Prayers 12 4 2011
*Welcome!
*Lanna Coffee for sale today after worship—great Christmas gifts; welcome donations too
*Membership Meeting, next Sunday, 1:30, adopt the Proposed 2012 Budget, elect new officers, board and committee members, and to hear one testimony for church membership
OYYAs 50th Anniversary charitable fund reaches $8000 for support of missions; thank you; other interests, please speak to Paul Fong
*Bake Sale after worship today by the youth of the Chinese Congregational Church; raising funds for a mission trip to Ensenada, Mexico
*Harvest Time!—2012 Canvass update—Wes Chan
*Church Staff Love Gift—announcement by Shirlene Leong Nakano and contributions to be received on Dec. 11 & 18
Prayer Concerns
*Mrs. Mae Lee passed on Monday, Nov. 28 after suffering from dementia and was in hospice care, she was 89/90; memorial service is on Saturday, Dec. 17, 11:00 AM at FCBC followed by a luncheon at Far East; in lieu of flowers, please make a memorial gift to FCBC
*Bill and Flo Chin, James Wong recovering
*Chris and Stacey Chan had a baby girl, Averie on Monday, Nov. 28th
Prayer of God’s People
Most gracious God, we are bound for Bethlehem and we come with gratitude that you are ever with us as we journey. Help us as we travel to stay on the path and keep us focused on the purpose of our mission. We confess that in the busyness of this season, we stray from the holy day and concentrate instead on the holiday. So we ask you to guide us.
As we put up our Christmas lights, might we be reminded of your light. Grant us the patience to pause in our task and bask in the promise of the star we follow. As we trim our trees, let us take time to share the treasured memories of family gatherings so that it is your love that decorates our homes. As we shop for gifts, keep us mindful of the birthday we celebrate and the gift we are given in the manger. When we bake cookies and make candy, let us stir in forgiveness…serenity…peace…joy…and love so that our presents reflects the gift of your presence.
For those in our community who feel weighted down by their holiday obligations, those who are recovering and resting for health—Bill Chin, Flo Chin and James Wong, those who have lost sight of the promise of waiting for the Lord, we pray for inspiration even now and to receive joy as the sign of your presence. And when one of your children has completed her life on earth, Mrs. Mae Lee, we thank you for your abiding presence in her life and the life of faithfulness that she led.
Bless Chris and Stacey Chan as they welcome their new baby, Averie into their home with your protection and abiding love.
We are bound for Bethlehem, O God. We each must answer as to whether there is room inside the inn of our hearts for your Son. Grant that it might be so. We pray in the name of the one whom the wisest seek, the baby Jesus the Christ, the Messiah who taught us to say when we pray… “Our Father…”
The Lord’s Supper
The 6th century Greek storyteller, Aesop told about The Lion and the Boar.
One hot day in the middle of summer a lion and a boar went to a spring to drink. “Step aside,” the boar said, “I was here first.”
“I showed you where to find the spring,” the lion replied angrily. “I will be the first to drink.”
Quickly the disagreement escalated from a verbal confrontation and they began to attack each other with great ferocity. A few minutes later, stopping to catch their breath, they both saw some vultures seated on a rock above, waiting for one of them to be killed. The sight so sobered them that they quickly made peace saying, “If we continue to fight the only winner will be the vultures.”
Jesus came into the world to bring us peace when we couldn’t seem to make peace with each other. As we receive the Lord’s Supper today, let us remember Christ as the one who reconciled Jews and Gentiles, who made enemies be friends, and most importantly, who reconciled our relationship with God through Christ’s suffering and sacrifice on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
Benediction
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
Righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
And righteousness will look down from the sky.
Chris is coming, has come, is here!
Prepare the way for the coming of Jesus!
Amen.