Open a bible, light a candle beside it, and pray the gathering prayer below.
LEADER: All-embracing God, you hold us in being.
ALL: We find you around us, within us, and between us.
LEADER: You are a God of here and now as well as there and then.
ALL: We find you around us, within us, and between us.
LEADER: We look for signs of your presence in our lives.
ALL: In the events of our lives and the happenings in our history.
LEADER: We come to hear your Word and wrestle with its meaning for us today.
ALL: We live in your Spirit, who will not let us go.