Prayers 5 23 2010
*Special membership meeting, Sunday, June 13, 1:00 to approve the Deacons recommendation for a full-time pastoral position in family ministries; the job description is posted in the vestibule and this announcement complies with our church bylaws requiring a two-week notice to call for a church membership meeting to convene.
*Congratulations to Paul Fong who will be honored by the Chinese for Affirmative Action of San Francisco for his commitment and tireless leadership to defending civil rights and strengthening local communities on Thursday, June 10 at the Empress of China; if you are interested in attending the dinner, please see me for registration
Prayer Concerns
Prayer of God’s People
Almighty God, not with a nudge, not gently, but with the rush and a roar, let your Spirit like a mighty wind batter the shutters of our hearts, rattle the walls of our complacency, shake the floors of our assumptions and revive us again! Let us no longer simply punch our ticket to worship so that we might feel smug and secure. Open wide our doors to the suffering, the sick, and the struggling.
We pray for all those who are in great need—loved ones who are in need of comfort from illnesses and poor health, friends and colleagues who are in need of direction and meaning in life, immigrants and undocumented workers who are in search of safe harbor and a new home; victims of war and violence around the world as well as in our midst who are seeking peace and order so that the promise of a tomorrow is possible. Lord, we do take the burdens of the whole world on our shoulders and in our hearts as our responsibility to be faithful disciples in the name of Christ to offer good news and saving grace.
Faithful God, you have blessed our church with much and much is then expected of us for the work of your kingdom. We pray for the courageous vision of this church to be a beacon of hope in this world in our expansion of ministry with the Chinatown YMCA, in the proposed new pastoral position of calling a full-time staff in family ministries, in our upcoming 130th church anniversary to renew our commitment to serve Christ in this community and beyond. God, remove any barriers that we may have set up against your Spirit. Fill us with love for the good news, a heart for people, and your words in our mouths as we pray together, “Our Father…”
Offertory
Let us sow in faith that we might share a rich harvest through our offerings. These gifts will translate into blessings for people around the world.
Let us pray. Our time of offering, Great God of Glory, is about more than percentages, or budgets. Our time of offering is our show of faith that your plan for our lives is a good one, and that you mean to share this goodness with people around the world. As you guide our giving, we pray that you will also guide our spending. May we, together with people of faith everywhere, witness in this physical way the power of your Spirit. Amen.
Benediction
Receive the Spirit of God, but do not hold on to it.
Let go of the Spirit to empower and bring people together in the name of Christ.
May the Holy Spirit uphold you, guide you, and guard you today and every day.
Amen.