Praying Together 2021

180 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 grace and peace of God be with you! And with your spirit. COLLECT Let us pray that we will recognise God’s presence in our world. (pause) God of love, open our eyes to see your hand at work in the splendours of creation, in the beauty of human life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians 1:3-5 Brothers and sisters: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from heaven! Before the world was created, God let Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. RESPONSE Rejoicing in the presence of God, let us pray for the needs of the world. For thankful hearts to recognise our blessings: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For the care of all God’s creation: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those who have nowhere to call home: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For peace and harmony in 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 the Spirit sustain 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. Wednesday Week 27 Ordinary Time 6 October 2021 “Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children.”