Opening Prayer:
No one is far from you, O God. We come together in joy – mindful of the burdens we carry, the hurts and sorrows we have. We come together in gladness – never forgetting God’s love. We come together with praise – for each other and those who assist us on this journey.
No one is far from you O God and we call upon your power in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel reading: Matthew: 10:28-33 - Do Not Fear Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly
Father."

Intentions
For community and political leaders to model justice and right living.
For families to nourish and foster their children.
For teachers to respect and call forth the goodness and wholeness in children.
For all adults to enrich the lives of children.
For all the needs of the world.
Any special intentions……….
The Lord heals our wounds and strengthens us in our weakness; let us pray as Christ has taught us: Our