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Elders Duties - Prayers of the People

Background

The ministers are keen to have more participation in worship from the elders. One thing which elders can do is to prepare and lead the Prayer for Others. Many elders are already assisting in this way.

At the Elders’ Gathering on 10 February 2010 it was decided that elders would prepare and lead the Prayers for Others at each of the three Sunday morning services, beginning 21 February 2010.

For the 8.00am service, this will be the rostered Communion elder.

For 9.00am and 11.00am, this will be the rostered Vestry elder.

The minister rostered for each service will contact the elder concerned well in advance to give the theme for the service. The wiki is also programmed to send reminders to those mentioned on the Elders Rosters page (note: this only works if your home page includes your email address).

If you are unable to prepare and lead these prayers for any reason, please arrange a replacement – another elder or someone else from the congregation. Because the wiki reminder program uses the current roster page, if you do make a swap, you are asked to update the Elders' Rosters page appropriately.

Useful resources for preparing prayers are:

1. PreparingAndLeadingPrayersForOthers - a document prepared by RossMackinnon and discussed at Elders, see EldersMinutes20100714.

2. “Seasons of the Spirit” – GWUC subscribes to this. This resource is based on the Lectionary we use and provides useful ideas for worship throughout the year. The folder is in the Office. Relevant pages may be photocopied.
3. News papers.

4. http://www.textweek.com/ - click on the day concerned and look at “Online Worship and Liturgy Resources”. This website provides material from around the world, including Australia.

5. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/wpstarters.htm - each week, a different Church of Scotland minister provides ideas for prayers and worship for that Sunday.

6. http://www.ballaratanglican.org.au/uploads/Intercessions_Worship_Services.pdf

7. http://www.worship.ca/docs/l_pray.html

Remember to include time for prayer for those listed in the prayer book in the foyer.

Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer (unless it is Communion).

A useful tip – 100 words = 1 minute of time, approximately.

Ross Mackinnon
Elders’ Convenor
11 February 2010

Exposition

PRAYER IS

• Movement toward God i.e. trying to help the congregation move towards God.
• For others - it is not a confession prayer or a thanksgiving prayer as these have already occurred earlier in the service.

TYPES OF PRAYER - these can be characterised as -

• Litany; see "Uniting In Worship"
• Bidding; Opens with ..'Let us pray for [insert here the subject of this part of the prayer], followed by a short silence that is ended by the words 'Lord hear us' to which the congregation responds 'Lord, hear our prayer'. Repeat the above for each of the focus items.
• Pastoral; [freestyle]
• Eyes Open; [this is used where the congregation is asked to observe an object or screen image]
• People's Ideas; when sourcing the ideas in a large space repeat what has been proposed and then do not repeat again. Give a summary of the ideas and bring the prayer to a conclusion.
• Prayer Requests from the Prayer Book; [having regard to privacy issues it is probably safer to just read the names; if the entry is not ticked ignore]

RESOURCES:

• "Seasons of the Spirit" - there is a hardcopy and a CD in the church office.
• Liaison with the officiating minister
• Websites
• Church of Scotland
• Google search for "Prayers of the People"
• Newspapers [ a source of contemporary issues and events]
• Lectionary reading for the day
• Books

Whatever source[s] used take the opportunity to adapt to your own style and comfort.

DO's

• Prepare!
• Language - use your own words
• When - know when and in which service your Prayers For Others will occur
• Where - know from where you will lead the prayers
• Microphone - speak into the microphone [adjust its position as necessary]; as a guide listen for your own voice coming back through the loudspeakers
• Upwards and Outwards - keep your head up as much as possible, imagine you are addressing someone in the back row

DON'Ts

• Don't 'welter' i.e don't make a production of it
• Don't preach
• Don't get bogged down in details
• Don't mix the types of prayer
• Don't assume the congregation will automatically know when and with what to respond, inform them what is the key and what is the required response. Place the first key early in the prayer.
• Don't use personal details

FINALLY - FEEL FREE TO BE CREATIVE!

The Elders identified in the RosterEldersCurrent as vestry or communion elder (8am) will be sent an automatic email reminder on the Wednesday before their rostered duty. This email will contain a link to this page, as well as a group within the Port Phillip East presbytery that the Presbytery has identified should be included in our prayers. This calendar is available at the PresbyteryPrayerCalendar2010.

Past Prayers

JohnHurst has included his prayers here as a possible resource for others - feel free to add your own!

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