Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

In serving as a chaplain at a local hospital for a couple of years, I was
called upon numerous times to spontaneously pray aloud.  I found that what
once seemed clumsy and awkward for me became clearly easier with only a
little practice.

I usually pray as though I was sending a personal letter to God, which
usually includes a greeting, message, and salutation.

I try to keep prayers personal by naming names.  I address the Divine Healer
in modern English, avoiding thee's and thine's.  I try to avoid repeating the
same word in the same place, such as starting every sentence with "Father" or
every sentence with "Lord".  I try to address the hopes and fears of the one
requesting prayer.  I try to be very specific about exactly what outcome is
anticipated by the prayer.  And in confidence, I acknowledge the fulfillment
of that outcome.

I try to allow the Spirit to spontaneously supply my words for prayer, though
I have to admit that on occasion praying this way has created some painfully
lengthy intervals of silence.

Peace,
Richard

    I have a real problem with prepared prayers. They always seem too
    much like sermons to me. I will not prepare them nor will I use one
    if I can avoid it. If I am asked to pray in public I will do my best
    and with God helping me it will be fine. If it's not than I will not
    be asked to do this again and that will not be a problem either.
    
    			Alfred

An excellent prayer, which is just as fresh and alive today as it was
when Paul wrote it, may be found in Paul's letter to the Ephesian church:
(Ephesians 3.14-21)

Peace,
Richard

re Note 377.3 by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE:

 3:14  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ,
 3:15  Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
 3:16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his
glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner
man;
 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,
being rooted and grounded in love,
 3:18  May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the
breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
 3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that
worketh in us,
 3:21  Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

In article <377.2-920102-122125@valuing_diffs.christian-perspective>, thompson@cvg.enet.dec.com (Radical Centralist) writes:

|>    I have a real problem with prepared prayers. They always seem too
...
|>    			Alfred
|>
--

I'm with you on this Alfred since I can't but help feel as though
if I'm concerned about preparing the prayer then I'm focusing on the
wrong person or persons (ie myself or the congregation) instead of
focusing on the person for whom the prayer is intended (God).  When I pray
publicly my focus should be on the Lord and the focus of the other folks
should be on praying with me instead of grading how I sound as though
I was giving a report or a presentation or worse yet, entertainment.
Nevertheless, I find that sometimes I have to work extra hard to remember
that I'm praying to the Lord instead of the congregation.

Prepared prayers can work, I just find that it is harder for myself (and
maybe the congregation) to keep the right perspective on the focus of
the prayer.


---
Paul		loptsn::ferwerda
Gordon			or
Loptson		ferwerda@clt.zko.dec.com        
Ferwerda	Tel (603) 881 2221



			

[posted by Notes-News gateway]

    For some, a prepared prayer acts to bring one deeper and deeper into
    the experience of communion and the ceremony of prayer;  perhaps much 
    the way the ceremonies of religious services are designed - to bring 
    one into a closer, deeper experience/relationship with the Divine.  
    
    But prepared or not, a prayer is _brought to life_ LESS by the words,
    and MORE by the intention, and quality thereof, sourcing it.
    Imho.
    
    Karen

Some of us are not public speakers.  Some people freeze up.  The results of
a survey I read not long ago about people's fears indicated that many people
would rather experience all-out nuclear war than to speak in public.

If it wasn't for the prepared prayer, many might be left out of participating
in worship.

I believe there is room for both the impromptu and the extemporaneous in prayer.

Peace,
Richard

                     
    While in Washington D.C. last year, my aunt was telling me that a
    minister asked someone young from the conversation to deliver a(n
    impromptu) prayer.  The young person froze.
    
    Now, the church has a course where they teach people how to pray.  My
    aunt is one of the teachers.  I thought it was a wonderful solution.
    She and my uncle belong to a Baptist church there.
    
    Cindy

    I just stumbled across this string and wanted to comment on the use of
    prepared prayers.  As an Episcopalian I use the Book of Common Prayer. 
    Personally I am very dependent on it.  Maybe because I am not very
    skilled in extemporaneous speaking, I do not do well at spontaneous
    prayer.  I find that I spend too much effort on the words and not
    enough on the thoughts.  Whereas when I search my BCP for just the
    right prayer it becomes a sort of meditation.

    I also tend to be put off when I hear (witness?) spontaneous prayer. 
    Not always, but most of the time.  For me it is just somehow  lacking.

 Z   I also tend to be put off when I hear (witness?) spontaneous prayer. 
 Z   Not always, but most of the time.  For me it is just somehow 
 Z   lacking.
    
    If the spontaneous prayer is for show, then you are clearly right for
    feeling this way.  In the case of a service for example, sometimes
    spontaneous prayer is necessary as the person leading the prayer is
    also doing so on behalf of the others present.  
    
    I lead music at my church once in awhile.  There is a point where I am
    required to give a spontaneous prayer.  I find that my spontaneous
    prayer is essence follows a similar pattern, and therefore it isn't so
    spontaneous anymore.  But regardless, when I am up front and not really
    feeling like my heart is in what I am saying, there are others present
    who may be genuinely echoing in their hearts what is being said, and
    therefore the spontaneous prayer is serving a purpose.
    
    It's funny who we are.  Some feel prayers out of a book are idle
    repetition.  My feeling on this is that in prayer there are many times
    where we repeat what the Psalmists, or the writers of other books have
    said.  I believe that any tool, be it a Commentary, a concordance,
    scripture, or a prayer book, if used with the right heart attitude is a
    good thing!
    
    -Jack