Prayers 4 1 2007
Announcements
*Welcome to Palm Sunday! When we sing our Opening Hymns, wave your palms as if we are welcoming Jesus entering Jerusalem
*Service of Believers Baptism using the form of immersion for 4 persons who have been approved by the Deacons and this congregation. Later in the service, there’s be the Right Hand of Christian Fellowship extended to these 4 and to 2 others who have transferred their membership to our church.
*Welcome Sidewalk Tea Reception immediately following this service outside; the Chinese SS classes will be dismissed earlier and the 11:15 service will commence slightly later this morning to celebrate these persons’ new life in Christ
*Redwood Glen offering for MacArthur Cabin will be today’s Communion Offering; another opportunity to give toward our $3000 goal will be on April 15th
*Lanna Coffee available for purchase today after worship
*Today begins what is referred to as Holy Week—
*Thursday—Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service, 7:30 PM, Fellowship Hall
The word, “Maundy” comes from the Latin, mandatum, meaning command. After Jesus has washed his disciples’ feet, he gives them a new commandment, “That you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34). Our choirs will be singing, the new members will read Scripture, and we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
*Friday—CCU Cantonese Good Friday Service with Rev. David Pan, 1:00 at the Presbyterian Church and later in the day, the CCU English Good Friday Service with Dr. James Chuck, 7:30 at our church
What is so good about this Friday is that we remember God’s love made evident in Jesus Christ on the cross. In such sacrificial love, we have the promise of the resurrection of Christ.
*Sunday—Easter Sunday
CCU Sunrise Service with David Kao, 7:00 AM at the Congregational church followed by jook or breakfast at FCBC
All four worship services at FCBC—9:00, 9:30, 10:05, and 11:15
*All-Church Family Retreat Day, April 28, Marin Headlands, flyers and registration available today’ goal is to have 150 people!
Prayers & Celebrations
*Nellie Hee is now living in Redwood City; she welcomes cards, letters and visits if possible; see Gayle Chan or Fred Hee
*Gil Quong’s brother and sister-in-law in a car accident
*Steve Lessler’s father in surgery
*Joyce and Jon Ng’s friends Robert and Dora having a baby
*Rodney Tom’s co-worker Jeff’s Mom with colon cancer
*Sebastian Richard Ng, born on March 30th, 7 lbs, 13 oz, 19 in. long
*New Members joining our church today with the Right Hand of Christian Fellowship
Prayer of God’s People
We confess, O God, that we find it easier to comprehend your power. We can understand titles like Ruler of the universe or Almighty God or King of Kings. But it is when you come in Jesus, riding on the back of a colt that we are surprised. It is when, in Jesus, you cast aside the royal robes of heaven, and come to walk in our human shoes, to hurt like us and to suffer like us, that we tremble with awe. We pray that in this hour of worship you will open our hearts, our minds and our spirits to welcome you as suffering God.
In Jesus, we have learned to know you as God-with-us, no matter what our life circumstances. When we are in misery, you come to wipe our tears. When we are ill, it is you who sits by our bedside. When we wander far away from your heart, you shed your tears for us, and woo us home to your loving arms. We give you thanks for the six men and women who are received into membership today through their public witness of believers’ baptism and the right hand of Christian fellowship. Bless them and continue to transform them to become the people you are calling them to be.
We thank you also that in Jesus we know that you stepped into our human history, and that you are present in both the best and the worst of our world’s affairs. It gives us hope, O God, to know that you suffer with all your children everywhere. When there is pain or loneliness or hunger or poverty or violence or war, you are there, touching and healing. Be with our loved ones who are in need of your miracle of healing and recovery.
Loving God, we most earnestly pray that we will not simply have come to a deeper understanding of who you are—we ask that you would change us. Teach us and make us into a people who have the mind of Christ Jesus. Teach us the art of suffering—help us to enter into the sorrows of those around us. Give us caring hearts so that we may sit beside those suffering to bring comfort and blessing to your hurting children.
Let us carry the good news of the humble Jesus to everyone near and far, until that great glad day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord who taught us to pray together, saying “Our Father…”
Benediction
Lord, you clothe the lilies, you feed the birds of the sky,
you lead the lambs to pasture,
and the deer you lead to flowing waters.
Lord, you multiplied loaves and fishes and
changed water into wine.
You brought sight to the blind and
healing to the crippled.
Now send us forth strengthened and refreshed.
May we go forth, living fully in God’s promise of eternal life. Amen.