Greetings,

I decided to start my letter earlier than usual. I do so because of an article I recently read and a sermon I recently heard about praying. We all have formed an idea on what a proper prayer should include: there are written formulas, prayer guides, different kinds of prayers, and postures we are told we should assume when praying.

If asked to offer the perfect prayer, I’m sure most of us would pray the prayer Jesus taught to his disciple, which we now call the Lord’s Prayer. Both Matthew (6:8-13) and Luke (11:2-4) recorded Jesus’ instructions to his disciples after they ask him to teach them how to pray as John taught his disciples.

What exactly is a prayer? One author describes prayer as a petition, in which the persons praying humbly acknowledge their need and express themselves as trustfully depending on God to meet it out of his sovereign resources of wisdom and goodness.^[1] That’s really a mouthful isn’t it? My definition of prayer is a conversation with the Triune God.

Formulas have been developed to insure one prays correctly. Regardless of the form you choose, the best prayer is one that is done with love, humility, sincerity, and most of all, belief in the power of God. There are forms of praying such as bidding prayer where the worship leader does all the praying and the congregation jumps in now and then with a response. There is free form prayer where the worship leader does all the praying and the congregation sits quietly and doesn’t say anything except amen. Then there is the unison prayer where the all in the service pray together. Which is best? There is no “best” unless you let your mind wander and use the quiet time for trying to decide where you will eat after church or which game you will watch on TV.

I know most of us believe in the power of prayer. Many have asked me to pray for them which I gladly do. Each week Betty types up the prayer list and makes a copy which she cuts apart and places in the wooden offering plate. The ushers have begun to pass them to the congregation at the same time as we lift up our gifts. This is a super opportunity for each of us to have a prayer partner for the week – someone specifically praying for you.

A healthy prayer life is one sign of a congregation that is growing spiritually and doing so with vitality. Let us always remember that spirituality is one of the indicators first used to determine the health of a congregation. The third Wednesday of each month, a few of us gather at 7 PM for the Mid Month Pray Service. We pray for our sick and shut-ins, those who we know are having difficulties, and thank God for all the blessings we have experienced. Everyone is invited to join us, no experience is needed. If you can’t come and would like to have the group pray for you or someone you know, please call Mike  or Gayle Sterner or me.

Pat’s “Road to Vitality” group stop and pray for their congregation every morning at 8 AM. I think this is wonderful and I am asking any and all members to join me at 8 AM to pray for St. Jacob’s (Stone) UCC. Just stop where you are and say a prayer for our congregation. Please let me know who will join with in praying for the health and growth of our Church family. Please don’t pass this off as “I’m sure someone else will pray.” We all need to be involved with the vitality of our congregation.
 
In Christian Love,
 
Pastor Jason (PJ)
 
 

^[1]Packer, J. I. (1995, c1993). Concise theology : A guide to historic Christian beliefs. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.
 

Photograph of Pastor Jason Leader (upper left)