Praying Together 2021

70 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. Alleluia! And with your spirit. Alleluia! COLLECT Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers, opened schools for poor children. Let us pray for those who work with the poor and disadvantaged. (pause) Loving God, you hear the cry of the poor. May we always respond with love to those in need. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 14:23-26 Jesus said to his disciples: “If anyone loves me, they will obey me. Then my Father will love them, and we will come to them and live in them. But anyone who doesn’t love me, won’t obey me. What they have heard me say doesn’t really come from me, but from the Father who sent me. I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE Walking by the light of Christ, let us pray together. For teachers who lovingly guide their students: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For students trying to understand something new: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For children who are unable to go to school: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those who teach others about God’s love: (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 joy of the Spirit fill our lives. Alleluia! Alleluia! 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 5 Easter Edmund Rice 5 May 2021 “The Father will send the Spirit to take my place.”