Pacific InterChristian Community. The Prayers of the People Tips for Prayer - Leaders

What is highly valued in leading prayers?
Whose prayers are gathered in the Prayers f the Peple?
Whose prayers are fr the wrld?

Transcription

1 1 Pacific InterChristian Cmmunity The Prayers f the Peple Tips fr Prayer - Leaders Dear Friends, Yur participatin in leading prayers fr thers is greatly valued. Yu are welcme t make use f the sample prayers belw fr ideas. Prayers written fr the cmmunity belng t everyne, and needn't be smething new. On the ther hand, we are encuraged t pray frm the heart, and t pay clse attentin t current issues, situatins and persns we can supprt thrugh ur prayers. Please feel free t cntribute yur prayers as a gift t thers wh may take n the task f leadership. One easy way t d this is t send them via t the Chair f the PIC Wrship Team at gcmckee@shaw.ca With thanks, Pacific InterChristian Cmmunity Wrship Team

2 The Prayers f the Peple Tips fr Leaders A nte n Inclusive Language. Praying tgether inclusively brings healing t peple's hearts including urs! PIC takes being inclusive seriusly. W e try t bserve ur cmmunity s cnsensus abut using gender-inclusive language in wrship. This desn t mean we can t ccasinally call Gd Father r call Jesus Lrd, but we d try t expand the variety f images we use fr the lving presence f the divine. A bit f backgrund. In a real way, all f wrship and all f life is ur prayer. Our specific prayers in wrship just help us t fcus ur cnsciusness. The lng prayer (r pastral prayer ) th that sme remember frm childhd came frm the Prtestant Refrmatin f the 17 Century. It was cmpsed arund the acrnym ACTIS: Adratin, Cnfessin, Thanksgiving, Intercessin (prayers fr thers) and Supplicatin (prayers fr urselves.) The Liturgical Renewal Mvement has since inspired cmmunities t divide this lng prayer int several shrter and mre fcused prayers. Each f these shrter prayers invites ur attentiveness in a particular way, and is generally ffered at a particular pint in the flw f wrship. The flw f prayer in cmmunity wrship. The sequence f smaller prayers in the liturgy f the wrldwide church ges like this: The Opening Prayer (Adratin) expresses jy and trust that Gd will help us in mending the wrld. This prayer is ften ffered in a frm called a cllect which cllects ur lngings and hpes. Since the structure f a cllect prayer can be useful in preparing the Prayers f the Peple, yu will find tips fr writing a traditinal cllect prayer tward the end f these ntes. A Prayer fr Healing and Renewal (Cnfessin) helps us pen ur hearts t express lament, regret, fear, grief and/r need, and find assurance in the Jesus and in Jesus' trust in a cmpassinate Gd. These same needs may be met in the Centering Prayer meditatin f PIC liturgies. W e fcus ur Prayers f Thanksgiving at the table, as we ffer ur gifts and ur lives t Gd s wrk in the wrld. We gather prayers fr thers and urselves int the Prayers f the Peple, (Intercessin and Supplicatin, mre n this is a minute!) Praying alud (r nt!) The whle Cmmunity prays alud: As we begin the Cmmunin meal, we are invited t name alud the things fr which we give thanks. In the silence at the end f the Prayers f the Peple, we are generally invited t cme frward, light a candle, and ffer a prayer (fr the wrld, fr thers r fr urselves) either silently r alud. Participants wh are nt cmfrtable with praying ut lud shuld be reminded ften that they are welcme t pray withut speaking. Leading the Prayers f the Peple. PIC breaks bread tgether in a ritual meal every week. The Prayers f the Peple are ffered 1 within the sequence f the Thanksgiving Prayer that anticipates the feast. The wrld-church pattern fr the Prayers f the Peple can help us frame ur thughts and pray clearly. It als helps us t ensure a brad scpe t ur prayers, and t remember peple near and far away. 1 When the wrship leader has been rdained t privileges f sacrament, ur ritual meal can be understd as a sacrament f the ecumenical Church. Hwever, lay leaders are always welcme t assist the cmmunity in sharing an agape meal. Functinally -- hwever we name it -- we hnur the mystery f hly presence in a ritual feast f abundance. 2

3 3 While valuing this pattern, PIC never wants t squelch the freedm f the Spirit! S the fllwing suggestins are meant t serve as helpful guides and nt rules. Suggestins: It is helpful fr the prayer-leader t prepare participants fr the Prayers f the Peple, by letting them knw exactly hw they are invited t participate. Since we usually leave ne silence near the end f the prayer, during which we invite the peple t light a candle and pray alud, the fllwing invitatin illustrates a way t let peple knw what will happen: Let us jin in prayer as the Peple f Gd. During the silence, yu are invited t cme frward and light a candle, and t ffer a prayer either silently r alud Let us pray The rle f the prayer-leader is nt t d all the praying, but t pen areas f prayer s that the peple can pray. Yu are welcme t make use f the wrld-church pattern fr the Prayers f the Peple, which has generally fllwed this sequence - fr the church universal (and all wh seek Gd ) - fr the wrld (peples and leaders, peace, justice, and glbal sustainability ) - fr the lcal cmmunity (neighburhd, city, prvince, cuntry ) - fr thse in particular need (wh are hungry, sick, lnely, in danger r afraid ) - and smetimes a grateful prayer fr thse wh have gne befre us. Be specific, cncrete and current in at least sme f yur prayers. What was in the news this mrning? The prayers shuld als reflect the cncerns and the needs f thse related t the faith cmmunity. Avid preaching r gabbiness. Dn t wrry abut filling in the backgrund -- Gd already knws it, and infrmatin can be shared with the rest f us later. Sme leaders include a respnse-pattern at the end f each petitin. Our wrship rder ften suggests that the pattern, Spirit f Hliness, reveal yur lve may be used. While it s nt inapprpriate t include prayers f lament r gratitude if yu feel mved t d s, d remember yur special rle as a leader f prayers fr thers and fr urselves. Five r six petitins led by yu shuld be the maximum. We can t cver all the bases every week. Remember t leave a silence fr the peple t cme frward t light a candle and ffer their prayers, and signal clearly when it is time fr them t d s. If the peple d NOT name a persn r situatin that yu feel shuld be included in the prayers n that day, feel free t include that prayer yurself befre ending the silence. After the silence, when individuals have ffered their prayers, yu can draw the gathering int the respnse-pattern which clses the Prayers f the Peple. Yu might want t say smething like, Hly One, we trust in yur lve. (Nw, the respnse-pattern ) Tgether we await the fulfillment f Christ in healing, justice and peace fr all creatin. Cme, Jesus, cme. (Sample prayers fllw...)

4 4 Sample Prayers f the Peple (Intrduce the prayer ) Let us jin in prayer as the Peple f Gd. During the silence, yu are invited t cme frward and light a candle, and t ffer a prayer silently r alud Let us pray Livng Gd, we pray fr peple thrughut the wrld wh lng t knw yu. We pray that all wh cme t lve yu may be united in building a kinder humanity, t bring abut the kind f wrld that yu desire. We pray fr the life and wrk f this spiritual cmmunity. We pray fr the peple and leaders f ur partner cmmunities, the Unitarian Church f Vancuver and the Ahavat Olam synaggue, that tgether we may cntribute t caring justice in this city. We pray fr (ther friends in faith, and their particular needs). Spirit f Hliness, reveal yur lve. We pray fr the peples and leaders f the natins. We pray all peples may be recnciled t ne anther. We pray all will seek t lve as yu lve. We pray especially tday fr (natins in current need). With spiritual cmmunities arund the wrld, we pray fr (cuntries named in the ecumenical prayer cycle). W e pray fr the wrld Spirit f Hliness, reveal yur lve. We pray fr peple wh suffer frm the impact f prejudice, greed r vilence. We pray that the heart f humanity may warm with genersity, that peples will apprach each ther with mutual cncern. We pray especially fr refugees, and fr all prisners f plitics r religin Spirit f Hliness, reveal yur lve. W e pray fr the land, the sea and the sky. W e pray that we may learn hw t care fr creatin in healthy sustainable ways. W e pray t use yur beautiful gifts with reverence, and in yur service. W e pray fr the earth. Spirit f Hliness, reveal yur lve. We pray fr all wh suffer the pain f sickness, lneliness, fear r lss. We pray that thse knwn t yu, and thse whse names are in ur hearts, may receive strength and curage in yur lve. We pray fr thse wh are in special need.we pray fr, (frm current news ) Hly One, we name befre yu the cncerns f ur hearts, either silently r alud (silence fr prayers t be expressed, and fr candles t be lighted by the peple.) We pray tday fr (add names frm prayer list, if they have nt been named by thers ) Int yur hands, Gracius Pwer f Cmpassin, we entrust all these prayers. (Bring the prayer t a clse with this respnse pattern ) Tgether we await the fulfillment f Christ in healing, justice and peace fr all creatin. Cme, Jesus, cme. (Mre tips fllw...)

5 5 Writing Prayers fr Grups Here are 10 helpful suggestins that will make the task easier: Keep it simple Structure and language need t be recgnizable at a glance. Say it again Repeat phrases and structures. In a respnsive prayer, end each part in the same way s that the peple d nt have t read everything that is said by the Presider in rder t knw when t pray. Simple, repeatable respnses make it pssible fr peple t pray withut reading. If cmplicated wrds r phrases cannt be avided, put them in the muth f the Presider. Better that nly ne persn have difficulty. Use shrt wrds One-syllable wrds shuld be the rule in public prayers, unless a mre cmplicated wrd is much clearer. Fr instance, change f heart is clearer than transfrmatin f sciety. Breathe n the cmmas Prayers that are printed t be read need t be punctuated fr prnunciatin, nt fr meaning. If meaning relies n punctuatin, it will cause prblems in a unisn prayer. Use ne idim Images and metaphrs are pwerful, but mre than ne dminant image easily leads t mixed metaphrs, cnfused minds, and tangled tngues! Knw yur structure Every prayer needs t have a clear beginning, a bdy and an end. Start with a salutatin. Fllw this with a clear bdy that answers sme purpse. Then clse with a cnclusin that ties up all the strings f the prayers. D nt leave peple hanging. End cleanly. Cmplete each thught Each petitin r spken part f the prayer shuld be cmplete in itself. The nly exceptin is the frm f prayer that relies n the respndent t cmplete the prayer. This is a particularly Hebrew pattern. Be artistic One persn s art is smene else s garbage. Hwever, there are classical phrases and patterns that peple recgnize and that are meaningful. Use them if yu can. Read ld prayer bks t find the patterns. Spend a while rewriting ld prayers t get the feel f it. D ne thing When praying withut ntes, it is easy t shift frm ne purpse t anther. But public unisn prayers are planned. Write them with ne purpse in mind. Avid and If, in descriptin, yu want t pray abut justice and peace, pray abut justice and then pray abut peace. If yu dn t need bth, drp ne. If yu are writing a sentence f tw parts jined with and, divide it int tw sentences. The result will be clear, and easily prayed. And peple will have a gd mdel fr their wn prayer life. (Grdn Churchill, Calgary, AB, adapted)

6 6 Ideas fr Ways t Address Gd Here is a (still incmplete!) list f names, titles, and phrases that may be used in addressing Gd. This list was created by Anne McGrew Bennett as part f a class taught n Wmen in Church at the Vancuver Schl f Thelgy. It is prvided curtesy f Ecumenical Wmen s Resurce Centre, Vancuver, B. C. Almighty Giver f Gd Hly One Binder f Wunds Gd f Prphets and Apstles Cmfrt f Sufferers Gd f the Beginning and the End Cmpanin f the Lnely Gd f this Day Creatr and Preserver f all Humankind Gd f Truth Creatr f All Pwer f Lve Creatr f Gdness and Beauty Gd f Wnders Creatr f the Light Gd ur Champin Desire f all Natins Gd ur Helper Eternal Surce f PeaceGracius Gd Everliving Gd Great Gd ur Hpe Everlving Gd Great Gd f Pwer Faithful Gd Great Healer f Bdy and Sul The First and Last Great Ruler f the Wrld Funtain f all Hliness Guardian f ur Lives Funtain f Life Healer f the Sick Funtain f Light and Truth High and Hly One Funtain f Wisdm Maker f all Things Friend f the Pr Maker f Heaven and Earth Giver f All Gd Things Maker f Light Giver f Health and Salvatin Mighty Gd Giver f Life and Health Mighty Redeemer Giver f Lve Mst Merciful Gd Giver f Peace Our Creatr and Teacher Gd Arrayed in Justice Our Refuge and Strength Gd f Ages Past and Future Radiant and Glrius Gd Gd f all Being Redeemer and Deliverer Gd f all Cmfrt Redeemer f Israel Gd f all Creatures Redeemer f the Oppressed Gd f all Flesh Refuge f Thse wh Trust in Yu Gd f all Generatins Righteus Gd Gd f all Righteusness Justice f all Peples Gd f all the Wrld Ruler f the Universe Gd f all Times and Places Searcher f Hearts Gd f Cmpassin Shelter frm the Strm Gd f Earth, Air, Height and Depth Steadfast and Lving One Gd f Earthquake, Wind, and Fire Strength f Thse wh Labur Gd f Frgiveness and Understanding Strng Gd f Truth Gd f Freedm and Right Sustainer f the Wrlds that Are Gd f Grace and Glry Teacher f Peace Gd f Hliness True and Only Light Gd f Hpe and Jy Uphlder f the Falling Gd f Life and Death Vindicatr f the Inncent Gd f Peace Watchful and Caring Gd, Wrld s Light

7 7 Hw t write a Cllect Prayer Sme teachers suggest clsing the Prayers f the Peple with a summary cllect prayer that cllects ur thughts and hpes. The cllect structure can help us fcus and name clearly the transfrmatins we seek. It als keeps us frm trying t say everything! A cllect prayer Begins with an address t Gd, Names the attribute f Gd t which we are appealing, Names ur specific request t Gd fr transfrmatin, and Cmpletes with a descriptin f the effects f the transfrmatin we seek. Here is a sample cllect prayer that might be used during Advent r Christmas. Try identifying the parts that make it a cllect Nurturing Gd, Yu brught Jesus t birth by the pwer f yur Spirit thrugh the bdy and the willingness f Mary. Make ur wrld new again by that same gracius Spirit, that all wh hunger and thirst fr yur peace may be filled, and the earth may becme yur new creatin. This we ask in the name f Mary s child, Jesus.Amen Here is a sample cllect prayer that culd be used t draw the Prayers f the Peple t a clse: Gd f Cmpassin, yu bear ur hpes and fears and srrw. Int yur hands we entrust ur prayers S that yur cnstant lve may give us strength fr the jurney. (Tgether we await the fulfillment f Christ in healing, justice and peace fr all creatin. Cme, Jesus, cme.)(lm)