Praying Together 2021

199 Week 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 Today we remember in prayer all our friends and relatives who have died. We ask God to take care of them. (pause) God of mercy, open the arms of your love to welcome our friends who have died and let them live with you forever. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 4:13-14, 18 My friends, we want you to understand how it will be for those followers who have already died. Then you won't grieve over them and be like people who don't have any hope. We believe that Jesus died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings Jesus back again, he will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died. Encourage each other with these words. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. RESPONSE With trust in God’s kindness and mercy, let us pray for healing in the world. For those who are sick or dying: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those who have lost a loved one in death: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those who care for sick people: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For kindness to comfort others in distress: (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 Christ the Way open the gates of heaven. Amen. 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 All Souls 2 November 2021 “He will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died.”