Praying Together 2021

232 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 Filled with gladness at the birth of Jesus, our Saviour, let us pray. (pause) Almighty God, as we celebrate the birth of your Son may we share with each other the joy and peace of the Christmas season. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 2:8-14 That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord's glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. But the angel said, "Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. This very day in King David's hometown a Saviour was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying in a manger." Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God. They said: "Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God." The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE As the year draws to an end, let us spend a quiet moment in prayer, thanking God for keeping us safe through the year and for all the blessings we have received. With Christmas only a week away, let us watch a short video called “The Story of Christmas (Jesus and the Shepherds) ” by Saddleback Kids. DISMISSAL May the peace of God be with us, now and always. 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. Friday 17 December 17 December 2021 “A Saviour was born for you. He is Christ the Lord.”