Thursday, January 04, 2007
Garden of Prayer...
Several people lately have asked me about the Garden of Prayer and how we use it at Southern Hills. I notice many other churches beginning to do something similar. So let me share a few observations.
First, it is a time of prayer. It is not a "different way to do the invitation". Shepherds (and sometimes their wives) do roam the aisles in an effort to make it easier to pray with and for the flock. However, it is not a time just to pray with elders. Our desire is that someday there will be an undercurrent of prayer throughout the assembly as people pray together.
We encourage people to pray with friends, or as individuals, or with elders, or with any of their brothers and sisters. We hope people will pray prayers of thanksgiving, forgiveness, healing, praise, and encouragement.
It does sometimes seem awkward, messy, confusing, and not structured. We still have people who want to pray with someone and don't know how to express that... or don't feel comfortable yet. And yes, I have been known to climb over the pews to get to someone. But I think God is pleased and honored. And I think the Garden of Prayer is one of the most exciting things we do. It builds community, it honors God, it connects Shepherds to the flock, and it changes lives.
And as much as I enjoy preaching, and as much as I like to sing...it may be that this time in prayer is my favorite part of our time together. I cannot wait to see how it grows.
First, it is a time of prayer. It is not a "different way to do the invitation". Shepherds (and sometimes their wives) do roam the aisles in an effort to make it easier to pray with and for the flock. However, it is not a time just to pray with elders. Our desire is that someday there will be an undercurrent of prayer throughout the assembly as people pray together.
We encourage people to pray with friends, or as individuals, or with elders, or with any of their brothers and sisters. We hope people will pray prayers of thanksgiving, forgiveness, healing, praise, and encouragement.
It does sometimes seem awkward, messy, confusing, and not structured. We still have people who want to pray with someone and don't know how to express that... or don't feel comfortable yet. And yes, I have been known to climb over the pews to get to someone. But I think God is pleased and honored. And I think the Garden of Prayer is one of the most exciting things we do. It builds community, it honors God, it connects Shepherds to the flock, and it changes lives.
And as much as I enjoy preaching, and as much as I like to sing...it may be that this time in prayer is my favorite part of our time together. I cannot wait to see how it grows.
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I love the Garden of Prayer. It is a great thing that more churched need to do. However, I think we need to take a look at how we do it. The reality is that we are a relatively non-expressive people, and have been attuned to following orders in worship. Therefore, a majority of our Gardens of Prayer are filled with people who love God and prayer, but find it unnatural to just start praying with someone, or just themselves, when they have just been "encouraged" to do so and not asked. Singing often immediately starts at the beginning of the Garden too, so that it often just becomes a time to sing some more songs in place of prayer for most people. My suggestions:
1. Tell people to pray with each other, don't ask them to. This always works, and fills the auditorium with the murmurs of hundreds of prayers.
2. Cut the singing. It is either a Garden of Prayer or a Garden of Singing (Yes I know the two can be one, but it usually erodes the effectiveness of what we are trying to do with GoP). This communicates to the church that we are serious about you using this time for prayer, and we're not going to give you an out by letting you stand and direct your attention to the next song.
Perhaps at some point we will have a community that will, on a large scale, start to really use something like GoP to pray with others. But until then, we need to help push them that direction to show them that they can do it and that they are continually blessed by it.
Just my two cents.
1. Tell people to pray with each other, don't ask them to. This always works, and fills the auditorium with the murmurs of hundreds of prayers.
2. Cut the singing. It is either a Garden of Prayer or a Garden of Singing (Yes I know the two can be one, but it usually erodes the effectiveness of what we are trying to do with GoP). This communicates to the church that we are serious about you using this time for prayer, and we're not going to give you an out by letting you stand and direct your attention to the next song.
Perhaps at some point we will have a community that will, on a large scale, start to really use something like GoP to pray with others. But until then, we need to help push them that direction to show them that they can do it and that they are continually blessed by it.
Just my two cents.
I LOVE the Garden of Prayer, but sometimes I wish we still had he 'traditional alter call' or whatever you want to call it. I sometimes feel as though we have moved away from public prayer requests and public confession of sin, and I think both are vitally important. I don't say that to sound judgmental or demeaning, but I think there are times when public confession is needed, even necessary. It just seems to me like we have dropped the ball a little on this...maybe I am wrong...any thoughts for me?
Good points. Cary, we do need to be more directive in what we ask in the Garden of Prayer. I did do that last Sunday and it seemed to help. I think the singing will continue to be useful as we move in the direction we want to go. You are right about how difficult this is for some people.
Anne, point well taken. We probably do need to remember to do an "alter calll" on occasion. There certainly are times for public confession. I know this is a concern that Phil Ware shares also.
Anne, point well taken. We probably do need to remember to do an "alter calll" on occasion. There certainly are times for public confession. I know this is a concern that Phil Ware shares also.
Ridg-
I remember GoP (not to be confused with the Grand Old Party)from Risse's time at So. Hills...I remember the first time we were there visiting DJ when it happened and the emotional charge it gave me. I couldn't wait to implement it back at home...while we aren't as 'relaxed', if you will, we do have the alter call/invitation and options of shepherds at the back, and front...maybe it was because we weren't familiar with the concept, but it sure enhanced our worship time.
Blessings-Derald Bulls
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I remember GoP (not to be confused with the Grand Old Party)from Risse's time at So. Hills...I remember the first time we were there visiting DJ when it happened and the emotional charge it gave me. I couldn't wait to implement it back at home...while we aren't as 'relaxed', if you will, we do have the alter call/invitation and options of shepherds at the back, and front...maybe it was because we weren't familiar with the concept, but it sure enhanced our worship time.
Blessings-Derald Bulls
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