Prayers 8 4 2013
*Welcome
*Summer Series today was about the upcoming Fall SS classes beginning on the Sunday after Labor Day; these classes will be listed in the future bulletins.
*Summer Series for the next 2 Sundays at 10:00 will be on the Thailand Mission Trip taken by 18 people this past June; come out to hear how God is working in these people’s lives and how you might become involved yourself
*Rhythm of the World Drum Workshop is cancelled; we apologize for this
*All-Church Picnic tickets for sale
*Next Sunday is “Outreach Sunday” at church and we’ll have Victor Low, Paul Chew and Pastor Peter share about Friday Night School—our outreach to our local community; also recognize Victor’s long and faithful service as a FNS teacher
*Visiting Boston and preaching at my home church, FBC, Boston
Prayer Concerns
*Franklin Hom—hospitalized for internal bleeding
*Marian Hom’s mother, Mrs. Chin was also hospitalized for an infection and difficulty in swallowing
*Eva Ung had knee surgery but still came to Youth Camp
*Youth Camp was great—spirit-filled experience for youth to make decisions for life and Christ
*Rev. Greg Hamby, FBC, Essex, Connecticut who succeeded Rev. Michael Crane when he retired passed from a tragic surfing accident in Myrtle Beach, NC; survived by his wife Nancy, a first year college student and twins in high school; national youth conferences
*Rev. George Tooze, President of MMBB passed after battling cancer; major figure in the life of the ABC; most recently was the compiler of Emily Chubbard Judson’s writings and letters, third wife of Adoniram Judson who was the first ABC missionary to Burma; known George since my college years
Prayer of God’s People
O God, you who guides the sun and the moon and the stars through their places, God of the sparrow that falls, God who feeds the creatures in the deeps and provides the food for your creatures on the mountaintops and in the valleys, we humbly request your presence in our midst.
We thank you that we are not forgotten by your steadfast love. We praise you that even when we stray, you are calling, searching, claiming and reclaiming our lives. We lift up those who are suffering people and ask for your grace to be sufficient. Be an encouragement to Franklin Hom as he recovers from his procedures and bless Mrs. Chin to have vitality and the joy of life after serving you for such a long time. Continue to bless Eva Ung as she remains active in her life and service at this church.
Our hearts are heavy when we hear about the passing of your humble servants. Comfort the families of Greg Hamby and George Tooze as they remember and share times of rich memories with each other with the confidence that they are in your final loving embrace. May I, dear God learn from their examples of faithfulness and loyal service in Christ Jesus.
We seek your wisdom and guidance for all those whom we know are searching for truth and the answers to life that they would discover that truth in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
We pray for this church to remain committed to proclaiming Jesus in the world until that day comes when we can sing and dance with you when Christ returns. Thank you for this year’s Youth Camp and especially the counselors and staff who gave sacrificially of themselves to be away from work and family and back-home commitments to be models and mentors to our youth today. We pray that the commitments that the youth made last week will deepen and mature leading them to make a faithful decision to become your disciples.
We pray for your world where there has not always been peace and reconciliation. And when we have caused harm and injury to others, we ask for your forgiveness. We pray for the ongoing negotiations that are occurring between the Israelis and Palestinians that it would eventually lead to lasting peace. May your wisdom and presence lead them to care for each other as we know that you have always cared for the whole world. We pray with the undeniable faith that your promise will be fulfilled and your kingdom will come. In the name of Jesus, our Lord who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
The Lord’s Supper
The Christian writer, M. Scott Peck in Abounding Grace: An Anthology of Wisdom wrote, “By all means seek happiness, but do so wisely…Seek to be loved and you probably won’t be; seek to love, on the other hand, and you probably will be. Look solely for happiness, and I doubt you will find it. Forget about happiness, seek wisdom and goodness, and probably happiness will find you. Happiness is usually indirect, a side effect or by-product of something else.
That something else is the pursuit of pleasing God where you will find true happiness—theohedonia. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Benediction
Set your minds on things that are above,
Not on things that are on earth,
For we are the people of God!
True happiness is pleasing the Lord!
Amen.