Loving God, open our hearts and minds that we may feel your presence in our midst as we pray. In this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, give us the wisdom to recognize you in each other and to realize that new hopes, new friendships and new ideas are born wherever Christians gather together. When you hear the words, "Faithful and Loving God", please respond with "Hear our Prayers."

Spirit of Life, a new year and a new decade has begun. Give us the confidence to stride forward into this new decade with joy so that we may live each day to the fullest, thankful for your presence in our lives. Help us to face our problems with courage and give us strength to overcome them. Illuminate the world for us that we may see its goodness and teach us to appreciate the small things in life that make us happy — the pristine whiteness of new fallen snow, a bird singing in an otherwise silent world, the reassuring smile of a friend, the comforting warmth of our homes. We pray for eyes to see and hearts to feel the abundance of your gifts. Faithful and Loving God... "Hear our Prayers."

Healing God, comforter of all who suffer sickness, sorrow, oppression, hunger and hopelessness, be with us as we pray. Empower us all with the strength to overcome our fears, nourish the bodies of those who are ill both physically and emotionally and help us remember to draw close to you in our darkest hours. We hold up to you in prayer our brothers and sisters in the Nyanyadzi Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, peacekeepers and peacemakers deployed throughout the world. We especially remember the families of those who have lost their lives in this mission. Hear us also as we bring forth the names of those people named on our Prayer List who need our special Prayers. We also pray for those who are close to our hearts and we name them aloud or silently...    ...Faithful and Loving God... "Hear our Prayers."

God of Wisdom and Justice, we pray for the countries and continents from which we come and from which our neighbors come, their struggles and accomplishments, their suffering and their hopes. We pray for those influenced by fanatical intolerance, that they might be moved by the sight of the suffering they create to change and move toward peaceful resolutions. In our ecumenical prayer cycle today, we pray for the people of Cyprus, Greece and Turkey. We pray also for the people of Haiti who have suffered a devastating earthquake this week. We pray that you will give them strength to overcome their losses and rebuild their country. Faithful and Loving God... "Hear our Prayers."

Merciful God, we pray for our church in all its variety and its ongoing story of faith. Guide us to play our part in the well being of your earth, to be loving, forgiving, serving and encouraging. Help us to be a compassionate society concerned with the welfare of all your people. We pray for those who are without a home, without a family, without a job and without a voice. Today in our Presbytery prayer cycle, we pray for Louise Skibsted, retired minister in Kootenay Presbytery. Faithful and Loving God... "Hear our Prayers."

We are truly grateful for your loving presence. Guide us by your word. In this the first year of this decade, may we live with integrity, careful to preserve what you have given us so freely — a rich and bountiful earth. May we in faith, be committed to truth, love and goodness. In the now familiar words of Minnie Louise Haskins, as we stand at what she calls the "Gate of the Year" she says, "Go out in the darkness, and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way." May our faith and trust in you help us to do this.

And together we say, " Amen."