PRAYER

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PRAYER

• hands together, eyes closed

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Just what is Prayer?

• Asking for stuff
• husband/wife, job, Xbox
• Complaining
• whinging and moaning about life
• telling God how he could do better
• Requesting advice and guidance
• whos hot?
• Seeking truth?
• Or simply talking to God
• Its a relationship, prayer is basic communication

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Jesus approach to prayer

• Going away by himself
• retreat seclusion
• private prayer
• In the mountains
• Corporate prayer
• when youre gathered together
• The Lords prayer
• a template for prayer?
• Weeping and fear
• take away this cup
• Calling out to God
• done for the benefit of those around him

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Types of Prayer

• Requests
• Crying out to God
• Jesus on the cross
• Conversation with God
• chatting to God
• Reconciliation
• Rescue / assistance / salvation
• Knowledge (prophesy?)
• Conversion
• the Jesus prayer
• thanks, sorry, please tsp (teaspoon)

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Styles of Prayer

• corporate
• meditation
• contemplative
• labyrinth
• few words or many words?
• repetitive simple phrases
• recitations (hail Mary)
• hymns
• creeds

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Some Questions

• If Jesus is God
• why did he pray?
• how did he pray to himself?
• Should we pray to Jesus or God?
• How should we pray?
• in silence or out loud?
• can one pray incorrectly?
• why do we get embarrassed?
• Is it ok to be angry with God when we pray?
• If God is all knowing, why do we need to actually
  pray?

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Office

• A more monastic approach
• taking regular time out in the day to pray
• gives order to the day
• slows down the pace of the day
• encourages quiet
• A little like the Islamic attitude to prayer?
• Observing the Offices
• morning
• midday
• night

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PLANNING AN OFFICE

• a practical exercise

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Planning an Office

• Call to worship
• Response
• Prayers

• Reflection / meditation
• Bible reading
• Sending out