Prayers 12 18 2011
*Welcome
*Adult SS classes, 11:30-12:30 will have joint fellowship and caroling over at the Y following worship today
*Lanna Coffee for purchase for holiday gift giving that saves lives; if you would like to make a charitable gift to support the HOL and the NLC, we welcome that as well; after today coffee can be ordered from the church office or contact any member of the coffee team
*Christmas Eve, Sat., Dec. 24, 7:30—annual Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols followed by a reception; if Sunday might be difficult for you to come to worship, consider coming to Christmas Eve
*Christmas Sunday—9:30 Joint English in the sanctuary; and the same on January 1st—9:30 Joint English Worship
*Staff Love Gift—Deacon Sheryl Chan
*Sanctuary flowers are from the Memorial Service for Mae M. Lee held in our sanctuary on Saturday
Prayer Concerns
*Bill Chin after consulting with a wound specialist, delayed any procedures right now—the wound area is slowly healing
*Joy Shih Ng as she recovers from pneumonia
*Kit Ripley’s father fell off a 2nd floor roof while trimming a vine, 89, suffering from a number of broken bones and has a left eye injury
*Gilbert Jing, Tom Wong,
Prayer of God’s People
Emmanuel, God with us, as we gather in worship and prayer today, may your word guide us in thought and action. May our intent become your will. May we, as we listen to the words spoken, and sing songs of expectation and hope, once more celebrate the story of your incarnation, your entrance into history.
Make the warm anticipation of Christmas morning become a brilliant star of joy. Make the everlasting green of our decorations fill us with the wonder of eternal life. Let the twinkling lights that are around us remind us of the joy of God’s light coming into the world. Make the gifts we give one another represent the true gift the world needed in the birth of God’s Son. Finally, let the story of Jesus make Christmas truly Christmas. Forgive us, Lord, when we have made Christmas anything else but about you.
As we go about our many activities and festivities during this season of Christmas, we choose not to forget those in our midst who are in need of prayer and your miracle of life and wholeness. We pray for Bill Chin as he gets stronger everyday and that the reports offer him some encouraging news. Be with Joy Ng as she rests and receives the nourishments to get stronger and recover from her pneumonia. Continue to watch over Gilbert Jing, Tom Wong, and Kit Ripley’s father as they face long-term restoration back to health. Be with…
Today we thank you, O Lord for the many things and blessings that we have received from you. But we especially thank you, Lord for the gift of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, who came to deliver us, reign among us, and saved us from our sins so that we may have everlasting life with you in heaven. Satisfy the longing of our hearts today for your saving presence in our midst. This we pray, filled with the joy of the season in the name of Jesus Christ who taught us to pray together, saying, “Our Father…”
Benediction
Let us sing of God’s steadfast love forever.
Let us proclaim from our mouths God’s faithfulness to all generations.
May the coming of Christ at Christmas reminds us that God’s love is always ready for us.
Amen.