Prayers for 10/18/98
Call to worship
Praise God! Blessed be the name of God from this time on and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of God is to be praised.
Invocation
As we worship you, O God, unstop our ears, that we might hear your word. Sweep the cobwebs from our minds, that we may receive your truth. Strengthen our wills, that we may become your true disciples. And warm our hearts, that we may receive a full measure of your love. Amen.
Prayer of God’s People
Precious Lord Jesus, we come with wanting hearts to know your presence. Our desires are not always sincere or clean, so we ask for forgiveness and acceptance. We come sometimes searching for a deeper meaning for the purpose of our lives. But when we hear what you ask of us, like the young rich ruler, we turn away not willing to give it all to you. O Lord, continue to complete your creation in us, transforming us fully to the way you have intended for our lives.
We care and cry over the struggles we face in daily living. When one is hurting, we all are feeling the pain as a way to share in the burden. Sustain us with hope and encouragement for:
Sheu Au, and Joe and Karen for the loss of Sheu’s father this past week. Comfort them during this very hour as they celebrate his life.
Continue to be with Diana Ming Chan as her lungs are slowly clearing up.
And with Sherry Pang’s father Ken Lee
O Lord, may these last few days of our prayer and fasting emphasis be as spiritually powerful as the beginning days. Let us dedicate ourselves to the work of the church and the ministries she stands for. As we practice what it is like to pray to you and deprive ourselves just for a few hours, that we can sense your will on our lives. Lead us to believe that everything under the sun is possible with you. The time to give careful and prayerful consideration to contributions that we will make to the campaign and to the canvass is soon upon us. I pray that we will grow in our faith as we give sacrificially.
As people of faith, we pray for the growing peace we see in Kosovo and in the Middle East. May bloodshed stop. May the world leaders come to their senses that God wants nothing less from his people than for them to live in peace with each other.
Precious Lord, challenge us to continue to build on the ministries that your servants have established in the past. Continue to helps us tell the stories of great faith just as you taught us to pray together, Our Father….
Offertory
All shall give as they are able, according to the blessing of God that has been given to you.
Prayer
Receive these our offerings and bless their use, that they may find manifold avenues of service in this place and throughout the world. Amen
Benediction
Now may the God of peace give you peace at all times in all ways, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen