Let us offer these our prayers to God for each other and for the world. When you hear the words "Lord, we are blessed...", please respond with "Lord, hear our prayers."

Oh Lord God almighty we praise you for being the source of all things and our creator. You are the first and last in all of our concerns. Your will will be done and we your faithful ask to be your servants in carrying out your will here on earth. Daily we see the horrific suffering of people from all over the world brought to us on TV and radio in the comfort of our homes. We are the blessed ones that you have graced with a stable country, an ample source of food, fresh water and warm clothing. Even the poorest among us escape the misery of so many others in this world. We are so grateful to you for all you provide for us. We are blessed we are truly blessed and we praise you for all the grace you favour us with. Lord, we are blessed...    "Lord, hear our prayers."

Lord Jesus, you are the way, the truth and our pathway to eternal life. For many of us the only help we seem to be able to give to those throughout the World who are in need is some of what we have. We give up our gifts to those in whom we trust. Guide them to use our gifts wisely to bring as much comfort to those so desperately in need. Our gifts in themselves are not nearly enough and we can give more but we are unsure of what to do. We ask for your wisdom to help us do the right thing. We often don't see the good our gifts bring to those in need and have faith in you to direct them to where they do the most good. The attention of the world is focused on the good people of Haiti and their dire circumstances. We ask for your grace to be shown to these people through the gifts the world is bringing to them. We ask that Haiti's future sees an end to the devastation and their community begins to prosper. Let, the world not forget other places in the world where pain and suffering exist where the generosity of the world is needed as well.

In our prayer cycle we pray for the peoples of Ireland and the United Kingdom. You have answered the prayers from so many in the past to bring peace to Ireland. Let that peace not waiver in the economic struggles that Ireland now faces. Keep the United Kingdom strong steadfast and a friend to all countries in need. Strengthen their efforts to bring peace to other parts of the world. Bless the people and governments of Canada, Britain and especially the United States for their out pouring of aid, affection and concern for those not only in Haiti but in many other countries of the world. We pray for your blessing and grace for our brothers and sisters at the Nyanyadzi Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. We pray for the continued improvement in Zimbabwe's government and the economic health of that country. Bless the peacemaker and peacekeepers that carry out your will to the best of their abilities in their attempt to keep people safe and to restore law and order to the countries they serve in. Be a constant comfort to them, their family and friends when their loneliness and sacrifices become unbearable. Lord, we are blessed...    "Lord, hear our prayers."

In our blessed surrounding Lord, we enjoy so much. Let us not forget our blessings come from you and from all those in our community that carry out your good work and make our communities the wonderful places they are. Keep us strong so that we might be a blessing to others in the world that need our gifts. In our community let us be your servants in bringing food, hope and joy to those who need our help. Encourage and open the hearts of those who are strong among us. Give them the power to empower those who can't find their way in life. We pray for the Robertson Memorial United Church in Nakusp. We wish them strength and fellowship in their good work in your name Lord. Guide us all who follow you, deepen our appreciation of your truth, and renew us with your spirit. We thirst for your touch. We cry out for your presence in our hearts and souls. We plead with you not to be a stranger in our lives but an ever present comfort. Here in this congregation of your faithful we have concerns for others we know and who live among us. We pray for your comfort and healing to be brought to all those named on our Prayer List. Lord we pray in your name for those we mention out loud or hold quietly in our hearts. Hear their names and bring the blessing we wish for them to them. ...    ... Lord, we are blessed...    "Lord, hear our prayers."

We standing before you now are humbled by the weight of our failures to live out your word fully in our lives. We seek you out in our hearts. We have placed in your charge in this holy sanctuary our prayers for ourselves and others in the world. See in our prayers that what we want for others is what we so gratefully enjoy. Let us work with you to do what we can to bring that about. We do not exalt our righteousness but humbly ask for your forgiveness. O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of us here today. Be with us always. Look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls. To you Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we praise you, now and for ever.

And, we say together, "Amen".