Prayers of the Community

A Prayer By Tom Little
October 14, 2007

Lord of eternal patience, please accept our prayers this morning,
Help us to see past our narrow selves, our tendency to place ourselves in the centre,
Help us to be still to your wondrous presence,
To remember that you are the creator of all we see, hear, and feel.

We thank you Lord, for all you have given us,
And we are grateful for your invitation to explore the mystery of life through new eyes.

Help us to see You in all that surrounds us, Lord,
In hazy fall mornings when you burn away the mist
to reveal the glorious colours of autumn,
In heart-stopping sunsets that ask us to take a moment to see your hand in all creation.

Help us too, on grey and rainy days, to remember you are hard at work, with silvery drops, creating the lush greenness we love so much.

We see your holy spirit Lord, whether gazing into campfires or hearth fires,
remembering our ancestors and all our relations on earth
who have pondered these glowing embers for countless centuries,
felt your warmth, drawn from what you have created on earth,
seen the dancing light that is merely one speck of the endless
web of life you’ve provided.

Ingenious God, help us to see your creative spark in ourselves and others,
Motivate us to follow that light in finding ways to live in peace with one another,
Sharing what you’ve given us, nurturing spirit for a healthier world,
A greener world that reflects our desire to find new ways to take less, and give more,
In honour of You.

Bless our Environmental Team as they prepare for the upcoming conference, Green Church, Green Home, Families for Earth here at Canadian Memorial November 3rd.

Help us raise our awareness Lord, of the needs of others. Bless this coming Wednesday – The UN International Day to Eradicate Poverty, when we are asked to pause to envision a community, a country and a world without poverty. Help us stand with millions around the world to engage in the fight against poverty and inequality. Help us, O Lord, to refuse to accept more excuses in a world where 50,000 people die every day as a result of extreme poverty, as the gap between rich and poor widens every year.

Almighty giver of good, we ask your blessing for all of us who may be struggling with mental health issues or addiction issues, and especially Lord for those who are burdened by both. We ask your healing powers to be at work with them, and those who are caring for them. We ask the same Lord, for those of us battling physical ailments, and those of us dealing with the loss of loved ones.

We remember the passing of Reverend Ivan Cummings, formerly of Ryerson United Church and a leader in B.C. Conference. We ask you Lord, to be with Avenell and Aubrey Tuttle, as Avenell rests in hospital after recent heart failure. Please comfort Muriel Bamford who is recovering from a broken shoulder and Eleanor Jackson, who is recovering from a broken leg. We also remember, Hazel Thomson, Lord, who is in respite care while Glenda and Stephen are away. 

Bless our sister Celia Muncaster, Lord, who recently left us for the Sunshine Coast. And bless Susan Dumoulin, our pastoral care minister, who is enjoying an important time of renewal. Please return her to us refreshed and ready to resume her important duties.

And now, let us take a few moments to pray for those we know in need of help……..

….. and now Lord, as we prepare to go out into your world for another week,

In Jesus name, we pray the prayer he taught us: 

Loving God, in whom is heaven,

Hallowed be thy name…