Praying Together 2021

125 Gather Light a candle as a sign of God’s presence and sit quietly. Ring a bell or chime to start the prayer. May the peace of Christ be with you! And with your spirit. COLLECT Let us pray that God will give us the grace to follow Christ. (pause) God, our hope and strength, do not let us falter as we strive to follow your will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the book of Deuteronomy 30:10-12, 14 Moses said to the people: “You must obey the Lord your God and follow all the laws and commands that are in the book of the Law. You must trust him with all your heart and soul. “What I am commanding you today is not too hard. It isn’t out of your reach somewhere up in the sky. You don’t have to ask yourselves, ‘Who will go up to the sky and get it for us? Who will bring it down and tell us what we must do?’ No! What I am commanding is as near as your mouth or your heart. All you have to do is obey.” The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. RESPONSE Because God lovingly cares for all creation we put the needs of the world into God’s hands. For scientists who explore the stars: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For animals who live in the wilderness: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For the protection of rainforests and beaches: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For loving hearts that care for God’s creation: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For the prayers in our hearts today: (pause while students offer their prayers aloud) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. DISMISSAL May Christ the Life create us anew. Amen. May God bless us in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Ring the bell or chime to signal the end of the prayer. Extinguish the candle. Wednesday Week 16 Ordinary Time 21 July 2021 “What I am commanding you today is not too hard.”