Prayers 11 30 2008
*Welcome to the First Sunday of Advent!
*2009 Canvass—please submit your 2009 pledges today in time for next Sunday’s Membership Meeting, 1:30
*MMBB Thank You Offering—today is the last Sunday to make this gift
*Christmas Craft Faire, 1:00 in the Fellowship Hall—holiday crafts, making sugar cookies, buying Lanna Coffee to support missions, buy bread to support the Senior High project, lots of fun.
*Don Fong—Staff Christmas Love Gift
*Welcome visitors!
Prayer Concerns
*Laura Dare and Tom Feng welcome a new baby girl, Kira Dare Feng, 5 lbs, 10 oz, 19 in., into the world on Tuesday, November 25th! Pray for Laura who has high blood pressure
*Violence, terrorism, and deaths in Mumbai, India
Prayer of God’s People
Loving God, as we enter into this Advent season, help us to remember what is truly important in our lives. In his last parable, Jesus instructed us to “Stay Awake” and to “Be Alert.” Yet we have become complacent and forget these admonitions to be awake. Keep our eyes open to your arrival and inspire us to live as if each day were our last day. Let our focus be on preparing our hearts and homes for your coming—not on the frenzy of shopping and decorating. Help us to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life.
We bring to you the great struggles of our world, where people are quick to go to war as nations or quick to solve problems in their neighborhoods or homes with violence. We think about the terrible events in Mumbai this past week and pray for peace. We do not come to you expecting you to simply make all the pain and sin go away, but rather seeking help to receive the Holy Spirit you offer us that we may be your body on earth, bringing healing, telling truth, spreading hope. Create us again today, blessed Lord, as the body of Christ in our homes, our church, our workplaces and schools, our cities and nation.
Thank you for encouraging us to be bold in our prayers, for reminding us that you love us deeply as the one who brought us life. We give thanks for the safe birth of Kira Dare Feng to Laura Dare and Tom Feng. We look forward to welcoming this newest one into our church family and pray that Laura will feel well soon. We lift up this morning those who are ill, who mourn the loss of loved ones, who struggle to make peace with painful memories of past Christmas seasons. May their hope be in you, and the promise of your return. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who is our Lord and Savior and taught us to pray together, saying “Our Father…”
Benediction
The time is coming when God will call us to account.
Be alert, stay awake, be watchful, serving faithfully day by day.
With hearts full of gladness, we will do what is right.
With great joy, our lives will show forth our faith.
Go with God’s peace.
Amen.