Brothers and Sisters in Christ, as Jesus so often did let us be in prayer. When you hear the words: "God of Infinite Surprises" please respond with "Hear our prayers."

Ever-Flowing Life, Ever-Flowing Love
Dwelling with us, always and forever,
We have heard and we have known you to be "the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end." From these words we are moved to confess how the smallest things seem to be the end of the world. We find ourselves assuming that what we know and what we see is all that there is. How foolish of us! But now in this moment, mindful of your infinite greatness in time and space, we pray for our brothers & sisters at Nyanyadzi Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. In the World Council of Churches Prayer Cycle we pray for Eritrea and Ethiopia. And from the Kootenay Presbytery Prayer Roster we remember The General Council of the United Church of Canada, its leaders, volunteers and staff and Moderator Mardi Tindall. Still within our own denomination from the 85Anniversary "Making Connections" we pray for Rapid City and Area Pastoral Charge in Manitoba and Riverport Pastoral Charges in Nova Scotia. God of Infinite Surprises...    "Hear our prayers."

We have heard and we have known your word to declare that "the first heaven and the first earth had passed away." We hear in these words your holy acknowledgment of change and transition. And so we are moved to confess those times we do not acknowledge our losses both significant and seemingly insignificant. For some of us it is the loss of the church we knew in our childhood and young adult years; for some of us it the multitude of new technologies and the accompanying feelings of inadequacy, frustration and even fear. Some of us are aware of the loss of the way we raised our children and the expectation our ways would continue. For some of us it is the loss of what our bodies once could do. With humility we ask you to grant all of us Ð as we have need Ð wisdom, patience and a robust sense of humor. Trusting in your new heaven and new earth we include in our prayers those in other places putting their bodies in harm's way including the Peacemakers and peacekeepers serving throughout the world. God of Infinite Surprises...    "Hear our prayers."

We have heard and we have known that "You [God] will wipe every tear from their eyes." Here are prayers for all who weep. Keep us alert to those who need our comforting touch or words or just our presence. This morning we remember the many tears falling for the creatures of the air and the sea suffering and dying in the Gulf of Mexico. We pray for all who are involved in this heart-wrenching disaster. God of Infinite Surprises...    "Hear our prayers."

We have heard and we have known "To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life." Trusting in this promise we pray for all those named in our Prayer List. We also ask for your springs water of life to flow for those we now name either silently or out loud...    ... We pray for those who thirst but do not know you are the One and for those who know but afraid to trust you. God of Infinite Surprises...    "Hear our prayers."

We have heard and we have known your words: "See, I am making all things new." We confess those times when we think and act as if we've learned all there is to learn in our relationship with you. We sometimes stop seeking new insights to be found in your word. Help us to hold true to being disciples — learners, followers of your Jesus. We ask you to give our Church Council and all our leaders the courage to dream your kind of dreams and to trust fully that you are indeed making all things new — including all of us! As we, Nelson United Church, look to the future, hear our prayers for the Reimaging Team as they seek to discern the kind of church you are calling us to be. God of Infinite Surprises...    "Hear our prayers."And now Ever-

Flowing Life, Ever-Flowing Love Dwelling with us, always and forever, hear all your people say together: AMEN!