Let us quiet our hearts and minds as we prepare for a time of reflection and prayer. I invite you to join in the prayers of the people and when you hear the words "As we follow in the footsteps of Jesus", please respond "Hear our prayers".

Creator God, we turn to you this morning full of praise and thanksgiving, grateful for the longer daylight hours which prompt us to have hope that the warmth of the sun, the Springtime blossoms and other signs of new life are approaching. These beautiful Lenten, Spring-like days remind us of the many blessings we have inherited and our hearts are filled with love. light and gratitude. As we follow in the footsteps of Jesus...    "Hear our prayers".

Loving God, as we continue on our Lenten journey this week, following in the footsteps of Jesus, we are reminded by the Psalmist that you are our light and our salvation and so we move on with confidence that you are guiding and lighting our way. This truly is a journey of faith. We are not afraid knowing that you are with us. May fear, perplexity and distress leave us with the assurance that we are wrapped in your loving arms. As we follow in the footsteps of Jesus...    "Hear our prayers".

Comforting God, We love your world and the people in it but realize that many people throughout the world live in darkness and fear. Many are faced with pain, loneliness, addictions, hunger, disabilities and broken relationships. Many are struggling with physical, mental or spiritual challenges. We ask that you enfold them in a shawl of love and light and strengthen them on their journey. We offer to you the names on our Prayer List. We take a moment now in silence or aloud to offer the names of others near and dear to us who are in our thoughts and prayers....    As we follow in the footsteps of Jesus...    "Hear our prayers".

God of Compassion: This morning we pray for all people throughout the world. May the light of your love touch them and may fear, hatred and anger be replaced by peace on earth. Today we offer prayers for France and Germany, named in the World Council of Churches prayer cycle. At this time we offer our special prayers for peacemakers and peacekeepers serving throughout the world. We are very much aware of the gifts they give of themselves to help make our world a safer place. In these days of Lenten prayer we continue to envision that ideal global community. May love, light, peace and justice be in the hearts of all people. As we follow in the footsteps of Jesus...    "Hear our prayers".

Loving Parent, we are so aware of your presence at Nelson United, which this week is included on the Kootenay Presbytery Prayer Cycle. Our Community of Faith is blessed to have the leadership of David, Christine, John and Lois. We are also blessed by the many members who provide lay leadership in a variety ways. This morning we offer special prayers for Christine as she begins her sabbatical leave to pray, study, explore, and travel. We surround her with love and light as she follows her dream, and look forward to her safe return to our faith community. Surround us all with your love as we journey together in faith. We also send loving thoughts to our brothers and sisters at Nyanyadzi Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. As we follow in the footsteps of Jesus...    "Hear our prayers".

0 God of All Life, you have been present to us in the wonders of all creation. You are present also in your son from Galilee whose earthly life was an example to us and whose death and arising awakened a fresh new hope. We know your presence, too, in that still small voice within each of us. Accept our thanks and praise for all you have done for us and help us to open our eyes and ears in order to be good stewards in your world. And now, as we bring our prayer to a close, I share with you a poem from the angelfire.com website:

As God is Love
so we must love
to do the Image right;
As God is Joy
we must employ
the Happiness of Light;
As God is Peace
we must release
the Fear our hearts embrace;
As God is One
so we are One
with all whom God creates.