Praying Together 2021

135 Gather Light a candle as a sign of God’s presence and sit quietly. Ring a bell or chime to start the prayer. The Lord be with you! And with your spirit. COLLECT Saint John Vianney was a holy priest from a country parish in France. Let us pray for our priests. (pause) God, our shepherd, bless our priests with generous hearts and guide them in their pastoral care. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah 55:10-11 The rain and the snow fall from the sky. But they don’t return without watering the earth that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat. And that’s how it is with my words. They don’t return to me without doing everything I sent them to do. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. RESPONSE In communion with all creation, let us pray for the needs of the world. For the protection of our environment: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For the good care of all God’s creatures: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For rainfall where there is drought: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For wisdom to hear the word of God and live it: (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 the God of hope fill us with joy. 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. “They don’t return to me without doing everything I sent them to do.” Wednesday St John Vianney 4 August 2021