Praying Together 2021

4 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 God be with you! And with your spirit. COLLECT Let us pray that God will watch over us and protect us. (pause) Almighty and merciful God, watch over your family and keep us safe in your care, for all our hope is in you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 1:21-27 On the Sabbath Jesus went into the Jewish meeting place and started teaching. Everyone was amazed at his teaching. He taught with authority, and not like the teachers of the Law of Moses. Suddenly a man with an evil spirit in him entered the meeting place and yelled, “Jesus from Nazareth, what do you want with us? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are! You are God’s Holy One.” Jesus told the evil spirit, “Be quiet and come out of the man!” The spirit shook him. Then it gave a loud shout and left. Everyone was completely surprised and kept saying to each other, “What is this? It must be some new kind of powerful teaching! Even the evil spirits obey him.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE We place the needs of the world before God, who lovingly cares for all people. For the troubled who seek rest: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those suffering mental illness: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For the broken who seek healing: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For refugees who seek a home: (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 the Lord look upon us with kindness and give us peace. 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. “What is this? It must be some new kind of powerful teaching!” Friday Week 3 Ordinary Time 29 January 2021