The Community Gathers to Celebrate
(Leader 1 and Leader 5 should be at microphones in the front of the sanctuary. Leader 2, Leader 3 and Leader 4 should be sitting in the pews, and just shout out their response from there.)
Leader 1: Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"
Leader 2: John the Baptist!
Leader 3: Elijah!
Leader 4: One of the prophets!
Leader 1: Then Jesus asked, "Who do you say that I am?"
Leader 5: "You are the Messiah."
Leader 1: Then Jesus began to teach them about the Son of Man.
Congregation: Teach us, Messiah. Teach us.

Prayer
(The choir sings stanzas of the hymn "Am I a Soldier of the Cross" as a response to the congregation's prayer.)

Congregation: Lord, it is frightening to hear Christ's call. "Deny yourself." "Take up your cross." "Lose your life…