Prayers 10 6 2013
*Welcome!
*Redwood Glen Anniversary and Fund Campaign Banquet last night; great turn out from FCBC; thanks for your support of this important effort
*Inquirers Class met today—1st session; if you are interested, it is not too late to come next Sunday, 9:00 in my office
*Church Membership Meeting today, 1:30; Year-to-date update and proposed 2014 church budget for your review
*2014 Canvass materials would be sent out after this afternoon’s meeting and pray that you would consider renewing or making a pledge to the church
*Fall Clean-Up, Saturday, Oct. 26, 8:30—12:00
*World Mission Offering in the October to support ABC missionaries around the world
Prayer Concerns
*Walter Tom
*Tom Wong, more concerns about recurring cancer
*Eugene Louis’ celebration of life dinner, Thursday, Oct. 17, 5:00 at the Hilton on Kearney; contact:
Prayer of God’s People
Faithful God, all praise and glory and honor be yours, now and forevermore. Creator of all, thank you for the gift of life. Sustainer and Redeemer, thank you for inviting us to participate with you in the ongoing renewal of the heavens and the earth.
We are grateful to you, O God, for sisters and brothers in the faith; we remember each other constantly in our prayers night and day. We pray for those who are in greater need for your mercies and grace knowing that we are all in need of prayer. Continue to be with Walter Tom as he regains his health from his accident. Encourage and strengthen Tom Wong as he battles with cancer that leaves him tired and worried. Comfort Betty Louis and her family as we celebrate the life of Eugene Louis who is now with you in eternal life.
We pray for all those with problems not easily resolved, and others who might be served if only someone cared enough to act, and for ourselves, that we might hear your call in our hearts to become your presence in the world.
As a church community, we give you thanks, O God for the continuing blessings that we receive to remain active and vital in Chinatown as well as into the four corners of the world. You have led many dedicated and talented people to this church who have given all of who they are in making of Jesus Christ known. We thank you, Lord for the church leaders who will be presenting the Proposed Budget for 2014 this afternoon that they have the faith to trust you that whatever seems impossible to us is possible with you. We thank you for the missionaries who leave the conveniences and safety of living in the United States and to become ambassadors of hope and renewal in countries far and near. We pray that we would do our part by our support f them through the World Mission Offering.
Lord God, when we have faith in Jesus, we would follow Jesus, obey Jesus and dutifully perform work for Jesus. We pray that by coming to church this morning, we are obediently practicing our discipleship in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ who taught us to pray together, “Our Father…”
The Lord’s Supper
The world is not divided up between those who are burdened by duty and those who are free of it. Anyone who is sensitive and good is burdened by duty. In fact, the world is divided up rather between those who are burdened with duty and are resentful about it and those who are burdened with duty and are not resentful about it. We all have duties to perform.
When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he gave up his life irrespectively of any willingness or unwillingness on his part. His enemies were closing in on him. Thousands of people die violently every day, against their will. There’s nothing special about that. What’s special in Jesus is how he prepared himself to meet that death, namely, by being willing to die without resentment, without putting a price-tag on it, without making anyone feel guilty about it, and with a heart that was warm rather than cold, forgiving rather than bitter and understanding large enough that it didn’t have to demand its due. In the face of bitter duty, Jesus took his life and his love and made them a free gift.
Benediction
God’s steadfast love never ceases.
God’s mercies never come to an end.
Great is God’s faithfulness.
And by your dutiful faith, make these words come true.
Amen.