming in, now bless our going forth; and grant that when we leave your house we may not leave your presence, but be ever near us and keep us near to you. Amen.
9:00
Pastoral Prayer
Dear Lord, we are thankful today for the gathering of friends and family this past week for Christmas. We enjoyed the reunions with brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and cousins. May we continue to support our families and friends. And we pray that they will support us as well.
This morning, we come with our questions in life’s journey. We pray that when we may have doubts of your power in the world, remind us how you conquered death in Jesus Christ’s resurrection. We pray that when we assign more loyalty to possessions and other gods, that you remind us that there is only one God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We pray that when we are having problems in our relationships, remind us that everyone is loved by you and that we are to respect one another.
Loving God, help us to become instruments of your peace in the world. Let us not be content to allow things just the way they are. There is so much hunger, homelessness, and suffering in the Bay Area. Empower us to make a difference in our neighborhoods, through this church into Chinatown, and into the world. May the spirit of Christmas be carried through the entire new year as we begin to prepare for 1999.
Love us as you always have. Guide us in our paths as you have all the days of our lives. And teach us to be your faithful disciples having the love of Christ in our hearts. We pray all these things in the name of Christ Jesus who taught us to pray…. Our Father…