1. The Prayerful Face of Mercy 1 Week 1

2. 2 ReaderWe gather in the name of the Father AllWho speaks to the hearts of his children when they spend time with him in prayer.

3. 3 ReaderWe gather in the name of the Son AllWhose prayer transfigured his whole being - radiating the glory of the God whom he loved - and drawing him into the company of Moses and of Elijah in eternity and inspiring his friends to desire the same.

4. 4 ReaderWe gather in the name of the Holy Spirit AllWho flooded Jesus with the fullness of grace and offers to fill our hearts and minds with love, joy and peace.

5. 5 ReaderWe gather… All(making the Sign of the Cross) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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7. 7  When have you had a sense of going beyond ordinary time and space? A timeless moment or sense of being part of the world or family of humanity in a special way?  How does prayer put you in touch with the spiritual greats?  What do you think the disciples made of the experience of seeing Jesus so transformed by his prayer?

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9. 9  What kinds of prayer do we use—as individuals and with others?  How might praying with the Word of God help us to become more like Jesus?  How does celebrating the Eucharist and the other sacraments help us in our spiritual growth?

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11.  Who are the favourite saints of the people in the group? And why?  How might we be called to be saints to others—to use our strengths to help others in their weakness?  How might we be called to help other people to realise that they have strengths by being willing to show our weaknesses? 11

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13.  What do I thirst for?  What do the people around me seem to thirst for? 13

14. 14 Lord Jesus Christ, your prayer opened your whole being up to the fullness of God’s love and your body radiated the power of his mercy. Teach us to thirst for you more deeply - and to quench that thirst with your Word, with the sacraments, with silence, and time spent in your company. We ask this in your name. Amen.

15. 15 © 2016 Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle Image: Contributor designpics © 123rf.com Department for Spirituality Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, St Vincent’s Offices, St Cuthbert’s House, West Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE15 7PY Telephone: 0191 243 3302 Email: spirituality@diocesehn.org.uk