Spirit of Power, God of our ancestors, Creator and Redeemer of all life, we pray to You, come and grant us peace rooted in love.
Come, open our minds, free our souls, bless our bodies, and fill all our relationships with grace. We ask this because You have promised to help us, as illuminated in the vision of Revelation—
You come to reshape this world into a new creation: a place of health, dignity, security, and even joy.
God, we pray that You inspire us to move toward this world of courageous justice. We pray for that new kingdom—where love is more precious than treasure, brighter than the sun and moon.
May that love flow around the tree of life; may we be blessed by You again, freed from the burdened soul, to enjoy freedom.
We will gather by that river, bathe in the high rivers along the road, and make every place where nature and humanity meet a sanctuary of Your creation.
Yes, Lord, we will gather by Your rivers, under Your tree of life, and listen to the life of that tree, the rivers, and all living beings.
We pray in the holy name of Jesus, in the way of peace rooted in love, Amen.
Leader: From the beginning, the voice that called us from nothing still whispers to us, saying:
Congregation: Let there be light!
Leader: In the wilderness, the voice that came down from heaven to nourish our lives still calls today, saying to us:
Congregation: Let there be light!
Leader: In our journey with this God full of mystery and love, that voice calls to us every morning:
Congregation: Let there be light!
Leader: God who created the stars and galaxies, Lord who sows and watches over the earth, we give thanks—
Congregation: For You still come personally among us, amazing us, laughing with us, and weeping with us.
Leader: Your comfort surrounds us, Your love shines through all You have created, illuminating in a dark world.
Congregation: May this beauty and peace reflect among us, becoming a sign of this sacred gathering.
Leader: Let us together welcome the true light that illuminates all things, and enter worship in His name.
Congregation: In the name of Christ's presence, we pray together, Amen!
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Lord, You once showed us that city in revelation—not an empire's iron towers and highways, not forests locked behind fences, but—a river flowing from the throne, light dancing within, trees standing on both banks, leaves shining with healing words, fruit after fruit feeding a thirsty world.
But the cities we have built are not like this. They have no tree of life, no river flowing from the holy throne. We have sealed the earth's breath with concrete and steel, pressed the soil into silent foundations, leaving roots homeless, silencing the streams.
We once had another summer, when we could hear the whisper of wind through the treetops, find cool rest in the shade of trees.
Like distant ancestors' whispers, echoing in our ears.
We once waited for rain by evening fields,
sat under starlight, sharing sweet breath together—
now, these voices are fading,
as if the whole world has forgotten it once breathed.
Lord,
if there is still a green leaf in this world,
do not cover it;
if there is still a drop of sweet water in this land,
do not let it dry up.
We repent—not because we have seen clearly,
but because we can no longer not see.
We no longer pretend innocence,
for the dust on our hands is the price of our breath.
Forgive us,
like leaves absorbing sunlight,
turn our repentance into healing fragrance,
spreading in the wind, toward the thirsty land.
Comfort the wounded land,
and comfort us who have awakened—
We are willing to be replanted by the banks of Your river of life,
growing into branches of peace, bearing fruits of righteousness.
We believe,
as You have said—
"All things can be renewed."
Lord,
we repent with hope, praying in the dust of ruins,
waiting under the tree of life—
nailed to the cross yet still bearing fruit.
In the holy name of Jesus Christ, we confess and pray.
Amen.
| Role | This Week (5/25/25) | Next Week (6/1/25) |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday Preaching | Pastor Zicong Li | Pastor Zicong Li |
| Pianist | Teacher Esther Chang | Teacher Esther Chang |
| Children's Sunday School | Sunday School Teachers | Sunday School Teachers |
| Greeters & Ushers | Sister Zhang Li | Sister Zhang Li |
| Brother Xu Mingqing | Brother Xu Mingqing | |
| Sister Xue Zhenli | Sister Xue Zhenli | |
| Sister Wang Jing | Sister Wang Jing | |
| Sister Guo Rui | Sister Guo Rui | |
| Audio/Video Control | Sister Stella Wu | Sister Stella Wu |
| Brother Philip Hwang | Brother Philip Hwang | |
| Brother Cui Jingyi | Brother Cui Jingyi | |
| Brother Fu Jiajie | Brother Fu Jiajie | |
| Lunch Fellowship | Coordinator: Sister Lin Ruixiang | Coordinator: Sister Xie Shuzhen and Youth Fellowship (High School) |