Guiding Worship
For those who plan and lead worship events.
Prayer that touches the earth
By Carol Penner
As a worship leader looking out over the people of God, I see that they want to meet God! How can I shape our prayer time so that they encounter God at the intersection of their lives and their longings for peace and justice in their world? How can prayer itself have a prophetic edge?
I have led worship in a small urban congregation of low-income people, and more recently in a larger, more affluent rural church. In both settings, several principles have guided our congregational prayer times:
Let your prayer flow from Scripture. A pervasive theme in Scripture is God’s love for people who are weak and oppressed—widows, orphans, and the poor. Jesus interacts with people who are disabled and who are hungry as well as with people who have power and are misusing it. So why not let our prayers echo the Scripture’s vision for justice, peace, and salvation?
One of our recent sermon texts was Hebrews 13, which calls us to “remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them” (v.3). That line would have been especially relevant to my former congregation, since many had either done time or knew someone who was in prison. However, the Scripture reminds us to keep prisoners in our prayers, whether we know them personally or not.
Be specific in your prayers. When we pray in generalities, our minds and hearts stay safe on the surface. Prophetic prayer calls us to be engaged by praying for specific people, by name if possible. We can pray for our city councilors, provincial/state or national leaders. Whether it is international leaders in the news or members of the congregation, we should seek to be as specific as we can.
In our recent prayer inspired by Hebrews 13, we prayed specifically for those in prison in Iraq, as well as for people in our local detention center, that they would not lose hope. We prayed for prison guards to treat people with respect. We also prayed for a local ministry that is reaching out to people in prison.
Connect your prayer to your congregation. During a family emphasis Sunday in my urban congregation I wanted to pray for wisdom for parents. I was going to say something simple, but when I looked at my congregation I realized their situations were not simple: I had to pray for parents whose children had been taken into foster care; for single parents who had to go to food banks; parents who had to move because they couldn’t pay the rent; parents battling addictions; parents who were never loved by their own parents.
In a nutshell: When you plan prayer, look hard at your congregation and bring their needs into your prayer!
Allow time for participation. I try to encourage people to participate rather than remain passive observers. One Sunday we prayed for people in Iraq. People were invited to come to the communion table and light a candle for soldiers, families of soldiers, civilians hurt, aid workers, diplomats, or churches in the region.
In an uninhibited small congregation, you might give opportunities for everyone to chime in with their own prayers. Alternatively, members may feel comfortable praying with the person next to them or gathering in small groups.
Seek transformation. Praying prophetically transforms us and moves us to action. When we pray by name for municipal leaders, asking that they be given grace and wisdom, we have a stake in the wisdom they need. If we meet them, we may feel called to share a concern we have. Praying for a world leader may mean that we write a letter urging him or her to advocate for a group of people who are being overlooked.
God’s Spirit moves as we pray together. I have seen corporate prayer change people. But it also transforms me, the worship leader! It has made my prayer life more vital.Carol Penner is pastor at First Mennonite Church in Vineland, Ontario.Previously, she worked at the Welcome Inn, an inner-city Mennonite congregation in Hamilton, Ontario.