Praying Together 2021

220 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 have the strength to remain faithful. (pause) O God, source of life, give us the courage we need to stay faithful even when it is hard. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 1:5-9 The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out. God sent a man named John, who came to tell about the light and to lead all people to have faith. John wasn’t that light. He came only to tell about the light. The true light that shines on everyone was coming into the world. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE Walking by the light of Christ, let us pray that Christ will dispel the darkness of the world. For people who suffer from mental illness: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For people trapped by addiction: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For people who are clinging onto their faith: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those who comfort others in dark times: (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 our Light sustain us with hope. 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 1 Advent 1 December 2021 “The light keeps shining in the dark.”