Prayers of the People May 25, 2008
|
|
Let us quiet our hearts and minds and open our selves to healing prayer. On hearing the words "God of Faithful Service", please respond with "Hear our prayers". Wise and Loving God, we are called to serve, to be Your presence in the world. Help us to heed that call and give us the courage to go forth in Your name. Encourage us to find you amid the people and events of each day. Grant us spirit and faith so that we may live in such a way that all we meet will know that You are the centre of our lives. God of Faithful Service... "Hear our prayers". Gracious God, we give you thanks for the faithful work of the women of the United Church over many years. We are especially grateful for the service of all our Nelson United Church Women, who work tirelessly, patiently and willingly to weave together the threads of this, our unique community of faith. Be with us as we strive to move forward into our future, working toward our Mission and Vision. Recognizing the unique gifts that each one of us has, help us to work together to further Your work in the world. God of Faithful Service... "Hear our prayers". Peace-giving God, help us all to work toward a peaceful world and to care for all who inhabit Your world. Bless and protect all your people who are striving to achieve peace and justice throughout Your world. Support and sustain all peacekeepers and their families. Assure our brothers and sisters at Nyanadzi Methodist Church in Zimbabwe that they are not alone. Provide strength and courage to all those who have been devastated by recent earthquakes, cyclones, flooding and wildfires. In our Ecumenical prayer cycle today, we remember the countries of Botswana and Zimbabwe. In our presbytery prayer cycle, we pray for those at BC Conference meetings, those who are recognized in ministry and those who are preparing to begin new offices with our Conference and Presbytery. May this time together be a time of discernment, encouragement and grace. God of Faithful Service... "Hear our prayers". Compassionate God, we pray for all who are grieving, distressed, in need or afraid. Touch their hearts with your love so that their flagging spirits may rise with new encouragement for a better day tomorrow. Today we hold in our prayers all those named in our Prayer List. We pause at this time to voice the names of others, either silently or aloud, for whom we are concerned ... ... God of Faithful Service... "Hear our prayers". Benevolent God, thank you for all you have given to us. We acknowledge your generosity with humility and gratitude. Help us to use our gifts and talents well, for the benefit of all. Help us to appreciate and celebrate the gifts that are so generously shared by those in our community of faith. AMEN
|