Praying Together 2021

20 Week Gather Light a candle as a sign of God’s presence and sit quietly. Ring a bell or chime to start the prayer. The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. COLLECT The bishop’s chair is a symbol of his leadership which unites the local Church. The chair of Saint Peter, first bishop of Rome, is a sign of our unity around the world. Let us pray that we will be one in love. (pause ) O God, by the power of your Holy Spirit, draw together the rich gifts of different peoples, languages and cultures into the unity of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 16:15-19 Then Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus told him: “Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! You didn’t discover this on your own. It was shown to you by my Father in heaven. So I will call you Peter, which means ‘a rock.’ On this rock I will build my Church, and death itself will not have any power over it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE We are all one family with God as Our Father. Let us now join in saying together the prayer that Jesus taught us: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. When children are still learning the Our Father you may wish to use a video clip to present each line of the prayer slowly. DISMISSAL May God bless us and protect us and bring us to eternal life. Amen. 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. Monday Chair of Saint Peter 22 February 2021 “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”