Prayers 12 23 2012
*Welcome on this 4th Sunday in Advent and Christmas Sunday at FCBC!
*Lanna Coffee for Christmas gifts that will help stop human trafficking
*Christmas Eve Church Family Pot-Luck Supper, Monday night, 6:00 followed by our annual candlelight service of lessons and carols; see Diana Lee to coordinate the supper; our 6 new members will be reading the lessons
*Thanks to Norman Chin for removing white graffiti paint from our sidewalk on Friday
*Some painting and handyman work is being done around the church as the result of some generous donations received this year; beautify the church
*Next Sunday, Dec. 30, regular services at the Y and sanctuary
*Love Gifts—Shirlene
Prayer Concerns & Celebrations
*Cliff Tom and Dephine Chow were married yesterday; congratulations to John and Lana Tom
*Our nation—Connecticut school shooting, financial cliff, etc.
Prayer of God’s People
Prince of Peace, Upholder of the lowly, Advocate for the struggling and suffering, you have come forth from a little clan in a small town. But you are the ancient of days who arrives in glory, takes on our flesh, bears our infirmities, and feeds us with the bread of life. In this service today, we proclaim your name. May we, in your strength, through our worship and our service make you known to the ends of the earth. Eternal Light, may we reflect your light to lead the nations home to you. In wonder and joy we watch the events of your birth, and with awe we perceive from afar your cross and your crown.
On this Christmas Sunday when we wish that everything is right and peaceful, we still come with a heavy heart seeking answers to our questions, yearning for comfort for our pain, and even searching for evidence of your presence when terrible events happen to innocent children and their teachers. We pray that we would make every effort to create communities that are safer and healthier for everyone, even for those who may need mental health. Help us to grieve and in our sorrow, direct all that power to come up with answers to prevent anymore suffering both in the United States as well as in the rest of the world. We pray also for President Obama and John Boehner and other political leaders to compromise and to strive for equitable justice to keep families solvent and to move our country forward as a nation that cares for the least of these.
We celebrate with John and Lana Tom on the marriage of Cliff and Dephine and pray that this new couple will praise you for the love that they have received from you to become a witness of your grace and joy.
Lord, our church has celebrated the meaning of Christmas for many years and we confess that in the face of familiarity of this season, we may have become too smug to see the light that shines in the darkness. We confess that at times we hold ourselves from exuberant joy. We act tired from well-worn carols and over-told stories. Yet you have asked us to receive the good news of our salvation with the eyes of a child. Open our eyes that we may see the Light of Christ that the world did not overcome. Tear away our defenses that once more we may be overwhelmed by angels, surprised by shepherds, and overjoyed with an infant. Bless us with the newness of this age-old story. This we pray, alive in you once more, in the name of Jesus Christ who taught us to pray, “Our Father…”
Benediction
The Word became flesh and lived among us,
And we have seen his glory, the glory as of a Father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
Be like Jesus, the Light in the darkness, the reflection of God’s glory
And the imprint of God’s very being. Amen.
Merry Christmas!