Prayers 5 3 2015
*Welcome! It’s good to be home! Thanks for your prayers while I was in India. Thanks to the church staff and specifically to Rev. Angie Bau and Pastor Peter for filling the pulpit in the past two Sundays.
*Nepal Earthquake Relief through One Great Hour of Sharing for today with the Communion Offering and next week with special envelopes. Nepal was only about 300 kilometers away from where I was in Tura, India. Some felt the tremors and we heard that one pastor died in the quake. When I met with the staff of the CBC-NEI, the General Secretary sent the Secretary of Peace and Justice to lead the Baptist relief team.
*Senior Pastor’s Retirement Luncheon, June 21, Far East, tickets available
Prayer Concerns
*Lawton Lum who is receiving treatment for colon cancer
*Nico Tom who has been in the hospital for breathing reasons
*Jimmy Chan is hospitalized for some head bleeding the result of high blood pressure; stabilized but with concerns
*Victims of the Nepal earthquake
*Racial unrest and uprising against injustices in Baltimore and in other places around the country
*Transition in the church as we call a new Community Outreach Minister, interviewing an interim pastor, and continue to explore our Baptist relationships that will also unify our church family; God’s will always lead to the strengthening the Body of Christ never weakening it
Prayer of God’s People
Merciful God, we pray on this first Sunday of May with earnestness and hope especially in light of challenging situations. The devastation in Nepal calls us to pray and have sympathy for the many victims and injured. Stir our hearts to give whatever we can to assist in the relief efforts. For surely, O God, we are all your people made in your same image.
God of peace and reconciliation, we can’t seem to love one another and instead we breed mistrust and fear of the other in our neighborhoods. Forgive us for our prejudices, racist attitudes and hate for one another. But as Christ became one of us in order to save us, lead us to befriend one another to save ourselves from drifting away from being the beloved community. We pray for the end of violence and to reach understanding of each other over meaningful conversations.
While our world certainly needs prayer, we need prayers too. Illnesses and sickness are inevitable and we are not immune to cancer and health problems. We pray for Lawton Lum who is receiving colon cancer treatment and that his body will respond leading to restored health. We lift up for your care Nico Tom for feel better from this recent visit to the hospital. Be with Eunice and Kenneth Tom as they love and care for this little one of yours. Be present with Jimmy Chan as he rests and regain his health after this concerned situation with high blood pressure. We pray for encouragement and signs of hope. We seek reassurance in times of doubt and questions. We ask for the peace in our hearts that all things on earth and in heaven are under your care and provision.
God of time and space, God of yesterday, today and tomorrow, we pray for making good decisions in our church in the coming days that unify our church membership and not divide it, that will lead us to become even more effective and Christ-bearing in our Chinatown community and that effective and faithful interim pastoral leadership will be evident during times of change. Lord, settle our anxieties and teach us to trust in you with our future.
Lord, as you taught your disciples to pray, teach us again so that we may bring you glory and praise for you are God of all and in all. In the name of Christ, we pray together, “Our Father…”
The Lord’s Supper
Christ the Host
Before I left for India, I informed my host, CBC-NEI General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Solomon Rongpi that I was vegetarian having heard that in a village celebration they might prepare a pig for my presence. I told them that was not necessary. While we know that Indian food is very vegetarian friendly, I thought I would have no problems sustaining my health for two weeks.
In these large gatherings with many people being fed by volunteers, my hosts always prepared a special vegetarian meal for me. They had so many others to feed but there were about 3-5 women who always set up a table with special food for me. There were tomatoes and sliced cucumbers. I had French fries and Chinese style noodles. One time one of the women asked if I liked pasta salad and that she would look for vegan mayo. These women, Ke-Lang, Jesso, and Wand-a became my hosts just as Christ has spread out this table for us to eat and drink to have life today and to have life eternally.
At first I was quite embarrassed by how much they did to welcome me to their gatherings. I tried everything except the beets because I wanted to show my appreciation and kiddingly said that if I didn’t eat what was prepared, there may not be food the next time. So, I started to invite others to join my table. My friend Dr. Solomon ate a double portion as for many others. As Christ welcomes us, I welcomed others and you welcome others to know the Lord.
On the night when Jesus was betrayed, he gathered his disciples in the upper room and served as the host. He said that this bread is the Bread of Life and this cup is the Cup of Salvation for all who believe. He broke the bread and gave it to them. He poured out the wine and said that their sins are forgiven when he will take all the sins of the world then and forevermore.
Let us pray.
Benediction
May the God of FCBC and of Northeast India be with you today and in the days to come.
May the Holy Spirit prod, push and pull you into the world share Jesus to others.
May God grant you peace and hope for tomorrow since tomorrow will be yet another day to serve God with all we have and all that we are.
May God Almighty give you peace and the love of Christ. Amen