Praying Together 2021

42 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 God will keep us faithful. (pause) Father of all that is good, keep us faithful in serving you for to serve you is our lasting joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 25:37-40 Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask him, “When did we give you something to eat or drink? When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear or visit you while you were sick or in jail?” The king will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE Gathered before God our Father and Creator, let us pray for those who work in the world. For the kindness to welcome strangers: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For the courage to help those in trouble: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For the generosity to share with the needy: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For the insight to recognise Jesus in others: (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. Wednesday Week 5 Lent 24 March 2021 “Whenever you did it for any of my people, you did it for me.”