Praying Together 2021

72 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 On Sunday we will celebrate Mothers’ Day. We remember our mothers with love for the tender way they care for us. Let us pray for our mothers and for the generations of mothers before them. (pause ) You care for us, O God, as a mother cares for her children. Bless, protect and strengthen all the mothers of the world. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:9-14 Jesus said to his disciples: “I have loved you, just as my Father has loved me. So remain faithful to my love for you. If you obey me, I will keep loving you, just as my Father keeps loving me, because I have obeyed him. I have told you this to make you as completely happy as I am. Now I tell you to love each other, as I have loved you. The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them. And you are my friends, if you obey me.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE Gathered as members of God’s family, let us pray together. For a special blessing on our mothers: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For hearts filled with love for all people: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For our friends and family who care for us: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For happiness in our school community: (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. “I tell you to love each other, as I have loved you.” Friday Week 5 Easter 7 May 2021