Prayer Page
Developing our Prayer life, as individuals, in families, as a Church
Whoever you are and wherever you are, at home, at work, taking a walk or driving a car, you can pray. There are lots of resources below to help you, but the most important thing is JUST DO IT! God is everywhere, and Jesus taught that he is always listening to us. As we open ourselves to his presence with us, God will reassure us, calm us or challenge us. But we will always be better for having spent a few moments with him.
Whoever you are and wherever you are, at home, at work, taking a walk or driving a car, you can pray. There are lots of resources below to help you, but the most important thing is JUST DO IT! God is everywhere, and Jesus taught that he is always listening to us. As we open ourselves to his presence with us, God will reassure us, calm us or challenge us. But we will always be better for having spent a few moments with him.
A Stilling Prayer Angela Harper has recorded this 6-minute exercise to help you be still in God's presence: click here.
Daily Prayer on your mobile phone, tablet/iPad or computer
If your phone/tablet or laptop is never far from your side, why not use it to enhance your prayer life? Have a look at the suggestions below, then pick one, save it as a favourite/bookmark on your device, and try it every day for a week.
Lectio 365 is an app for Android or iPhone published by the 24-7 Prayer movement (founded by Pete Greig) takes you through reflection on short bible passages with prayer. More info and download at www.24-7prayer.com/dailydevotional.
The Church of England has recently launched a new prayer app Everyday Faith. We'd be interested to get reviews of this!
The following sites can be accessed easily in Windows, as well as on a phone or tablet/iPad, with no need to download any app:
Sacred Space gives some prayers for each day and a Bible passage to read. If you can find a minimum of 5 minutes to be quiet and pray, this is really helpful. Sacred Space is run by the Irish Jesuits, and displays well on a smartphone.
pray-as-you-go.org gives 10-13 minutes of reflective music, a bible reading and reflection (audio format with images).
The Bible Society daily reflections: 5-10 minutes to read a Bible passage and a comment - https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/explore-the-bible/daily-reflection/
UCB has a thought for each day based on a verse of the Bible, which you can read or listen to, and can give you a stimulus for prayer. It's at www.ucb.co.uk/wordforyou.
Wordlive.org, run by Scripture Union, has a short bible passage followed by a simple reflection and a more in-depth one, plus an alternative Lectio Divina method. Wordlive stays with the same Bible book for one or 2 weeks at a time, rather than dotting around.
Christian Art Today has a reading for each day accompanied by an artistic image with a short reflection on the passage and the image.
Time to pray is an audio version of a short liturgical service "Prayer during the Day" from the Church of England. You can also download a free app.
Alternatively, for those who prefer a more structured and longer time of prayer, with psalms and more scripture, there is the Church of England Morning, Evening and Night Prayer page on the Church of England daily prayer page. You can also download the app for your smartphone.
If your phone/tablet or laptop is never far from your side, why not use it to enhance your prayer life? Have a look at the suggestions below, then pick one, save it as a favourite/bookmark on your device, and try it every day for a week.
Lectio 365 is an app for Android or iPhone published by the 24-7 Prayer movement (founded by Pete Greig) takes you through reflection on short bible passages with prayer. More info and download at www.24-7prayer.com/dailydevotional.
The Church of England has recently launched a new prayer app Everyday Faith. We'd be interested to get reviews of this!
The following sites can be accessed easily in Windows, as well as on a phone or tablet/iPad, with no need to download any app:
Sacred Space gives some prayers for each day and a Bible passage to read. If you can find a minimum of 5 minutes to be quiet and pray, this is really helpful. Sacred Space is run by the Irish Jesuits, and displays well on a smartphone.
pray-as-you-go.org gives 10-13 minutes of reflective music, a bible reading and reflection (audio format with images).
The Bible Society daily reflections: 5-10 minutes to read a Bible passage and a comment - https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/explore-the-bible/daily-reflection/
UCB has a thought for each day based on a verse of the Bible, which you can read or listen to, and can give you a stimulus for prayer. It's at www.ucb.co.uk/wordforyou.
Wordlive.org, run by Scripture Union, has a short bible passage followed by a simple reflection and a more in-depth one, plus an alternative Lectio Divina method. Wordlive stays with the same Bible book for one or 2 weeks at a time, rather than dotting around.
Christian Art Today has a reading for each day accompanied by an artistic image with a short reflection on the passage and the image.
Time to pray is an audio version of a short liturgical service "Prayer during the Day" from the Church of England. You can also download a free app.
Alternatively, for those who prefer a more structured and longer time of prayer, with psalms and more scripture, there is the Church of England Morning, Evening and Night Prayer page on the Church of England daily prayer page. You can also download the app for your smartphone.
A selection of Prayers
Here are some well-known prayers you may find useful. You could bookmark them or download them on your phone or other device so they're available to use whenever you want.
| a_selection_of_prayers__a5_.pdf |
Useful Bible Verses
Have you heard people quote well-known Bible verses but have no idea where to find them in the Bible? A memorised Bible verse could be your friend in an hour of need, or be the inspiration for a time of prayer.
Here is a selection of well-known and much-loved verses. Why not pick one or two that speak to you particularly and learn them? NB learn the reference as well as the verse, and look it up in your Bible to see the context. Learning a few verses per week would be a great discipline!
Here is a selection of well-known and much-loved verses. Why not pick one or two that speak to you particularly and learn them? NB learn the reference as well as the verse, and look it up in your Bible to see the context. Learning a few verses per week would be a great discipline!
| bible_verses_to_learn.pdf |
Praying at home with children
Have you wondered how to get started with praying with your children? Here are some prayers that will help you, in child-friendly language. These pages are in pdf and Word format. The size and format is suitable for reading on tablets or smartphones. Have fun and grow in faith as a family! More for families on our Families Page.
Have you wondered how to get started with praying with your children? Here are some prayers that will help you, in child-friendly language. These pages are in pdf and Word format. The size and format is suitable for reading on tablets or smartphones. Have fun and grow in faith as a family! More for families on our Families Page.
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What to pray about
The World
There is plenty in the news to pray about. You could also pray for the work of the charities we support.
The Church of England website also has topics for prayer.
The Church
Pray for the Church throughout the world, for our own church leaders nationally and locally.
Issues at St Michael's to pray about:
Work with families, children and young people, our Family Worker, Sarah Bishop, and Family Service.
Our Baby & Toddler Time - for parents to find friendship and connection with God; for a new BaTT Co-ordinator
Those living alone and isolated, those recently bereaved, and those living with illness and disability
Developing discipleship through courses, house groups, mentoring
Our general financial situation: for more people to give regularly, realistically and generously to the work of our church
For our Spire Project to replace shingles and repair the clock and bells - successful grant applications, donations and a process free of glitches!
There is plenty in the news to pray about. You could also pray for the work of the charities we support.
The Church of England website also has topics for prayer.
The Church
Pray for the Church throughout the world, for our own church leaders nationally and locally.
Issues at St Michael's to pray about:
Work with families, children and young people, our Family Worker, Sarah Bishop, and Family Service.
Our Baby & Toddler Time - for parents to find friendship and connection with God; for a new BaTT Co-ordinator
Those living alone and isolated, those recently bereaved, and those living with illness and disability
Developing discipleship through courses, house groups, mentoring
Our general financial situation: for more people to give regularly, realistically and generously to the work of our church
For our Spire Project to replace shingles and repair the clock and bells - successful grant applications, donations and a process free of glitches!
Sermons on Prayer
See below for texts of the sermon series on prayer which were given in February/March 2015
| praying_to_your_father__matthew_6.5-15_.pdf |
| the_prayer_of_asking.pdf |
| prayer_-_adoration.pdf |
| prayer_-_thanksgiving_(s_ashton).pdf |
| sermon_-_prayer_for_the_world.pdf |