Leading Prayer in Christian Education 10

As Catholics we know prayer is important and often we find ourselves praying or thinking of God daily. Prayer is often a very personal experience for us when we are not at church. Our prayers are often centered on asking for healing, guidance, forgiveness and/or thanksgiving. Most of our prayers usually occur in the silence of our hearts although when uniting with others, prayer is evermore powerful. In this course all students will lead the class daily in a short prayer service that will occur at the start of each class.

Elements of a Communal Prayer ServiceCommunal prayer is when two or more people gather to raise their minds and hearts to God. A prayer service is a form of communal prayer that follows a set order with designated parts (leader, Reader, All).

In general a prayer service follows this basic pattern:

1. Clear beginning/introduction – song, greeting, opening prayer etc.2. The Word of God – scripture reading, response, silence3. Shared Prayer – traditional prayers, composed prayers, petitions, reflection etc4. Conclusion – closing prayer, blessing or song etc.

Things to Consider When Planning Your Prayer Service

1. Choose a Theme - It is extremely important to pray with a purpose. With that in mind it is important to first consider a potential theme or purpose for your prayer service. When we pray on our own we always have some reason for it, a prayer service should be no different. Deciding on a theme will help you decide what scripture passages, music or other elements fit into your prayer. Some possible themes could be: liturgical feasts and seasons (i.e. Advent, Lent) friendship, forgiveness, thanksgiving etc.

2. Know your Audience – Your audience are teens like you! Choose prayers and scripture your friends and peers can relate to. Try to involve the class in your prayer, you may do this by having the class pray aloud with you or by assigning readers to assist you.

3. Be Creative – Make your prayer as unique as you are! Take the time to think about how you can lead your prayer in a meaningful way. You may consider using technology: PowerPoint, music, or images on a slideshow to focus thoughts. Alternatively you may choose to play a musical instrument, sing, incorporate drama or art and/or have students do something or gesture toward one another (i.e. shaking of hands, holding hands, sitting in silence, eyes closed).

4. Environment – introduce elements into the environment to create a greater awareness of the sacred. Consider dimmed lights, presence of the bible, cross, objects or symbols relevant to your theme that may be brought from home.

5. Be Prepared – Your prayer need not be memorized but it should be rehearsed to avoid stumbling on words or forgetting the order of things. You will sign up with your teacher for the week that you will be leading, therefore it will be no surprise to you when you present. Check the course website to ensure you remember when you are to lead (http://celticsknowyouknow.weebly.com).

6. You are the Leader – Wait for silence before beginning so that students may prepare themselves to be in the presence of Christ. Know what you are doing and have confidence! Don’t be afraid to ask your teacher for any help before you are expected to lead.