Praying Together 2021

164 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 peace of Christ be with you! And with your spirit. COLLECT When we make the sign of the cross, we remember that God saves us and gives us life. Let us pray that the life of Christ will rise up in us. (pause) Almighty God, you turned Jesus’ death on the cross into the new life of the resurrection; turn our sorrow into joy. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Colossians 1:18-20 Brothers and sisters: Christ is the head of his body, which is the church. He is the very beginning, the first to be raised from death, so that he would be above all others. God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son. And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. RESPONSE Rejoicing in the presence of God, let us pray for the needs of the world. For all who serve and lead the Church: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those who are suffering or dying: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those who visit the sick and elderly: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those who have turned back to God: (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 the peace of Christ dwell in our hearts. 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. “Christ is the head of his body, which is the church.” Tuesday The Exaltation of the Holy Cross 14 September 2021