The Grace of Prayer
The disciples once asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Prayer was an important part in the ministry of Jesus. Several times in the gospel it is mentioned that Jesus went out to pray. It is no wonder that the disciples were impacted by the necessity of prayer. If their Messiah needed regular time in prayer… maybe they should model that.
Prayer is the incredible privilege to stand before God and communicate with him. Before Christ, in the lives of God’s people, they had to go to the priest as a mediator who would stand before God on their behalf. With the coming of Jesus, this barrier was removed. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well (in John 4) that one day soon, no one would have to approach God in the Temple. They that worshiped him… and prayed to him… would do so in spirit and in truth. The coming of Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection removed any barrier we have to come before him in prayer.
At the same time, we are still human and weak. Sometimes we don’t think we have what it takes to pray. Maybe we don’t have the words to pray. Maybe things are so difficult in our lives that all we can do is cry out to God. The Apostle Paul in those instances says, “the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words” (Romans 8:26). So no matter how we feel… full of words or just full of anguish… we can come before God and pour our hearts out to him.
Book of Common Prayer
The Anglican world is somewhat unique in that it utilizes a comprehensive book of prayers called the Book of Common Prayer, or BCP. At first glance, the BCP may look completely overwhelming but all it is, is a comprehensive list of services and prayers for the Anglican church and specifically The Episcopal Church, here in the United States. Everything from weekly worship services to special holy day services, like Easter… to services from baptism, to weddings, to funerals. The basic form our worship can be found in the BCP.
It is also a guide to what we believe as Episcopalians. What we believe about God – our theology – can be understood in the prayers contained in the BCP. How the services are arranged tell of the majesty of God and our relationship to him. Regular confession, absolution, and praise have taken place in the Anglican worship service for hundreds of years as part of the Book of Common Prayer.
Below is a link to an online version of the 1979 edition of the BCP. This is the official edition that currently used in The Episcopal Church. There is also a link to a website that offers a deeper understanding of the BCP and its usage.
Emergency Prayer
If you have a prayer need, please fill out the form below and we will be notified. Your request will be forwarded to the prayer team and our pastor.
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, please contact the suicide prevention hotline at 800-273-8255.