Praying Together 2021

48 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 Let us pray that God will send blessings upon us as we prepare for the Easter celebrations. (pause) God of love, send your Spirit to fill us with hope and lead us to eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 16:2-6 Very early on Sunday morning, just as the sun was coming up, the women went to the tomb. On their way, they were asking one another, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance for us?” But when they looked, they saw that the stone had already been rolled away. And it was a huge stone! The women went into the tomb, and on the right side they saw a young man in a white robe sitting there. They were alarmed. The man said, “Don’t be alarmed! You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who was nailed to a cross. God has raised him to life, and he isn’t here.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE The three days from Holy Thursday evening until Easter Sunday evening are the holiest days in the Christian year. Tonight, on Holy Thursday, we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. On Good Friday we remember Jesus’ death, and on Easter Sunday we joyously celebrate Jesus’ resurrection to new life. Let us pray the ‘Glory Be’ together. You may like to use a video clip to teach the prayer. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 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. “God has raised him to life.” Holy Thursday 1 April 2021