Praying Together 2021

157 Ring the bell or chime to signal the end of the prayer. Extinguish the candle. 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 Pope Gregory is called the ‘Great’ because of his outstanding leadership in Church organisation and liturgy. Let us pray for our pope and bishops. (pause ) God of light and truth, give our pope wisdom and courage and set our bishops on fire with the Spirit. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 7:32-37 Some people brought to Jesus a man who was deaf and could hardly talk. They begged Jesus just to touch him. After Jesus had taken him aside from the crowd, he stuck his fingers in the man’s ears. Then he spit and put it on the man’s tongue. Jesus looked up toward heaven, and with a groan he said, “Effatha!” which means “Open up!” At once the man could hear, and he had no more trouble talking clearly. Jesus told the people not to say anything about what he had done. But the more he told them, the more they talked about it. They were completely amazed and said, “Everything he does is good! He even heals people who cannot hear or talk.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE Gathered as brothers and sisters in God’s family, let us pray for the needs of the world. For doctors and health care workers: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those who seek healing from disease: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For a sense of wonder at the works of God: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For courage to tell others about Jesus: (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 peace of Christ guide our way. 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. “Everything he does is good!” Friday St Gregory the Great 3 September 2021