For the Sake of the Gospel

God of Boundless Goodness: We have come to this place this day to worship you with our songs, with our words, with our gifts, and with our whole hearts. We are reminded that our discipleship decision involves more than what we bring this day to the altar; it calls us to a place where a cross that is ours alone must be picked up and carried. This, more than anything else, is why we need the community of your church. Strengthen us, we pray, not just to carry our own cross, but to help sisters and brothers carry their crosses as well. In the name of the one who bore his cross for us. Amen. (Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9)