Praying Together 2021

88 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 God of peace and grace be with you! And with your spirit. COLLECT Mary, pregnant with Jesus, went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was also having a baby. Let us too praise God with joy. (pause ) God all-powerful, you have done great things for us and with all our heart we praise you through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 1:39-45 Mary hurried to Zechariah’s home, where she greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby moved within her. The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. Then in a loud voice she said to Mary: “God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have. Why should the mother of my Lord come to me? As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me. The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE Watch and listen together to the son g “Hail Mary - Gentle Woman” by Carey Landry. (Video by John Rodgers). You will recognise the words of the first part of the song, as they are the words of the Hail Mary prayer. DISMISSAL May God’s motherly love surround us. 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. “ God has blessed you more than any other woman!” Monday The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 31 May 2021