Praying Together 2021

23 Week Gather Light a candle as a sign of God’s presence and sit quietly. Ring a bell or chime to start the prayer. The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. COLLECT Let us pray that the special time of Lent will help us to lead better lives. (pause) Wise and loving God, by our Lenten prayers and actions, may we discover your wonderful gifts of mercy and grace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah 11:1, 5-8 The Lord says this: Someone from David’s family will someday be king. Honesty and fairness will be his royal robes. Leopards will lie down with young goats, and wolves will rest with lambs. Calves and lions will eat together and be cared for by little children. Cows and bears will share the same pasture; their young will rest side by side. Lions and oxen will both eat straw. Little children will play near snake holes. They will stick their hands into dens of poisonous snakes and never be hurt. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. RESPONSE Because God lovingly cares for all creation we put the needs of the world into his hands. For the care of creation: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For peace and harmony in the world: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For honesty and fairness in our leaders: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For healing and forgiveness in our families: (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 bless us and protect us and bring us to eternal life. 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. Thursday Week 1 Lent 25 February 2021 “Honesty and fairness will be his royal robes.”