Praying Together 2021

208 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 peace of Christ be with you! And with your spirit. COLLECT Let us pray that we will become more like the people God wants us to be. (pause) God of compassion, teach us to be patient and understanding with others and to be signs of your love and mercy in the world. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 7:1-5 Jesus said to his disciples: “Don’t condemn others, and God will not condemn you. God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them. You can see the speck in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the log in your own eye. How can you say, ‘My friend, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you don’t see the log in your own eye? You’re nothing but show-offs! First, take the log out of your own eye. Then you can see how to take the speck out of your friend’s eye.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE With trust in God’s kindness and mercy, let us pray for the needs of the world. For the wisdom to see our own faults: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For eyes to see the best in other people: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For respect and forgiveness among friends: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For peace and harmony among nations: (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 grant us holiness. 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. Monday Week 33 Ordinary Time 15 November 2021 “Don’t condemn others, and God will not condemn you.”