Prayers of the People

The main work of the Christian is to be in prayer. Many people wonder what this looks like for them. Prayer can be understood in many different ways. For some, prayer calls for kneeling with head bowed and hands folded. For others, it can be standing with head back and hands raised with palms turned to the sky. It could also be spoken either silently or out loud, sung, or murmured. All of these different understandings are correct insofar that one is consciously turning their hearts toward God.

As Christian people we also join in corporate prayer. These can be prepared prayers that are spoken out loud in unison, prayers spoken by one person with a prepared response by the people. A common response is to say "Amen" which means "Let it be so."

Before we join in the Lord's Supper, we take time to pray as a worshipping community. It is a group of prayers that span the width and breadth of our life together. They are called "The Litany," "Intercessory Prayers," Prayers of Intercession," "Prayers of the Church," or "Prayers of the People." 

These prayers try to incorporate within them an opportunity to remember all the ways that we desire God to intercede* on behalf of the suffering. The petitions are placed in order from our global relationships to our personal relationships. Generally we begin the prayers with a word of trust that our prayers are heard by our God. Then we pray for the universal church - for all those who serve in it and for there to be harmony between faiths. We then pray for all of creation, sometimes even the universe, to be healed. The next prayer is for the world's governments and those who serve in them, often praying for peace between the nations. The next prayer is often for those individuals who suffer from illness, grief, emotional pain, and those who care for them. We then pray for our particular worshipping community. There is then a time for the community to offer their prayers either out loud or in the silence of their hearts. This is a time to pray for your friends, a particular problem in the world or for yourself. Finally, we pray for the saints, those who have died, who have shown us the way of faith. The prayers end with a word of praise to God for hearing our prayers.

It is important to understand what is trying to be done in these prayers of intercession. It would be
difficult to pray for every broken event that has happened in the world by name or event. For example, between April 23 and 25 there were nine earthquakes over magnitude 5.0. There are currently 27 active volcanoes causing disruption in people's lives. Not to mention there are 56 armed conflicts involving 96 nations right now. So instead of naming each nation - we pray for God to intervene and heal the hearts of each nation's leaders and guide them toward peace.

We are Christ's church here in Bothell, Washington and we join with thousands of other congregations around the world in our weekly Prayers of the People hoping that, indeed, they will turn the hearts of all back toward God and the way of Jesus.

I hope this helps and I encourage you to find your own prayer language and posture to join your voice in praise, thanksgiving, lament and intercession.

*Intercession: the act of praying, pleading, or intervening on behalf of another person, group or situation.