Whatever happened to the prayer meeting at the church?
Most people who know me, know that I became a Christian as a teenager…in the 90s. I remember regularly hearing about a prayer meeting at the church – if not weekly, definitely monthly. Depending on where you were, it took different shapes. Some small, some large, some with a praise component, some with times of quiet.
All of it was good.
I might be wrong on this, but it seems like we have shifted dramatically away from this. I recently heard of a church hosting a prayer meeting when I was doing Sunday fill-in, and someone tried to give me the credit for it from an earlier sermon (I’m not sure I can really take credit for it…). Before this, I can’t remember the last time I heard one happening.
Prayer is good for us – as individuals and as the local church.
We shouldn’t leave prayer to just when we gather the regular Sunday liturgy. Something happens when a group of believers gathers to pray for the needs of the group, the church and the community – far beyond too. Has the prayer gathering become a casualty of the pandemic?
I hope not.
Prayer changes us. And we need some changin’.
If we believe what the Scriptures say, and many claim to – we should be ready and prepared for prayer to kick things into gear.
- God likes prayer: Psalm 66:16-20
- Prayer cues the Heavens into action: Daniel 9:20-23
- Prayer brings freedom: Psalm 32:1-7
- Prayer changes: Job 22-27-30
- Jesus showed us that prayer (talking with the Father) is natural and a lifestyle that all should strive for.
I’ve lost count of the number of stories I’ve heard of people who gathered for years praying about a situation – some never live to see the fruit of those prayers. But that didn’t stop them. They faithfully believed that God would hear and answer.
Have we stopped trusting that God is listening and wants to hear from us?
Lately, I’ve spent a lot of time talking with people who are concerned about the future of their congregation. People want to know the 7-step plan to turn things around.
Good news – there is just one step!
Pray.
I really think if a group of people gathered to sincerely pray for God’s blessing and to listen to His voice, things would radically start to shift. We don’t need large numbers and it doesn’t need to happen on a Sunday morning. Got at least one other person (Matthew 18)?
I think it’s time for us to pray.
Hi Shawn: This is going to be long!!!!A few weeks before the annual meting the Lord would not let me sleep. As you know the church is very dear to us so a large part of our conversation surrounds it and the problems we are having in the Parish of Richmond. He told me we have to have prayer time together. I said that won’t happen. He said it has too. We argued a few minutes and as I could see he wasn’t going to let me sleep, I said tell me what to do. I didn’t tell anyone, not even Ralph, and said Lord if you want me to do this you have to lead me. I new it was right when I read the new business at the annual was “pray together”. I had gotten a book of prayers for Christmas from one of my family as my 8yr. old thought Grammie should have something Jesus as she had a lot of things. He had helped prepare for Christmas. So when the time came the Lord pushed to speak and I told what I hadn’t told and the Bishop said vestry would have to decide on it. One of the vestry members came to me after the meeting and said not to wait for vestry. As per my orders a Prayer Time was organized and we are stilling meeting. We met 3 times before Easter at each individual church and are now meeting once a month. We had 12 at the first meeting and 6-10 at the others. We have tried to keep to one hour but last time more people participated and it kind of went overboard, so the next to be held on Tuesday June 14 we are going to try to bring the original plan back. We have a scripture reading and short mediation and then a few minutes for silent prayer, close in prayer for each topic. We pray for our time together, the parish, vestry and lay readers, the Sunday school, for a shepherd, for our future, Ukraine and for those who might request or know someone who does need prayer. I just thought I would share this with how the Lord spoke to me and would appreciate prayers as we try to continue this. This is a few of the details. Rosanne
A group of us meet every Wed morning at St. John’s for prayer. 9-9:50 followed by communion and Bible study at 10. One of the highlights of my week.
Parish of Richmond has started holding a prayer gathering, we pray for several issues, our Parish, renewal, peace, our youth, our lay readers, just to mention a few. A member felt she had been led by God to call us to prayer and that is how it started. Each time we meet, the prayer topics are listed, we volunteer to lead the prayer with scripture and mediation. We try to stay under an hour but it seems we have gotten a little longer over time. Sometimes we have closed with special music. The praying together is a wonderful experience. The Holy Spirit is present. A neat thing we did last Sunday at St. John’s for Pentecost, we had paper airplanes, each person printed their name on a plane, during the last hymn they were released and at the end of service you took a plane, not your own, then you are to pray for that person everyday between Pentecost and Holy Trinity Sunday. This was ins response to TKC video..”has anyone ever prayed for you? What a blessing to pray for each other. Expecting the moving of the Holy Spirit in winds of renewal, fires of excitement and new words of unity and love
Hi Shawn
Kathleen Snow forwarded your email to me. I hope you don’t mind!
I do not think we have met. Last year I returned to Fredericton after 2yrs in NL While in NL I was ordained as a Deacon . I love the concept of the bridge between the community and the Church
I have been a member of ChristChurch Cathedral for many years with multiple volunteer roles At one time in the 90’s we did indeed have a prayer group to pray for Cathedral needs I really cannot remember why we stopped over the years different attempts to encourage prayer as the basis of God leading us . Alpha put a big emphasis on it as does MU
I think people in general need a deeper understanding just how powerful it is and what it can do both personally and corporatelyAlso we don’t all pray in same way so avenues to draw folk to a way that is right for them
I do not usually “go on” like this but I am passionate for God I have great Hope for our Church Jesus has a plan for us we just have to understand what it is!
Well done you are making a start
Due to health issues I am Vic somewhat limited in my capacity to do a lot of active work but I will help where needed and can certainly pray!!