A VISION OF A PRAYING CHURCH

All “cells” have prayer time and focus

Many members in prayer partnerships and small group prayer teams; many keep and some share Prayer Journals

Private, individual prayer time covenants

8:30 service has prayer focus monthly, with segments in “conversational prayer,” using the Lord’s Prayer as a “prayer pattern,” praying a Psalm, and praying hymns

Besides Prayer Requests, worshippers invited to offer brief individual prayers aloud

Longer periods of silent prayer, with people invited to pray at the altar

Invitation to meet to pray half hour before service

Prayer workshops offered as part of Sunday School classes and Committee meetings, modeling and practicing different kinds of prayer (intercession, praise, centering, etc.)

“40 Days of Prayer” at Lent

Prayer Retreats

Prayer for and in each ministry, from Trustees to nursery

Prayer with and for each newcomer

Prayer requests list in Herald/bulletin

Prayer chains and Electronic [e-mail] Prayer Chains

Prayer Resources section on church web home page

Prayer at Sites of Social Justice Concerns

Ecumenical prayer times with other churches

Prayer ministries to other churches to model/teach prayer “structures”

Prayer changes things; prayer changes the one who prays.

The Church moves forward on her members’ knees.