Prayers 12 26 2010
*Merry Christmas! Welcome on the first Sunday after Christmas! I hope that you have had and still having a joyous Christmas holiday
*Fay Wong Funeral this afternoon, 1:00 at McAvoy O’Hara & Evergreen on 4545 Geary Blvd at 10th Ave in the Richmond District
*Annual Reports are due next Sunday, Jan. 2nd
*All-Church Leaders Kick-Off Meeting, Saturday, Jan. 8th, 8:30
Prayer Concerns
*David Wong at this time of grief and loss of his wife Fay of 53 years
*Lauren Ng and Daniel Kushner had a baby boy on Dec. 21, 8 lbs, 3 oz, Canon Watson Kushner
Prayer of God’s People
Holy Word, who took on flesh to dwell among us, may we again behold your glory, the glory of the only begotten, in our worship today. You who are full of grace and truth, reveal yourself once more in our worship this morning, that we may once more receive the glory of the Incarnation.
Lord God, you are the Word spoken in the beginning of creation. You came into the world and the world did not know you. You came among your own, and your own people will not receive you. We confess as those who should be your own that we have not always received you as you have given yourself to the world. We have refashioned you to suit our own prejudices. We have remade you for our comfort, removing any challenges that might have affected us. May we instead come to be mirrors like John the Baptist—calling attention not to ourselves but reflecting your glory, witnesses to the light, that all may come to know you, serve you, and love you.
We are thankful for your gift to us—the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. The Word in Christ has enabled us to be merry and celebrate the joy of your love for us to save us and redeem us from ourselves. Thank you, Lord for the fellowship of this church and the love that we experience that come only from you. As we continue to enjoy this festive season, we pray that hope and peace for the world can come when we seek justice and reconciliation for all people.
During this Christmas season when there may be an empty place at the table, we pray for those who have experienced loss in recent days. Be with David Wong and his family who need your message of joy in the midst of tribulation more than most. For these we pray that your angels may speak loudest in their lives.
O God, for nations at war, for the displaced, for the confused and lost, for the suffering, for those with no hope, we pray that the Prince of Peace may reign with love and caring around the world.
And we rejoice in welcoming another new baby into the world who will bring happiness to Lauren Ng and Daniel Kushner and their family. Bless Canon with good health and rest for his parents.
Indeed, the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. It is the Light of the world, Jesus the Christ who taught us to pray together saying, “Our Father…”
Offertory
O come—let us adore him—Christ the Lord!
Accept these offerings this day as one more sign of the joy we share in the infant Jesus. May our thoughts dwell on infants around the world, and how you are revealed in each child, indeed in each life. These things we pray as we rush forward, like the shepherd, to tell all we have seen! Amen.
Benediction
Let us testify, not to ourselves, but to the light that shines in the darkness.
Go forth with the wonder of this season.
Proclaim good news of peace and salvation with the Word of Jesus Christ.
May the glory of God’s only Son full of grace and truth go with you today and forever.
Amen.