You may direct your prayer requests to Chris Martin by sending an email through the "Contact Us" page.  In the subject line please put Prayer Request.  You can also call the church office at  885-1031.

If you are interested in being a part of the Prayer Chain Ministry please contact Chris Martin as above, or the church office at 885-1031.

What is the Prayer Chain?

 

For a Sick Person

O Father of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need: We humbly beseech thee to behold, visit, and relieve thy sick servant N. for whom our prayers are desired.  Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy; comfort him with a sense of thy goodness; preserve him from the temptations of the enemy; and give him patience under his affliction.  In thy good time, restore him to health, and enable him to lead the residue of his life in thy fear, and to thy glory; and grant that finally he may dwell with thee in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.                                (BCP pg.458)

Please Pray with me

 

O gracious and Holy Father,

Give us wisdom to perceive you,

intelligence to understand you,

diligence to seek you,

patience to wait for you,

eyes to behold you,

a heart to meditate upon you,

and a life to proclaim you,

through the power of the Spirit

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

      St Benedict  From the  Book of a Thousand Prayers

Some common Prayers that are used during our service:

 

BCP page 364

 

The Nicene Creed is the Creed of the universal church and used at the Eucharist.

BCP page 358

 

The Apostles's Creed is an ancient Creed of Baptism; it is used in the church's daily worship to recall our Baptismal Covenant.

BCP page 66

 

BCP page 350

 

 

WE PRAY FOR THE GROWTH OF CHRIST CHURCH.
THAT WE MAY BE A BEACON TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED JESUS' SAVING GRACE.
WE PRAY FOR THE CHURCH GROWTH TASK FORCE.
THAT THEY MAY LEAD US IN NEW AND EXCITING WAYS TO GROW GOD'S KINGDOM.
WE PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF CHRIST CHURCH.
THAT WE MAY LEAD OTHERS TO JESUS. AMEN.

 

An Invitation to Contemplative Prayer

 

To paraphrase Thomas Keating in his book "Open Mind Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel", interest in Eastern spiritual traditions, such as meditation, is a symptom of what is lacking in the West.  There is a deep spiritual hunger that is not being satisfied by mainstream Christian religious practice.

 

However, as Keating explains, "During the first fifteen centuries of Christianity contemplative prayer was a common practice. The method of prayer proposed for lay persons and monastics alike in the first Christian centuries was lectio divina, literally, "divine reading", a practice that involved reading scripture, or more exactly, listening to it."  Pg.20

 

What is contemplative prayer?

Contemplative Prayer first and foremost is an opportunity to develop your relationship with the Holy Spirit by creating within yourself a still and silent space to receive God.  It is a way to live the scripture, "Be still and know that I am God".  Through true inner stillness God can speak to Our Spirit by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

 

What can I expect from contemplative prayer?

At the very least you will leave a session feeling relaxed.  You will also learn a new way of being with God that you can practice at home.  You may gain insight into your questions, or discernment about your direction.  Over time you'll develop an awareness of the still place within you that is connected with the eternal God, and be able to recognize when you are living from that perspective. When practiced daily contemplative prayer can heal your wounded soul through being in the holy presence of God's unending love.

 

What we do at contemplative prayer?

We begin with a few minutes of deep mindful breathing to foster relaxation and become centered and fully present.  We then transition into guided meditation to develop awareness of our different aspects; body, mind, emotions, and beneath it all, our spirit.  Fifteen minutes is spent in silent Centering Prayer.  During Centering Prayer we use a simple prayer or a single word or image giving the mind a single-point of focus with the intention to be still and know the presence of God within.  We then practice Lectio Devina, reading texts of scripture and inviting God to speak to us through the Bible.  After reading the scripture out loud we enter another ten minutes of quiet contemplation with an open mind and expectant heart while we listen for the Holy Spirit.  To wrap up our contemplative prayer gathering we are invited to share with others relevant insight we may have had during this prayerful interlude. 

 

Contemplative Prayer is not for everyone, but the only way to know if it is for you is to experience it yourself.  If any part of you is feeling pulled toward this way of being with God, honor that small voice within you.  It's God calling you into a deeper relationship with Him.