God of challenge and blessing..."Hear our prayers."
Gracious God, source of all life, you dwell beyond us and within us and you call us to gather as a community of faith. Empower us to turn our worship into witness; to reflect by word and action your love and justice in our world. Bless us now as we gather our thoughts in prayer and be with us in our deepest longings and concerns. In words, and in sighs too deep for words, we know that your loving presence surrounds us and accompanies us every moment of our lives. God of challenge and blessing... "Hear our prayers."
Holy One, you remind us that we are part of a family of faith. Help us to celebrate the diversity of spiritual gifts within our congregation and in the wider United Church family. We celebrate our brothers and sisters in faith in Kootenay Presbytery and especially hold in prayer, this day, Keith Simmonds who serves in ministry with the Communities of Faith pastoral charge in Rossland, Trail, Beaver Valley and Salmo. It is encouraging for us to remember that we share ChristÕs ministry of care and service with others near and far and so we offer prayers of blessing for our brothers and sisters in the Nyanyadzi Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. God of challenge and blessing... "Hear our prayers."
Loving God, you know better than we the needs and concerns of our lives. Hear the concerns we voice and those unspoken prayers that reside in the depth of our hearts. May your healing presence and comfort be experienced by all those named on our Prayer List.
We also pause to remember others whose needs and concerns are close to our hearts. ... ... God of challenge and blessing... "Hear our prayers."
Holy One, we give thanks for the dedication and faithfulness of the men, women and children of this congregation and celebrate the legacy of the past and the nurturing of new beginnings. Help us to see with eyes of faith and to respond to God's call with renewed vitality and sense of purpose. We join with Christians around the world on this day to hold in prayer the people of Costa Rica; El Salvador; Nicaragua; and Panama. God of challenge and blessingÉ "Hear our prayers."
God of grace, we are grateful: for all the people who bless and enrich our lives; for the challenges of living together creatively and cooperatively; for your call to learn and grow together in faith and to work for peace and justice in our world. Open us to the depth of your love and grace that we might know ourselves, and others, as beloved in your sight. Remind us that we all have important gifts to offer in your service. God of challenge and blessing... "Hear our prayers."
Eternal God, in miraculous and wondrous ways you are present and active in our lives. Help us to perceive your presence in the unfolding of our lives and, like Mary and Martha attend to the persistent promptings of your spirit that we may understand your guidance for us in new ways. We give thanks for the strength and unity of our Christian faith and so with enthusiasm we offer our prayers to you and with one heart and voice we say together...
Our Father, who is in heaven,
Hallowed be your Name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.