God calls us to be a praying people, so let us quiet our hearts and minds as we offer our praise, our thanksgiving and our intercessions to God. When you hear the words "0 GOD OF HOPE AND PROMISE", please respond, "HEAR OUR PRAYERS".
Wonderful Holy Spirit, we are full of gratitude and love as we turn to you today. All around us are signs of your blessings. As Autumn is upon us we witness the miracles of the changing seasons. The bounty from this year's harvest graces our tables and the shades of gold, red and orange stretch across the landscape. How privileged we are to live in this beautiful area. Thank you, God! "0 GOD OF HOPE AND PROMISE"... "HEAR OUR PRAYERS".
Gracious God, this morning's scripture reading from Jeremiah provides such a lesson for us about hope and faith. We pray that you give us the strength so that we, as your people, never lose sight of the importance of hope in our own lives. We ask for vision, for peace and calm in our lives, letting go of fear, as we travel with hope on life's journey. May this same spirit be passed along to all people throughout the world as we pray and work together for world peace. "0 GOD OF HOPE AND PROMISE"... "HEAR OUR PRAYERS".
Loving God, we ask that the many throughout the world who are suffering be given hope for a better life. We hear about them in newspapers or on T.V. and sometimes we see them face to face in our own community. We pray for those who are starving to death; for those who have no shelter or lack clothing; for those who suffer from mental or physical illness; for those whose human rights are denied; for refugees who have had to flee from their homes; for those in war torn countries and for those who have no faith. Surround them with your love and may they be provided with tools of hope to lead to positive changes in their lives. We ask you to open our ears, our eyes and our pocket books in order to share our bounty with them. "0 GOD OF PROMISE AND HOPE"... "HEAR OUR PRAYERS".
Compassionate God, at this time we remember with joy those who are personally dear to us and we offer our cares and concerns for them. We pray for our families and friends, our neighbours and acquaintances, as well as some who we do not know, and trust that you will surround them with your love and light and give them hope as they face the challenges that lie ahead of them. We offer now the names of those on our prayer list who need your special love and support: Our brothers & sisters at Nyanyadzi Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, Peacemakers and peacekeepers serving throughout the world, and all those named on our Prayer List. ln silence or aloud we offer now the names whose concerns are close to our hearts. "0 GOD OF HOPE AND PROMISE" ... "HEAR OUR PRAYERS".
Constant Friend, we join together as a community of faith at Nelson United Church. We pray for our church, for Christine, David, John and Lois, as well as for all those who volunteer in so many ways. Be with the members who are participating this weekend at the Women's Conference in Naramata. May their journeys be safe and their time there inspiring. We pray also for our Re-imagining team. Today we offer prayers for the leadership at Jaffray United Church, mentioned on the Kootenay Presbytery Prayer Cycle, as well as Belarus, Moldova, Russia and the Ukraine on The World Council of Churches Prayer Cycle. We pray that you might speak to the hearts of all people of varying faiths throughout the world so that they may be filled with hope for peace and justice world wide. "0 GOD OF HOPE AND PROMISE"... "HEAR OUR PRAYERS".
As we continue on-our journey of life, Dear God, we are a people of Hope. We close with a verse from hymn #7 in VOICES UNITED:
"Hope is a star that shines in the night,
Leading us on till the morning is bright.
When God is a child there's joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
And none shall be afraid."
And the people say... "AMEN!"