Prayer

We continue our look at parts of a church service by looking at prayer. Prayer is an essential element of the Christian life and therefore it is very appropriate that it is a key part of the service. Prayer is either a set pattern that everyone reads out or extempore, which means made up on the spot. Extempore prayer can be led by the leader, someone else or may spontaneously led by someone in the congregation. Prayer opens a two way communication with God – “Prayer is like a telephone” an old chorus goes. We bring him our needs, praise, confessions and He may speak to us by dropping a thought into our mind, or through someone reading a Bible passage.

Before our service starts we try and spend some time in prayer, praying for those taking part in the service or just praying for the village. We have a prayer request book at the back of church so that when people come into a service they can ask for prayer for themselves or someone known to them. At the end of the service then there is an opportunity for anyone to ask for prayer and one or two people will pray with them.

So prayer runs right through our services. But the good thing about prayer is that you don’t have to come to church to “have a go”! The Bible says we can bring any need to God, any time any place, so you don’t have to wait to go to church to pray.

Have a good holiday season

Andy
Baptist Church Leader