Prayers 10 14 2012
*Welcome!
*ABC/Oregon annual convention at FBC, Alameda beginning this Friday night and continuing until Sunday night; registration forms are in the vestibule; I’ll be bringing the message on Saturday night in case you might want to come, 6:30—no fee for this
*Fellowship Group Chairpersons luncheon today sponsored by the CE Board to plan for the 2013 new year, 12:45 in Fellowship Hall
*WMO, help us to reach our goal—3 Sundays to go
*Fall Inquirers Class begins next Sunday, 11:30 following 10:20 worship; see me; will also have an online course with 3 college students
*2013 Pledge materials were mailed to your home this past week; additional copies are in the vestibule; plan to attend the All-Church Worship Pledge Sunday, two weeks from today, Oct. 28th, YMCA
*Men’s Fellowship Retreat, Nov. 2-3, only three weeks away; register with Nelson Wong, Redwood Glen
Prayer Concerns
*Kenley Mew and Steven Ng is Cambodia for missions
*YA Retreat this weekend in San Rafael
Prayer of God’s people
Heavenly God, we open our hearts to you today in prayer and devotion. Speak for us, sing with us, and join in our prayers, so that in our coming and in our going we are yours.
As your faithful church in the world, we pray that our vision and plans to make the Good News of Jesus Christ known in the world in 2013 would receive your favor and advance your kingdom work. Lead us to make commitments of our time, talents, and our tithes to support the 2013 canvass in order that FCBC would remain strong and effective in the years to come. As others who trusted their lives in you in the past, teach us to trust our existence in your hands today because all things are possible in your name.
We pray for missions around the world especially when we ourselves may be unable to go. Be with Steven Ng and Kenley Mew and protect them as they work along with others to bring vital medical help to the people of Cambodia. Stir our passion for missions as we give generously to the World Mission Offering that support over 100 American Baptist missionaries overseas.
Lord, you are the answer to our questions in life. May we touch the surface of you who seem unknowable. May we come to know you as you reveal yourself to us. We thank you this morning for your words, which force us to ponder your meaning for our lives. We thank you that some questions have no easy answers, but require us to turn our attention away from the passing distractions of the day and enter with you into the truly eternal. For those who have been thinking about following Jesus and committing their lives as disciples, we lift them up in prayer and encourage them with all their questions to seek a personal relationship with Christ. We thank you, O God, for your permanence, and for our place in your plan.
All these things we pray, including the young adults who are on retreat this weekend, the chairpersons of our many fellowship groups that invite friends and visitors alike to warm Christian community, we ask of Jesus who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
Benediction
May the presence of God sustain you through the tough questions and the tougher answers, so that you will follow Jesus bravely, knowing that nothing is impossible with God. Amen.