Prayer of God’s People
The heavens are telling your glory, mighty God, and the firmament proclaims your handiwork. Day by day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. All creation speaks to us without words and moves us without sound. We feel the warmth of the sun and are reminded of your care.
From generations past, we have received your law. You call us away from the idols that distract us. Help us to break away from the idols of privilege, legalism, and traditions that give us false trust from knowing you as the true God. Lead us to see that whatever we have accumulated as securities and gains, that when we compare these treasures to your gift of Jesus Christ, everything else looks pale. Because of Christ, we come with our confessions of times when we have not loved you with all our hearts, souls, strength, and mind. Forgive us, dear God, and renew our relationship with you today.
Gracious God, speak to our hearts as we come into your presence with needs and concerns. When we see for ourselves the pain and suffering of friends and family members, we find ourselves shaken and tentative in knowing what to do. Remind us that often times, it’s not what we might do but it is more how much we can trust in you to do for us. O God, do miracles and grant comfort to Milton Dong’s mother and to Clara Mar, Diana Ming Chan’s friend. Again, reassure us that your presence is constantly with us and as each day brings the rising morning sun, so too, your presence is always there for us to count on.
Today we pray for the ongoing ministry and witness of our church in Chinatown and our sister church, the Sunset Ministry. May we remain faithful as our forefathers and foremothers were for almost 120 years ago. Bless us as we celebrate the independence of our church plant and wish them God’s sustaining blessings. Challenge us in the coming weeks, as we do our part in the stewardship canvass to support the ministry of our church in 2000. May we feel God’s calling in our lives to serve and give generously to the mission of Christ’s church.
We pray for the upcoming planning and envisioning that will take place as we review and evaluate the ministries of Christian education and youth ministry at our church. Lead us to think and imagine creatively in order to address new directions for ministry as well as meeting current needs. Be with our teachers and leaders today as they continue to serve you faithfully, teaching and modeling the love of Christ in their hearts to children and youth. Thank you God for the many resources and gifts that you have equipped us with for ministry in this city.
Finally, we come to you today, O God, through faith in Jesus Christ. We are amazed at the faithfulness to you love that Jesus lived. We are awed by the power of the resurrection to transform lives, including our own. We want to know Christ in our daily lives. We press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus who taught us to pray together, Our Father…
Offertory
Jesus said, “Those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?” (Mk. 8:35-36)
Offertory Prayer
We know, O God, that we are most truly free when we lose our wills in you; help us to gain this freedom by daily surrender of our lives to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Communion
As our ancestors for almost 120 years ago also took bread and this cup and commemorated the Lord’s Supper as the way Jesus Christ did in that upper room 2000 years ago, let us today do the same. Using almost the same words that Jesus taught his disciples, our forefathers and foremothers in faith said to each other,
On the night that our Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed, he took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said to his disciples, “This bread is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Luke said, “This is the joyful feast of the people of God. People will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God.”
Cup—Susan
Blessing
May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. (Phil. 4:7)