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PREPARING AND LEADING PRAYERS FOR OTHERS
SOME IDEAS AND TIPS
WHAT IS PRAYER?
Melbourne monk, Michael Casey, describes prayer as “movement towards God”. That is, when we pray, we move towards God. When we lead prayer, we help the congregation move towards God.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PRAYERS FOR OTHERS?
The Prayers for Others are not prayers of Confession or Thanksgiving. They are prayers for people and situations in need and this should be their focus. We bring the needs of others to God to ask for help in alleviating these needs. While we should pray for our own members in need, we must remember to pray for people and concerns outside our congregation.
TYPES OF PRAYERS FOR OTHERS
Litany
These are brief petitions with responses. For example:
Loving God, we pray for the whole church that it may show clearly your radical and boundless love in word and deed.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of all nations, we pray for those who govern the nations of the world, that they may use their authority wisely, kindly and peacefully.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Litany style prayers can be found in Uniting in Worship.
Bidding prayers
These are like a litany, but are directed to the congregation (not God) and include silence. For example:
Let us pray for the peace and stability of all peoples and for the leaders of all nations.
SILENCE (count slowly and silently to 15)
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for those who suffer from hunger, sickness or loneliness, that the presence of Christ may bring them health and wholeness.
SILENCE (count slowly and silently to 15) Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Pastoral style
These are freestyle prayers which expand a theme. For example:
O God, you have blessed us with the gift of life and a world to live in. We pray for all those who work to protect the environment – indigenous leaders and communities, farmers who use good conservation methods, Landcare groups, agricultural scientists, national parks officers, and home gardeners. Help us to support all who work to protect your creation that we may pass on an unpolluted world to those who come after us.
Eyes open prayers
These are prayers where the congregation keep their eyes open to see projected images or displayed objects which are used to illustrate the points of the prayer. For example, if praying for the homeless, the projected image of a homeless person, or displaying an actual rug, would be an appropriate visual focus.
People’s ideas
Ask the people to make suggestions as to who we should pray for. Repeat each idea clearly so that the whole congregation has heard it. When all the ideas have been given, simply sum them all up with a “wrap-up” prayer. For example:
Loving God, you have heard us name individual people in need and other areas of concern. We bring all of these to you, knowing that you hear our prayers. Remind us that you have no hands now but ours and that we must now to do our bit to help all the people and concerns we have named today.
If you like, you can take the suggestions offered and weave them into a prayer, but this is not necessary as it is largely repeating what has already been said.
Prayer requests
It has become our custom to finish our Prayers for Others by praying for the people whose names have been written in the Prayer Request Book in the Foyer. All that needs to be done at this point is to briefly introduce these names and then slowly and clearly say the names in turn and then pray for assistance in helping these people. For example:
Loving God, we bring to you now the needs of the people known to us and whose names have been written in our Prayer Request Book... Mary Macnab We pray that each of these people may know your presence with them. Remind each of us to do what we can to help the people we have prayed for.
Thomas Fields
Janet Gould
Ann Venn, etc
If a reason has been given for including the name in the Prayer Request Book, that may be included after the name (or not, as you see fit.) Do not include any names for which permission has not been given — i.e., names without a tick in the permission column.
RESOURCES
Seasons of the Spirit
Our congregation subscribes to these resources which offer ideas for preparing worship. They include Prayers for Others.
Websites
Two useful ones are:
(a) Bruce Prewer’s prayers on Textweek—http://www.textweek.com/
- Click on the day you want.
- Scroll down to Prayers, Prefaces, Litanies, etc
- Click on Resources: Based on the Revised Common Lectionary. Prayers, Collects and Litanies by Bruce Prewer, Uniting Church in Australia.
- The Prayers for Others (Intercessions) are found towards the bottom of the page.
(b) Suggestions from the Church of Scotland on http:// www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship
- Click on the Weekly Worship.
- Click on the Month you want.
- Click on the Day you want.
- Click on Prayers
- Scroll down the Prayers section to the Prayer of Intercession..
It can be helpful to Google “Prayers for Others”.
Newspapers
Local, State and National newspapers are a good source. Collect items or headlines and weave these into prayer. Another idea is to read out a headline and then turn it into a litany. For example:
(Headline) Thousands killed in landslide in Peru. We pray for all who are suffering as a result of this landslide and pray for all those who are helping to rescue those in distress.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Lectionary
Check the readings for the day and discern themes from them which can be a basis for prayer. For example, the story of the Good Samaritan could lead to a prayer for those who are physically abused and also for people who go out of their way to help people in need.
Books
Good books of prayers appear from time to time. A couple of possibilities are: David Adam (British) - Radiance of His Glory: Prayers for the Church Years A B and C, published by SPCK. Janet Nelson (Australian) - Let us Pray: Intercessions, published by Harper Collins.
Adapt
If you find a prayer that doesn’t quite fit or material that has good ideas in it, feel free to adapt.
BASIC STRUCTURE OF PRAYERS FOR OTHERS
Traditionally, Prayers for Others include prayers for:
The Church
That is, the Church in all its forms and levels — e.g., a congregation, a neighbouring church or churches, our Presbytery, Synod and Assembly, the world-wide church, ecumenical bodies such as the National Council of Churches, the Christian Conference of Asia or the World Council of Churches, etc. You don’t have pray for all of these bodies at once!
The world
For example, events of the week around the world
National and Local issues
Australian, Victorian and local issues “The Sick” This includes not only those sick in body mind or spirit, but also people who are grieving or victims of trauma.
The Departed
It is not our tradition to pray for those who have died. However, we can give thanks for those who have preceded us in the faith. If it is the anniversary of the death (Feast Day) of a famous Christian, then it is appropriate to conclude the Prayer for Others with thanks for their life, example and witness.
DOs
Prepare
This should go without saying! Preparation should be done prayerfully.
Language
Use language with which you are comfortable. Use concrete images rather than conceptual language. Avoid “Church-speak” and difficult theological terms and concepts.
When
Know which day and which service you are preparing for. Know clearly whereabouts in the order of service you will be leading.
Where
Will you lead from the lectern or from down among the people in the body of the church?
Microphone
Speak INTO it. Listen for your own voice coming out the speakers. If you can’t hear your voice, the congregation can’t hear you either. Don’t expect the microphone magically somehow to project your voice on its own. Adjust the microphone if necessary.
Upwards and Outwards
Keep your head up and speak outwards. Remember, you are speaking directly to the person in the back seat. If you keep your head down, your voice will be lost.
Slowly, slowly, slowly
Speak slowly at all times, but especially when using a microphone and in a large space. Don’t gabble.
DON’Ts
Welter (400 MAX)
Don’t make a welter of the exercise. Keep your prayers to a maximum of 400 words (4 minutes). Fewer than 400 words is even better. Short, pithy prayers are more effective than long, rambling ones. If prayers are too long, the congregation will tune out. Besides, God must get tired of being battered with words!
Preach
Do not preach to the congregation. You are leading the Prayers for Others, not delivering another sermon.
Awesome Details
Avoid excessive details (again, God needs a break!) For example, if you are praying for war-torn countries, do not feel obliged to list every country in trouble. Keep things simple and brief.
Mix Patterns
Don’t mix styles of prayer in the one prayer. For example, if you are using the litany model, stick to that for the whole prayer.
Assume Responses
Even if you are using standard responses, do not assume that everyone in the congregation will know them. When using responses, begin your prayer by telling the congregation that the prayer will be responsive. Then tell them what the response will be. For example:
When I say, Lord, in your mercy, please respond Hear our prayer.
Repeat that, just to make sure they have all heard. Don’t wait a long time before the first response—use it early. Feel free to invent your own responses, but keep them brief. Long responses are hard to remember.
Likewise, if you will be using silence in your prayers, warn the congregation beforehand.
Personal details
Be sensitive with details when praying for individuals in the congregation.
FINALLY
Aunt Nellie
When praying for people in need, do not leave it all to God and do not give the impression that God won’t act unless we ask Him/Her. Tony Morwood’s comments in his book, God is Near page 64 are relevant in this regard:
There is clearly a place for what is called Prayer of petition — the prayer that asks for God’s grace and favour. In many cases, though, a little attention to our attitudes and the way we frame our prayers could make a great difference. Take, for example, the case of Aunt Nellie who is very sick. A typical prayer asks God to “be with” her or “grant her a quick recovery”. While that type of prayer can be most rewarding for Aunt Nellie and those who pray it, it runs the risk of (a) indicating that God is not active unless we ask, and (b) leaves it all to God. An alternative form of prayer could be along the lines, “God of life. You are always lovingly present to us and Aunt Nellie. We pray that in her sickness she may have a deep awareness of your presence with her and be strengthened by it. We pray for a quick recovery from illness, and pray, too that we will help her with our love and kindness.”
Framework
All of the above are suggestions only and we hope they are helpful. However, don’t feel constrained by them. Be guided by the Holy spirit and feel free to use your own creativity!
RossMackinnon
Glen Waverley Uniting Church
13 September 2023