During the prayers, when you hear the words, "God of Spring", please respond with "Hear our Prayers".

Gentle god, we greet you with gratitude for this day, for the caring embrace of this community of faith, and for the glorious place we are blessed to live in.

As we begin this Season of Spring, we are aware of all the newness in creation — new life springing forth from buds on branches, and from roots and bulbs beneath the earth. New bird songs fill the air, as they embrace the warmth and joy of this season. And new fragrances and colours greet us each day as we step forth in this new season. As nature responds to longer days of light and warming sunshine, we too are nourished by hope and inspired by the newness of spring, the yearly cycle of rebirth, the reassurance that out of the dark days of winter come brighter days. We stand in gratitude for all this newness. We stand in awe of the mystery of change as we experience it in your creation and in ourselves.

Yet we also know that the sunny skies we revel in today, and the easy winter we have enjoyed, may mean a dry summer, with risks of drought and forest fires. Knowing this, we acknowledge that you are a god of mystery and of paradox. We learn that we must accept dark with light, sorrow with joy, fear with anticipation, despair with hope. Our teacher in this lesson is Jesus. As we move through Lent, in parallel with Jesus' movement to the Cross, we strive to understand and accept all that you give us Ð both the gifts and the challenges. You ask us to give our lives also in service to our communities and our families. Help us to discern your will for us. Help us to open our hearts to your nourishment, your guidance, and your love, so that we may serve abundantly and joyfully. For, on this day and every other, we need your love to help us do the work we are called to do in the world. As we strive to live in faith, we know you are within us, beside us, and all around us. God of Spring...    "Hear our Prayers".

Gentle God, we are nourished by the hope of Spring, and guided by your love. We need your constant strength to help us face personal and global challenges with hope and with the knowledge that we can be fruitful, that we can act with love and for justice. We are grateful for others who do your work in the world. In the Kootenay Presbytery, we pray today for Trinity United Church in Creston. May they find joy and hope in building a community of faith together. In our worldwide prayer cycle, we pray for the countries of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. May they too feel the joyfulness of a new season, the potential for positive change and justice in their countries. We pray for peacemakers and peacekeepers serving throughout the world. And their families who await their safe return. And we pray as always for our sisters & brothers at Nyanyadzi Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. We stand in solidarity and hope with them.

And today, we pray especially for Jamie MacBeth, as she returns to Kenya to continue her work with young people there. May she travel safely and find joy in her work. Near to home, we hold in our hearts the concerns of people close to us, people who are part of our congregation, families and community. We pray forall those named in our Prayer List. In this quiet moment we offer the names of others whose concerns are close to our hearts...    ...God of Spring...    "Hear our Prayers".

Loving spirit, god of many places and names, we hear the words poet Mary Oliver, in her poem, "North Country":

In the north country now it is spring and there
is a certain celebration. The thrush
has come home. He is shy and likes the
evening best, also the hour just before
morning; in that blue and gritty light he
climbs to his branch, or smoothly
sails there. It is okay to know only
one song if it is this one. Hear it
rise and fall; the very elements of your soul
shiver nicely. What would spring be
without it? Mostly frogs. But don't worry, he

arrives, year after year, humble and obedient
and gorgeous. You listen and you know
you could live a better life than you do, be
softer, kinder. And maybe this year you will
be able to do it. Hear how his voice
rises and falls. There is no way to be
sufficiently grateful for the gifts we are
given, no way to speak the Lord's name
often enough, though we do try, and

especially now, as that dappled breast
breathes in the pines and heaven's
windows in the north country, now spring has come,
are opened wide.

God of the joyful thrush, herald of Spring, these words remind us to walk mindfully through our world, to make each day a tribute to your love and your vision for a commonwealth of all beings on earth. Keep before us the beauty of your creation, and our responsibility to live lightly and carefully. In all we do, God, help us to live and act with bold kindness, and with knowledge of the teachings and inspiration that Jesus gave us.

And the people say... "Amen"