Dear church,
Even as we celebrate our 60th anniversary, let us join our hearts to pray:
Almighty God, Maker of heaven and earth and Father of all mercies. We come humbly before You today, acknowledging that we are but unworthy sinners before Your holy presence.
Yet, according to Your great mercy and glorious purpose, You chose us before time to be recipients of your wondrous grace. Once we were blind, now we can see. Once we were lost, now we are found. Once we were not a people, now we are Your people. We praise You for Your redemptive work that is being revealed in our lives.
O Lord, we believe that it is You that have established us as a local church. You have intentionally planted us in this time and space, to be professing disciples of Your Son, so as to fulfill Your purpose for this world we live in.
Therefore we pray…
In this fallen world… save us from the slippery slope of compromises and keep us from straying away from Your ancient path. We pray that you will sanctify us with Your Word and root us firmly in Christ Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Lead us to embrace and celebrate Your perfect design for our lives. Grant us courage and steadfastness to choose Your way in times of hostility and persecution.
In this sin-broken world… help us to be a grace community where we welcome fellow sinners into our midst, regardless of sinful expressions. Help us to be a church that is without masks, where we dismiss shame, release forgiveness and experience restoration. Help us to be an authentic community where sin is treated as it is, nothing less and nothing more.
In this lost world… remind us that we are but sojourners. Keep us from becoming preoccupied with the temporal things of this world. Set our heart to live in the light of eternity. Set our hearts aflame for the Great Commission. Remind us that we are to be salt and light of the world, a city that is set on a hill, that we are disciples of Christ called to make disciples for Christ in this world.
Lord, unless You build the house, we labor in vain. So we come before You, asking that You will let Your kingdom come, and let Your will be done in us.
For Jesus’ sake we pray this. Amen.
By Rick Toh, Lead Pastor (YCKC Bulletin 26 October 2014)