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Evergreen Prayer Workshop
7/8/06
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The workshop Photo Gallery is comming soon! |
On Saturday morning July 8, members and friends of all ages came together with "unembarrassed exuberance" and "unafraid candor"
as they participated in the first Evergreen Workshop on prayer. Participants learned about core Christian beliefs about
prayer, and studied five kinds of prayer from scripture. There were five centers with display boards that described briefly
the theology and the general form of prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, confession, lament, and praise and worship. Participants
spent about 15 – 20 minutes at each center, writing and illustrating their own prayers in composition books. They learned
that each kind of prayer is distinct, but inextricably linked to the others.
Leaders at each center included Howard Lively, Alberta Atwater, Stephanie Griffin, Mary McClure and Viki Shields. Each leader
found relevant scripture and prepared examples of the kind of prayer they assisted folks with at their centers. Adults assisted
children in writing, and children inspired and enlivened the adults by their enthusiasm and creative artwork.
The composition books were collected at the end of the workshop and copied anonymously for inclusion in the larger Evergreen Book
of Prayer. Participant's "prayer books" were presented during the offering at the 10:30 Sunday worship service, blessed along
with the regular offering, and returned to each one after the service.
Participants learned the following:
- What is prayer? As most of you indicated on the sheets you returned these past couple of weeks, it’s communication, or
conversation with God, during which we do most of the talking. And it’s listening as well. Prayers can be said
alone or in community – they can be sung, spoken written or drummed! God made us for and seeks to be in relationship
with us – God does this through prayer.
- Is there a right way to pray? There is no barrier to prayer – God simply wants for you to call home! The bible
teaches us 5 kinds of prayer, which you’ll study and practice in a few minutes.
- Why does God answer some prayers and not others? The deal is, God hears and responds to all our prayers, if we pray
in faith (could be a small as a mustard seed, or big enough to move mountains). There’s more about this at each center
– the centuries old struggle between faith and submitting to the will of God will be carefully considered. The fact is,
through prayer, we are changed not God – God does not need healing, courage, strengthening, help on the test, etc. Our
prayers are the “stuff” God uses to shape our future and bring about our salvation. Therefore we should ask for what we
want, but we must expect that, friend-to-friend, no friend will give us everything we ask for, nor should they! Through
prayer, we ultimately come to know ourselves as part of God’s plan for all of creation.
- How does the bible help us pray? The Bible is full of prayers – we’ll study 5 kinds found throughout the OT and NT this
morning. Also, scripture can be prayed, rather than simply read and studied. The Bible can pray for us as well,
as in the Psalms, especially Lamentations – it gives us words when we may have none of our own.
- Are there simple everyday ways to pray at home? You bet there are! You’re going to learn a few, then write some
of your own. Once you know some genres and basic structures, you’ll be composing your own, to the great delight of your family!
Let us pray:
Oh Teacher God, nourished by a deeper knowledge and understanding of prayer, may we deepen our practice, our relationship
with you. May the goal of our prayer be love, and the fruit of our prayer be peace. Continue to deepen our
discipleship through our practice of prayer. These we ask through Jesus. Amen.
Judging by the enthusiasm and achievements of this workshop, there will be more to come. If you wish to discuss prayer or
to contribute to the Evergreen Book of Prayers, please contact Viki Shields at 968-0198 or any of the other workshop leaders
listed above.
Submitted by Viki Shields
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