Prayers 3 25 2012
*Welcome
*Thanks to everyone who came yesterday to participate in the Spring Church Clean-Up; our church is now ready for the Easter holidays
*Lanna Coffee is available for purchase after worship today
*Membership Meeting today, 1:30 to hear the testimonies from candidates for Baptism and church membership; pork buns will be available for those who come to the meeting
*Next Sunday, April 1, 9:30 Joint English Worship in the sanctuary—Baptism; no service at the Y but there’ll be Sunday school classes afterward; for 10:20 worshipers, come at 9:30
*Sidewalk Tea Welcome Reception, 11:00 right after the 9:30 service weather permitting
*Transformed by the Spirit event, Saturday, March 31, FBC, Alameda, 9:00-12:00
*Maundy Thursday, April 5, 7:00 at the Chinese Congregational, re-enactment of the Last Supper
*CCU English Good Friday, 7:00, at FCBC—Seven Last Words of Christ; Reception following the service
*Easter Sunday, CCU Sunrise, 7:00 AM at the YMCA, followed by the YMCA Easter Breakfast, 3 worship services in sanctuary
Prayer Concerns
*Doug Yee, Darlene Mah and Sharon Fong’s cousin died on Monday, March 19 after being in hospice; only 62
*Tommy Lim’s friend Mark whose 3-year old daughter has cancer
Prayer of God’s People
All moments are yours, O God. Time is the gift we cannot manufacture. Its mysteries are perceived by each of us differently. For some it is fast. For others this time may pass slowly. Abide with us these precious hours. Strengthen our hearts for the drama of the cross. Hold out the hope once more of the resurrection. Make us willing to walk with you through storm and calm, testifying to the power of the good news in Jesus Christ, in all circumstances.
As your loving children, we pray for those among us who need the tender love of a parent to comfort those who have lost loved ones and to care for those who are ill. Bless the family of Doug Yee who misses his presence in this life knowing confidently that he is now with you in Paradise. Continue to empower us to pray for those who are in our ever wider circle of friends like Tommy Lim’s friend Mark whose little daughter is being treated for cancer. We lift up…
Thank you, Lord for transforming the lives of people around us by revealing to them the life-saving grace of the Gospel good news of Jesus Christ in our lives. We praise you for those who will be giving their testimonies this afternoon of your love for them and how you are using them for faithful ministries through this church. May their witness in this world be an invitation for others to know Christ Jesus.
As we approach this last week of Lent before the beginning of Holy Week with Palm Sunday next Sunday, we pray for our honest and transparent self-examination of our relationship with you, Lord. We come to you in our weakness, sometimes praise you only as necessary, withdrawing when challenged, seeking to do the minimum, watering down your commands, ignoring you whenever possible. We have succeeded in boxing you into a corner of our lives—a convenience to be called on when times get tough and to be shelved when we imagine that all is well. Forgive us for making ourselves the gods of our lives. We confess our sins and ask you to transform our lives.
May we live to your service, O God, lift up our voices in praise, and open our hearts to your love as Jesus Christ taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
Offertory
Glorify Jesus in your actions. Demonstrate your faith with your feet. Come forward in praise with your offerings.
Offertory Prayer
Covenant God, whose faithfulness endures despite our sins and in spite of our straying, these offerings represent our intent to return to you. Receive what we have given in joy, that the name of Jesus may be lifted up on high, that your commandment may be written on our hearts. Amen.
Benediction
The day has surely come.
Jesus is the new covenant.
God’s love is written on our hearts.
May all of God’s people know the Lord. Amen.