Praying Together 2021

172 Gather Light a candle as a sign of God’s presence and sit quietly. Ring a bell or chime to start the prayer. The love of God be with you! And with your spirit. COLLECT Let us pray that God will keep us faithful. (pause) Father of all that is good, keep us faithful in serving you for to serve you is our lasting joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 9:38-40 The disciple John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to force demons out of people. But he wasn’t one of us, and we told him to stop.” Jesus said to his disciples: “Don’t stop him! No one who works miracles in my name will soon turn and say something bad about me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE Rejoicing that our God is near, let us pray for the needs of the world. For those who do good works in the Church: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For love in times of disagreement: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For justice when people aren’t treated fairly: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For peace throughout the world: (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 God come to rest in our hearts and minds. 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. Friday Week 25 Ordinary Time 24 September 2021 “Anyone who is not against us is for us.”