Prayers 3 17 2013
*Welcome
*Thanks to those who came to the Spring Clean-Up Day yesterday when we were able to dust, wipe down and declutter the church for the Easter holiday
*AFC Offering for home missions; give generously
*Membership Meeting today, 1:30; hear testimonies from four candidates for church membership (1 agenda item meeting!)
*Palm Sunday, next Sunday; Reception for the new members at 10:45 before our Joint English Worship at 11:20
*Holy Week is coming; Maundy Thursday Service will be back in our Fellowship Hall; CCU Good Friday will be bilingual with Pastor Visal preaching; CCU Sunrise Service at 7:00; and Joint English at 11:20 in the sanctuary
*YMCA Easter Breakfast; special church group price of $10 instead of $15; register with Wendi in the office; no breakfast at church on Easter
*Yosemite registrations are welcome; April 20-22
Prayer Concerns
*Beverly Low, aunt to Don Fong and Charlene Fong, participant at the Senior Center and went to the Holy Land with us, returned to the Lord on March 11; Memorial service on Saturday, March 23, 1:30 at the Scottish Rite Center, 19th and Sloat; memorial gifts can be given to:
*Rev. Jerry Neale, good friend, returned to the Lord on March 15
Prayer of God’s People
Anoint us with your healing Spirit, prepare our hearts for the journey ahead. Set our hearts upon the cross, and our feet upon the way that leads past adversity, fear, and death, beyond, to life, and life eternal.
In this season of Lent, we reflect first on our sins and seek your forgiveness to which we praise you with thanksgiving. We are grateful for our salvation, found in the cross and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. O God, you have done great things for us and we see that evidence in the four persons who will be giving their testimonies this afternoon. You have drawn them close to you and they have received your sacrificial and loving heart.
As this Lenten season draws to a close, we prepare for the Passion Week when we remember the events that reveal your redeeming love for us in Jesus Christ. Make our lives be still and to hear once again the shouts and proclamations that Christ has defeated death for all of us. For you are always doing a new thing and teach us to perceive it.
Dear Lord, when we are saddened by the passing of loved ones, we are reassured by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We know that we will be reunited when Christ comes into his Kingdom. Bless Wilford Low and his family at this time in the passing of his wife, Beverly and with Wendy Neale in the passing of her husband Jerry. Comfort these families and enable them to remember stories that will last them for their lifetimes. Help them to put their trust in Jesus in the days ahead.
God has done great things for us and we rejoice. We pray in the name of Christ Jesus who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
Benediction
The Lord says,
Do not remember the former things,
Or consider the things of old.
I am about to do a new thing;
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
Let us be mindful of God’s love in the world
And not miss out on doing God’s work! Amen.