Praying in Church

Public prayer is done in a great variety of ways. It can be said or sung. There might be a lot of words or a lot of silence. The words used might be modern or old.

People might stand or sit or kneel.  The prayers might be read from a book or composed on the spot by the leader.  The congregation might have a lot to say, or not very much at all.  There might be something to look at, or eyes might be tight shut.  Public prayer will vary greatly from church to church.  But any church service of any kind will usually contain some technical prayers plus five different types of prayer.

Prayers at the beginning of church services are usually prayers of praise or ‘adoration'.  These celebrate the occasion.  They help the congregation to express awe, wonder, joy and delight in gathering together in the presence of a good and generous God.  They might sound a bit like telling God how great he is, but it isn't that.  It is a way of focussing our complete attention on God in gratitude and in openness to his presence, opening ourselves to him as he opens himself to us.