Praying Together 2021

159 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 love and peace of God be with you! And with your spirit. COLLECT God has graced us by adopting us as sons and daughters. Let us pray in the freedom of God’s children. (pause) God our Father, keep us safe from death and disaster and draw us into the circle of your life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the book of the prophet Hosea 11:3-4 The Lord says this: I took my people by the hand and taught them to walk. I was the one who healed them, but they did not know it. I was loving and kind, and I made them want to come to me. I freed them from slavery and tenderly fed them. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. RESPONSE Knowing God’s care for us, let us pray for the needs of the world. For Christians of every culture and language: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those who need God’s healing: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For mothers caring for babies and toddlers: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For wisdom to ask for God’s help: (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 God’s tender hand support us. 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. Tuesday Week 23 Ordinary Time 7 September 2021 “I took my people by the hand and taught them to walk.”