Continuing The Conversation: The Worship of God at Christ Covenant – Part I: Praying Together

We recently had dinner together as a church followed by open discussion in small groups  about new directions for our worship of God at Christ Covenant.  I’d like to continue that a bit in light of what I learned, and to share with those not there.

Praying Together

If prayer is like breathing in the life of a believer, then Praying Together – Corporate Prayer – would be like breathing for the Church assembled.  It should be a part of every gathering.  It should be God-focused, biblical in content, expressive of the life and needs of those gathered and intelligible to all.

At our Sunday morning worship services at Christ Covenant, I expect Praying Together to take three general forms:

• Leader Praying – When a single person voices prayers on behalf of the entire congregation.  Example: Prayers of the People, Prayer for Illumination before sermon.
• Congregational Praying – When the entire congregation prays together with one voice.  These are prayers that are written out in the bulletin or projected on screen so all can pray together.  Example: Lord’s Prayer, Prayer of Confession.
• Personal Praying – When each person in the congregation is given opportunity to “voice” their own prayers to God.  This might be a moment of silence, time when individuals can express a prayer or even a moment to share a prayer request.

My aim would be to provide a rich and meaningful variety of prayer settings that would be accessible to all present, and even teach and empower our personal prayer lives through the week.  Praying Together should help is pray more faithfully when we are apart.

Through the course of my ministry, I have been deeply enriched by the literature and practice of “Concert of Prayers,” especially with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and David Bryant.   Such Concerts of Prayer are a favorite part of our gatherings as a Presbytery and the General Assembly in the EPC.  Another great resource in my considerations here has been The Lost Art of Praying Together by EPC church planter James Banks. 

Additional Posts To Follow:

• Participatory Singing
• “TED Talk” As Sermon Structure
• Something Bigger Than Ourselves
• The Regulative Principle in the 21st Century