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Guiding Worship

For those who plan and lead worship events.

The pastoral prayer

by Don Penner

This past February our congregation’s oldest member passed away. Homer was 94—a quiet, simple dairyman who loved the farm life. He left some handwritten notes listing hymns he wanted sung at his funeral and a scripture text.

The passage was John 1:51, “Then he ( Jesus) said, ‘I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth’” (NLT). As I read through it, I thought about Homer’s life and witness. It was the very last verse that caught my attention. In it Jesus refers to himself as “the stairway between heaven and earth” upon which the angels go up and down.

I simply pray for each person to be filled with wisdom, joy, and the fullness of God’s love for them.

Interesting—Jesus as a stairway, or a ladder. If we believe the church is Christ’s body, then as followers we ought to live in such a way that our lives would be like a ladder too. It is a powerful thought that through our prayers and prayerful living, angels could bring down gifts from heaven, and also use us as a means of carrying back up gifts of praise and thanksgiving!

It is with this image of a ladder in mind that I’d like to share a few thoughts about how to prepare the pastoral prayer offered each week in our worship services. Here are some “rungs” to consider.

I like to begin the pastoral prayer with thanksgivings, praising God for being faithful and trustworthy, naming some specific examples that underscore God is good and cares about everyone and the whole world.
For the second rung I use a confessional tone, often tying it to the theme of the day. For example, one of our Lenten services this year invited us to own our “snakebites,” calling us to look at the very things that harm us and finding the beginning of healing in that admission. In my prayer I chose to name some things that have bitten each generation.
Third, in our congregation we pray for those who are having their birthday in the coming week. If specific joys or concerns connected to these persons are known publically, I name them. Otherwise, I simply pray for each person to be filled with wisdom, joy, and the fullness of God’s love for them.
The fourth rung of the prayer I dedicate to supporting those who are struggling with a challenge or a crisis, be it health, grief, or a difficult decision needing to be made. Many of these prayer requests come out during our sharing time. Others have emerged during the week and need to be checked with those involved as to how much can be shared, if any. Knowing how difficult some life situations are to share, this rung in the pastoral prayer can still name the reality of such burdens without identifying individuals or families.
Going up to the fifth rung, one might lift up specific needs in the church—local, regional, national, and global. This can be the time we mention the mission workers the congregation supports.
Stepping up to the sixth rung, we can pray for issues in our community and world that are making headlines. Praying for government leaders happen here.
Last, I use the top rung to turn the focus back on God, reaffirming our love for the Lord, committing ourselves to live throughout the week trusting God.

In conclusion, the pastoral prayer should be authentically you. Resist trying to compare or copy other ladders! Be real—the angels will feel more secure that way!

Don Penner is pastor of Wanner Mennonite Church in Cambridge, Ontario.