Prayers 1 31 2010
*Listening Forum today, 1:00, Sanctuary, the last of 3 this month, led by Jay Yow, Diana Lee, and John Tom
*YMCA Construction site Walk-Through, 1:00, Meet at the corner of Waverly and Sacramento when we’ll meet with Kari Lee
*Annual Meeting, next Sunday, 1:30, Celebrate God’s ministry through FCBC in 2009, Install new officers, board and committee members, hopefully approve the partnership with the Chinatown YMCA, remember members and friends who have returned to the Lord, and to hear the State of the Church report; Annual reports and new photo directories will be available
*Give to the Haiti Earthquake Relief; thanks for your generous giving in the past 2 Sundays
*Linda Chin, the organist at the Chinese Congregational Church and formerly our church organist will be retiring; the Congregational church will have an appreciation luncheon in her honor on Feb. 28, 1:00 at Four Seas at $10 per person; call the Congregational church office to reserve tickets
*The 3rd annual Live in Harmony is coming on April 25; Rachel Jensen & Wendy Chu for 9:10; Wendy Quan & Lori Poon for 10:20
*Lanna Coffee available for purchase today; thanks for your support over the Christmas holidays that helped the New Life Center and the House of Love, if you purchased an annual subscription, you will help us maintain our inventory and receive a “baker’s dozen” of 13 bags for the price of 12!
Prayer Concerns
*Celebrated the long life of Mrs. Yoot Sun Chew Chin yesterday; prayers with Bill Chin and his family
Prayer of God’s People
Loving God, we come offering our praises and thanksgiving for your “ever-present help in time of trouble.” We gather together because we know that there is special strength and blessings in joining together; that you have made us for community and not isolation. Help us, as your word in the Scriptures enjoins us, to bear one another’s burdens and needs that we are just as tempted to reject, like the people did in Jesus’ home town. Enlarge our horizon to see beyond our own needs in order to see and help the human desperation in places like Haiti.
The words of prophets, directed against the sins of our nation or our personal failings are still difficult to accept, so we label them as unpatriotic and tell them to “love it or leave it.” Give us the gift of your Spirit that leads us into deeper understanding, lest we compound our sins. Grant our legislators in Congress and in our state capital the courage and foresight to see the common good and welfare of all instead of remaining in trench in partisan politics that hurt us all.
Renew us and our church that we might serve you and join with your Son in preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives. We pray for those who are sick and specifically, we pray for… We pray for those who are in harms way overseas. Bring release to our enemies, and of course to ourselves, from the bondage of hatred that would lead to violence. May your justice and peace reign in all our hearts that this world might better reflect the love and harmony of your kingdom.
Continue to be with the family of Mrs. Yoot Sun Chew Chin who is now with the redeemed.We ask this in Christ’s name as we pray together, saying, “Our Father…”
Offertory
The heavens proclaim the handiwork of God, and our offerings proclaim our commitment.
Praise and thanks to you, O God. In this world we have limited number of opportunities to do something truly significant, and in this time of offering we prayerfully approach your altar with a gift towards your work. Amen.
Benediction
God is calling us to stir up trouble with the Good News of Jesus Christ!
Go forward, knowing you are strengthened by God,
Filled with God’s Holy Spirit,
Equipped to testify to the world through word and deed.
Amen.