Prayers of the People

Why do we pray in worship?  Could prayer be the most important thing we do in worship?

Rev. Donna worked with us to understand what we do in worship…GATHERING, SINGING, SHARING A PSALM, READING SCRIPTURE, REFLECTING, PRAYING, and BLESSING.

On Sunday we’ll be focusing on praying together.  The prayers we do in worship are sometimes called Prayers of the People. 

I believe that the Prayers of the People are the main reason why we gather to worship. Another word for worship is liturgy, which comes from Greek and means “public working.” When we worship, we are there to work: to do a public working or a public service. - Rev. Susan Lukey, Editor, United Church of Canada, gatheringworship.ca

Matthew 22 MSG

34-36 When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: “Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?”

37-40 Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”

John 15:7 NIV

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

What do these scripture passages say to you about our Prayers of the People?

On Sunday we will pray for those who are on our hearts and minds this week.  Who would you like us to pray for?  I invite you to think about this before Sunday.