Prayers 5 24 2015
*Welcome to Pentecost! The coming of the Holy Spirit
*Special Membership Meeting next Sunday, May 31, 1:00; Approval of the Community Outreach Minister; Approval of the Transitional Senior Pastor for FCBC and pulpit pastor for 11:20 English service; Deacons recommendation on the subject of regional affiliation (They are meeting this sfternoon.)
*Lanna Coffee available for purchase next Sunday
*FCBC Golf Tournament, Monday, June 1, beginning at 11:00, Metropolitan in Oakland; see Joel Jang and Butch Chan
*Senior Pastor’s Farewell Luncheon; June 21st, 11:30, Far East; reservations by filling out a form and enclosing your check
*Joe’s Café will be completing its ministry next Sunday, May 31st; last day to enjoy; Joe and Emily will be recognized at the 11:20 Service next Sunday; We’ll have a break and the plans are to have a new breakfast ministry beginning later this summer
Prayer Concerns
*Jimmy Chan recuperating
Prayer of God’s People
O God, on this day when you sent your Holy Spirit to enliven the faith and kindle the passion of the followers of Jesus, we pray for your empowering Spirit to be poured out on us as well. Here in our congregation, in this time and place, we want to be faithful followers of the risen Christ, but we cannot be faithful on our own. We need the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, we pray, remind us of the first stirring of belief within our hearts, that we might once again feel our commitment to you as we felt it at the first. By your prodding Spirit, embolden us to venture out beyond the confines of our sanctuary, out into the world where you are busy calling all people to yourself.
Revive your church so that, sensing the confidence you have in us and seeing the vision you have for our world, we might be better witnesses to your good news. Bless the candidate who will be recommended for our approval next Sunday to strengthen our resolve to reach out to our community. Bless the one who will fill this pulpit and lead our church during the upcoming transition time when new pastoral leadership is found. And as our church work together to explore how we may best associate with other American Baptist churches to practice our Baptist life and do mission together, we pray for reason and understanding, clarity in thought and passion for mission, freedom to interpret Scripture and the unity of the Body of Christ.
For those who are in need of prayer, we lift them up for your healing and mercy. Be with Jimmy Chan as he continues to make progress in becoming whole once again. Bless all…
For the gift of your Spirit, who has summoned us together and commissioned us to be about your work, we give thanks. We pray in the name of Christ Jesus who taught his disciples to pray, “Our Father…”
Benediction
The Spirit blows.
God will keep your going out and coming in from this time on and forevermore.
Amen.