Praying Together 2021

45 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 As Holy Week begins, let us pray that God will be close to us. (pause) All-powerful God, strengthen and protect us in our weakness and keep us in your love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 15:33, 37-40 About noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until around three o’clock. Then Jesus shouted and died. At once the curtain in the temple tore in two from top to bottom. A Roman army officer was standing in front of Jesus. When the officer saw how Jesus died, he said, “This man really was the Son of God!” Some women were looking on from a distance. They had come with Jesus to Jerusalem. But even before this they had been his followers and had helped him while he was in Galilee. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE Gathered in the love of God, let us pray that the light of Christ will fill our world. For the courage to stand up for what is right: (pause) We pray as one. Gracious God, hear our prayer. For those who are alone: (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 will be baptised this Easter: (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 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. “This man really was the Son of God!” Monday of Holy Week 29 March 2021