Prayer

%%Key Terms:%%

**Set prayer:** Prayers that have been written down and said more than once by more than one person (eg. The Lord’s Prayer)

**Formal Prayer:** Prayer that is made up by an individual using his or her own words

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%%What is Prayer?%%

Prayer is **communicating** **with god** in silence or aloud with others or alone using set prayers or informal prayers. Sometimes Christians say a set pray **before eating** a meal to **thank** god for providing what they need to live. Other Christians might pray **spontaneously** for there meal using there own words in an informal pray “Bless us oh lord and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your bounty through Christ our lord amen”

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%%How do people pray?%%

People may pray in a humble position **kneeling** down sometimes with hands pressed together. In **orthodox** services people **stand** to pray, nonconformist often sit Anglicans may kneel and other Christians may **raise** there **hands** to invite the holy spirit into there life's. Catholics may use a **rosary**, while **orthodox** Christians use **icons** to aid prayer.

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%%Examples of Set Prayer:%%

**The Lord’s Prayer**: The prayer
taught to the disciples by Jesus;
also known as the ‘Our Father’.

> “Bless us, O lord, and these
> your gifts, which we are about
> to receive from your bounty.
> Through Christ our Lord.
> Amen” – Catholic Grace

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%%Does God answer prayers?%%

Christians believe that god will **answer** prayers but not always in the **ways** that the **person** would like (see Jesus prayers in the garden of Gethsemane in mark 14:32-36).

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%%Importance of Lords Prayer:%%

**Individual:** Pattern for **how to pray** as it combines **praise** and **asking** for ones needs

**Community**: Gives congregation a **communal** feeling. Said at Holy communion, marriages, baptisms and funerals.

**Non-believers:** Sense of **unity** and **spiritual** purpose at important times. EG. Recited at a commemoration of a tragic event.

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