Praying Together 2021

185 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 we will be aware of God’s nearness to us in our daily lives. (pause) O God, our protector, in your loving care for us guard us from every danger. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel 34:11-15 The Lord says this: “I, the Lord God, will look for my people and take care of them myself. As a shepherd looks for sheep that have wandered away, I will search for my scattered people. I will rescue them from all the places where they went on that dark and gloomy day. I will bring them back from the foreign countries and protect them on the mountains, in the valleys, and wherever they settle. My people will be like sheep grazing and resting in good pastures and on Israel’s mountains. I, the Lord All-Powerful, will lead them there and watch over 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 those who have wandered from God: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For peace in countries where there is war: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those who are searching for a home: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those who work to keep us safe: (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 care keep us from all harm. 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 28 Ordinary Time 13 October 2021 “I will search for my scattered people.”