Prayers 3 15 2015
*Welcome!
*AFC Offering in March
*Next Sunday, Rev. Steve Bils will be visiting our church: meet with the Staff Transitional Sub-Committee; preach at both the 10:00 Cantonese and this service and then to attend our Membership Meeting at 1:00 when he will field questions about the proposal to affiliate with the ABC of the Central Pacific Coast
*Membership Meeting next Sunday, March 22, 1:00; Candidate for Baptism testimony
*Church Clean-Up, Saturday, March 28, 8:30-12:00 and lunch; please come to prepare our church home for the Easter holidays
*YMCA Easter Breakfast, April 5th; $15 each; Church group rate–$10 when you buy 10 tickets
Prayer Concerns
*Ferguson and St. Louis, Missouri and in Madison, WI to seek reconciliation and justice
*Graffiti and stolen purse with the loss of money and credit cards
Prayer of God’s People
All-knowing, all-wise God, as we open to you our seeking spirits, curious minds, and needy hearts, help us to remain steadfast in faith as we await your answers and plans for our lives. Make us willing to have challenged the knowledge we think we have and brace us for surprise in this worship today.
We pray for the work of this church and the beacon of hope that it proclaims into this world that is fraught with fear and violence. We pray for the people who tagged our building last week that they may find an expression of thought and feelings played out more constructively and legally. We pray for that someone who had a need to steal and perhaps when basic human needs are not being met. We pray that these things would only inspire us to be even more committed to our commitment for a life-changing mission in Chinatown. Grant us forgiveness and a stronger conviction to be the hands and feet of Christ in our community and around the world.
Lord, we are troubled by the continuing violence and distrust in cities around this country. We pray for the families of the young unarmed Black men who have lost their lives and the police officers who have been shot as the result of anger and hate. We pray for peace and reconciliation to come to our communities and believe that in Christ Jesus, the Prince of Peace is the answer to love and healing. Let us not be bystanders but agents of hope when others are discouraged, witnesses of justice when there are inequalities, and advocates of love when people of all backgrounds are afraid of one another.
And we pray for others particularly in our community who are in need of healing and comfort. Give them faith that all things are possible with you when everything else has been tried. Teach us to give you praise as we worship both in words and in deeds until that day comes when your kingdom is on earth as it is already in heaven. In the name of Christ Jesus who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
Benediction
Go out and worship the Lord in the world!
May the eternal blessing of God, giver of life;
Of Christ, the way of life;
And the Holy Spirit, the enabler of the good life be upon us. Amen.