Let us prepare our hearts and minds to enter into thanksgiving. When you hear the words, "You call us to change lives", please respond with "Hear our prayers".

Spirit of all and everything; we come together on this Sunday to praise your name, to hear your word and to be reminded that you are the "I AM". We thank you for giving us this day that holds so much possibility; the possibility to ask for forgiveness, to act with a sense of love that speaks of who you are to those around us, to offer words of encouragement when and where they are needed, and to give generously of whatever we have so that someone else may not need. You are the way of our journey, the star that shines brightly in the night that will lead us home to you. "You call us to change lives"...    "Hear our prayers"

Source of compassion and understanding; You see the hardships of the people around the world, the devastation due to natural disasters, the hopelessness that people feel when they do not know where their next meal will come from or if they will see the sunrise of another tomorrow. Fill our hearts with compassion so that we may respond through prayer and through the gifts you have given us to relieve the hunger both of heart and stomach of others in countries far away from us. We thank you for the wonderful diversity of gifts you have given each and everyone of us; for those of us who can go into emergency situations and be able to offer immediate help through water, health and food programs. They are truly the instruments of your love. With this same sense of compassion we thank you for the peace makers and keepers around the world who offer up their own lives so that others may have life. Again, a remarkable sacrifice of love! "You call us to change lives"...    "Hear our prayers"

Generous and merciful spirit: Hear the cries of hurt and sadness here at home as well as around the world. Remember now the names of those whom we name before you from our Prayer List. We offer up as well, those individuals who we personally hold dear either aloud or in the silence of our hearts...    ... In our World Council of Churches prayer cycle, we pray for the countries of Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino. As well, we pray for our brothers and sisters at Nyanyadzi Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. Closer to home, we pray for the well-being of Zion United Church in New Denver. "You call us to change lives"...    "Hear our prayers"

Transformative spirit: We travel with you as sojourners, residing temporarily in a way of being with you until new understanding enfolds us and we move on again into your mystery. Thank you for the opportunity to change, to turn around and really see and to accept your forgiveness so that we joyfully walk the path with you. Through the gift of communion we change ourselves to become as you — the "I AM" and thus become the "We are"...

And we say together "Amen".