It was once common for Christians to pray together, in their churches, each week (or even each day), for many needs of their communities, nation, and the Church. In the general prayer, the Church prays for the preaching of the Word, for mercy, for pastors, for the President and Congress, for temporal justice and temporal peace, for our enemies, for those who are sick and dying, for those who are oppressed, for the poor, for freedom from calamity and poor weather, for safety for those who travel, for schools, for widows and orphans, for our own ability to work and serve our neighbors, and so much more.
Most churches don't do that any more. We want prayers that are more "relevant." We want to pray for the things we notice, for the things we feel, for the things that we worry about. Now, don't get me wrong: there's certainly nothing wrong with praying for those specific things. It is good to pray for our shut-ins and those who are sick in the congregation. It may be good to pray for rain for your own garden, but better to pray for "seasonable weather" for the whole congregation, as Bob's garden may've been thoroughly doused last night.
But the General Prayer is still a good thing. It addresses a multitude of needs and situations that we might not think to pray for. It addresses the needs of all the sick, not just Grandma Meier. It asks for God's benevolence toward all widows, not just for my college roommate who was widowed at a young age. It causes us to pray for the judges and policemen who keep anarchy at bay so that we may live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and holiness.
Have you noticed that, as churches have moved away from the general prayer during Sunday services, society has gone downhill? I'm not saying that there's a cause-and-effect relationship. I'm not saying that, nationwide, politeness and courtesy would be magically improved, and crime magically decreased, and employees magically becoming hard-working, if only more congregations would pray the general prayer. But it's interesting to think about how vast numbers of people were led to pray for the needs of strangers, if only doing so for five minutes on Sunday morning when led by their pastors. And now they don't pray for such things because we have more "relevant" and "personal" needs to ask God about.
Maybe there was some real wisdom in the ancient liturgy of the Church.
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It's very interesting to look at the passages in the Table of Duties and see how much of the language is actually in the General Prayer. We pray it regularly at our church and I can relax when it begins. I know what it will say and I am comfortable with it. I know that nothing PC is going to get slipped in!
ReplyDeleteAgreed 100%. We actually use several prayers of the Church, but the people are used to them all. They know when one begins. In addition to the prayers in the book, we also use this one, which is largely based on the Roman canon. It shares the universal scope of the prayers:
ReplyDeleteWe come to You, Holy Father, with praise and thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ, Your Son. Through Him we ask You to accept and bless the prayers and gifts we offer. Lord, in Your mercy, R.
Remember, Lord, Your holy church. Watch over her and guide her. Grant her peace and unity throughout the world. Lord, in Your mercy, R.
Remember, Lord, Gerald our Synodical President, Herbert our District President, and all pastors and servants of the Church. Grant them to hold and teach the faith that comes to us from the apostles. Lord, in Your mercy, R.
Remember, Lord, and bless the schools of the Church, including our own. Grant that our children may grow in wisdom and faith each day. Lord, in Your mercy, R.
Remember, Lord, our President, our public servants, and all in our armed forces, especially .... Guide, bless, protect and uphold them in honor. Bring all nations into the ways of peace and justice. In Your kindness and love, grant us seasonable weather and an abundance of the fruits of the earth. Lord, in Your mercy, R.
Remember, Lord, all who suffer for Your name, all who are in prison, the hungry and ill-clad, the poor and the lonely, those who travel, and all who cry out to You in time of need, especially your servants.... Take them under Your tender care and grant them a happy release from their afflictions. Lord, in Your mercy, R.
Remember, Lord, all who are gathered here before You, our living and true God. We pray for our well-being and redemption. Grant us Your peace in this life, save us from final damnation, and count us among Your chosen flock. Though we are sinners we trust in Your mercy and love. Do not consider what we truly deserve but grant us Your forgiveness. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer!
Holy Father, in communion with the whole Church we give You thanks for Your saints, in whom You have given us a mirror of Your mercy and grace. We praise You especially for the Blessed Virgin Mary, for Joseph her husband, for John the Baptist, Peter and Paul, and all Your martyrs. Give us grace to walk before you with faith like theirs and grant us some share in their heavenly fellowship. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer!
Lord God, in Your unfailing mercy and love You have graciously given us the holy Supper of Your Son. As now we prepare to receive His Gifts, stir up our minds to the salutary remembrance of Your benefits and to true and unending thanksgiving.
Aid us, Your ministers and Your people, that by this Mystery of the new and eternal Testament, we may recall how Your Son offered Himself upon the altar of the cross for us -- a Ransom pure, holy, and undefiled - so that, rejoicing in His resurrection from the dead and His ascension into heaven, we may joyfully await His coming in glory.
And we beg You to bless and sanctify by Your Holy Spirit’s power the bread and wine we bring before You that they become for us, through our Savior’s Words, His true Body and Blood, the nourishment of eternal life. Grant that receiving them in faith, we may be filled with every grace and blessing, through Christ our Lord. Through Him and with Him and in Him in the unity of the Holy Spirit all glory and honor is Yours, almighty Father, forever and ever. Amen!