Prayer Ms Dunlop Oct 2012 Prayer o Prayer

Prayer Ms Dunlop Oct 2012

Prayer o Prayer is communication with God. Prayer is about talking to God about anything, anywhere, at anytime. o It can be asking God for something, thanking God or just asking Him a question. Prayer does not need to be formal it can be like chatting to a friend.

Vocal Prayer § 1. Personal prayer Personal Prayer is when Christians pray on their own. God will hear them and answer them when they pray in this way. Christians may pray aloud (vocal) or they may pray silently.

Vocal Prayer § 2. Communal prayer This type of prayer takes place when members of any religious tradition gather as a faith community. Together they say the formal prayers of the church that everyone knows.

B 2’s communal prayers of intensions.

The Lords Prayer, Christian tradition Our Father, Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The lords prayer in Irish Ár n-Athair atá ar neamh, Go naofar d'ainim, Go dtagfadh do ríocht, Go ndéantar do thoil ar an talamh mar a dhéantar ar neamh. Ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dúinn inniu, agus maith dúinn ár bhfiacha mar a mhaithimidne dár bhféichiúna féin (Ach ná lig sinn i gcathú, ach saor sinn ó olc, )

Islamic tradition § Praised be to Allah, The Cherisher and Sustainer of the World: Most Gracious, Most Merciful: Master of the Day of Judgement. Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek. Show us the straight way, the way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, Those portion is not wrath, And who go not astray.

Meditation § During meditative prayer Christians will sit quietly, normally alone, and focus on God. Some Christians will use words of the Bible to help them concentrate their mind on God. The person quietly gives their attention to God using their thoughts, their feeling and their imagination.

Contemplation § Focusing one’s heart/ feelings and being at rest with a particular subject or story. Christian contemplation brings Christian closer to God and to Jesus Christ. Contemplative prayer allows a person to relax into the awareness that God is just there.

3 P’s of prayer § Sometimes people find it difficult to pray. They find it difficult to make the time and space to pray. Prayer needs practice, patience and persistence. Jesus urged his followers to pray and not to give up: “Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. ” (Luke 18: 1) Pray can be difficult because it seems like there is no immediate answer. However Jesus said, if you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer (Matthew 21: 22)

Challenges to Prayer 1. Not everything that people want is good for them. God can not be expected to give a person something that is bad. Challenges to Prayer