Prayers 12 29 2013
*Welcome on this First Sunday after Christmas!
*Thank you and the Deacons for the Staff Love Gifts that you generously gave us. We appreciate the opportunity to serve Christ with you at FCBC
*2014 Thailand Mission Trip in June; only 6 months from now; today at 1:00 in the sanctuary, we’ll have our first orientation; See Jon Ng and Ricky Wong
*All-Church Leaders Launch has been postpone to the following Saturday, Jan. 11th at 8:30
Prayer Concerns
*Kenneth and Eunice Tom’s baby, Nico is home
*Laura Dare and Tom Feng for their son, Tristan who struggles with autism
*Martin Choy and Florence Jang’s mother, Tin Choy passed on Christmas Day
*Emmanuel Allison on the road as a truck driver and missing home especially at Christmas
Prayer of God’s People
Dear God, as we are past all the trappings of this Christmas season, we come to you in prayer. We proclaim that you are born among us. We still sing in our hearts of the great Christmas miracle, still filled with wonder at the songs of the angels, the good news proclaimed by the shepherds, and the child in the manger.
As the Light of the world, shine in our midst and lead us by your light into your realm. We pray for the children of the world—for Nicodemus Tom who is loved by his parents and especially by you, Lord. Grant him strength and good health and encourage his parents that all creation is your gift from above. We lift up Laura Dare and Tom Feng to you this morning as they care for their son, Tristan who struggles daily with the ability to make sense of his world. We pray for a miracle to happen and for peace to fall upon this family.
Thank you Lord for loving families and friends and for the support that we receive in times of trials. Bless Martin Choy and Florence Jang today as they grieve the loss of their mother, Tin Choy. Welcome Tin Choy into your arms as one of your beloved children. We pray for many who are lonely and without anchoring places in life. Be with Emmanuel Allison as he works on the highways and looks forward to that time to rejoin his Christian family—give him safety and a peace that passes all understanding.
Once again, O God, we are coming to the end of one year and the beginning of a new one. As the days pass, we thank you for your constant presence in our lives and in the world. We believe that inasmuch as you have been at our side in 2013, you will be there in 2014 and for as long as we shall live. May we look forward to the New Year with joyous anticipation of what you have in store for us to be and do. As Christ, Word made flesh to dwell among us to share in our earthly existence, may we, inspired by you, and enriched because of our shared experiences, reach out to all people who need to hear the Good News. Make us the instruments of your peace as we desire to serve you in the New Year. We pray in the name of Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, born anew in our hearts who taught us to say, “Our Father…”
Benediction
You are the angel, God is sending out into the world,
the messenger who proclaims peace
and bears the good news of the infant Jesus
to all who are suffering and struggling, close and far.
Be God’s angels. Become God’s messengers.
Repeat the sounding joy!
Amen.