Praying Together 2021

162 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 love and peace of God be with you! And with your spirit. COLLECT Let us pray that we will follow Christ more closely. (pause) Save us, Lord our God. Help us to take up our cross and follow Christ so that we may be one with him in life and joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 8:34-35 Jesus told the crowd and the disciples to come closer, and he said: “If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me and for the good news, you will save it.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE Trusting in God’s loving kindness towards us, let us pray for the needs of the world. For those who are leaders in the Church: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For self-discipline to let go of what we want: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For courage to follow Jesus even when it is hard: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those who obey God’s law of love: (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 God bless and protect us and bring us to eternal life. 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. Friday Week 23 Ordinary Time 10 September 2021 “You must take up your cross and follow me.”