Prayers 7 11 2010
*Welcome visitors!
*Summer Series after worship; Steve Lessler on Networking; Cameron House
*Volunteers needs for Friday Night School beginning in August; see Jane Lam
*Vacation was good—family reunion in North Carolina; welcome Pastor Chris to bring the message this morning; thanks to Dr. Chuck for preaching last Sunday
Prayer Concerns
*Moa Imchen will be meeting with the Deacons this afternoon and the regional Commission on the Ministry this Tuesday to seek approval for ordination; if approved, FCBC will ordain him this coming September
*Day Camp beginning its 5th week; Open House this Thursday night, 6:30
Prayer of God’s People
Gracious Lord, we pray with faithful hearts believing that when we take time from our busy and full lives, we come to know your will and plan for our lives. Help us to discern your purpose for us and to use our gifts, talents, and resources to participate in your work on earth. Gather our thoughts and commitment as one church with a variety of groups and life experiences to help us plan for the continuing vitality of our church in San Francisco Chinatown. Lead us not to be distracted or frustrated but rather to be of one mind, one heart, and one purpose in Christ as we have been for the past 130 years.
We pray for the ministries that we have to proclaim Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. Continue to strengthen and encourage all the leaders of Day Camp as they begin week 5 this coming week. Reveal to the children your love in Christ and enable them to bring such wondrous love back into their homes and families so that they too may know your love for them. Guide the ministry of Friday Night School as it begins planning for the Fall with dedicated teachers to teach English to newcomers, cooks and helpers to express our warm hospitality, and with Pastors Jane Lam and Peter Lee as they preach the Good News in Christ.
With the verdict of the trial of former BART officer Johannes Mehserle in after the tragic death of Oscar Grant III, we pray for peace and order in the Bay Area and especially in Oakland. Show us that further violence will not bring back the life of an innocent man and also show us that reconciliation and hope can be realized when every member of society is valued and precious in your sight. In Christ, we have moved away from vengeance and know that true love offers forgiveness and a way to move on even in the face of human tragedy to living life with promise of yet a new day.
Merciful Lord, bless those who are in need of your love and healing mercies. We know that when we pray with purpose and focus, we trust you to lead us to understand your will for us. Comfort those who are sick. Encourage those who are lost and confused. Give hope to those who are seeking jobs to use their talents and abilities. Be with Moa Imchen as he meets with the Deacons today and the commission on the ministry this week as he seeks to be set aside in becoming an ordained ABC minister. Thank you for blessing us with such dedicated and faithful servants as Moa Imchen is.
We pray for this church as we strive to remain Christ’s church here in Chinatown and around the Bay Area. Only in faith have we decided to call a new pastor in family ministries because you continue to bless us with young families that have filled our nursery and classrooms. Only in faith have we decided to partner with the YMCA so that we would finally have the necessary space to continue our classes and programs and to start new ones. And only in faith have we come to worship you this morning believing that when things are only left up to us, we will undoubtedly fail but when we turn all of our decisions over to you, all things are possible.
It is in such faith that we come to pray as our Lord Jesus Christ taught us to say together, “Our Father…”
Offertory
As we come forth with our offerings, let us not only speak to God, but listen, prepared to make an offering of our talents—those that are known as well as those that are yet to be called forth.
Accept our gifts, O God, offered now not only for the needs of the moment, but for the work of eternity. Let it be your will, not ours, that guides us, for we seek to give what is best for your work in the world. Amen.
Benediction
Jesus sends you out to labor for the harvest. Go forth with these words for a hurting world: “Peace unto your house! The blessed peace of Jesus be yours.”
Amen.