PRayers

Question 1

Set prayers

Answer 1

• prayers that have been written down and said more than once by one person, for example the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ or ‘Grace’
• Allow Christians to learn + repeat prayers with significant meaning - can become collectivve, recited together becomes a communal voice
• Protestant - use the set prayers in ‘The Book of Common Prayer’

Question 2

private

Answer 2

• Spontaneous, can be seen as more spiritually honest
• Influenced by the Holy Spirit
• May reject prayers like the Lord’s prayer - repeating set prayer loses the meaning, people just repeat without thinking

Question 3

Informal prayers

Answer 3

• prayer that is made up by an individual using his or her own words
• In lots of Set Prayers, God is referred to as “father” rather than “dad”??
• Tends to be private - involves communicating with God, meditation and personal reflection
• Quakers value the idea of being inGod’s presence and sit in silence + stillness in services, allows them opportunity to reflect + become closer to everyone
• Pentecostal Church - worship is also informal, Christians feel they are moved by the Holy Spirit → enable them to speak in tongues sometimes
• Movement + participation - often music, singing + dancing

Question 4

Significance:

Answer 4

• Private worship - helps Christians build up a discipline which gives them strength to cope in times of trouble.
• Encourages a routine that allows time for reflection in a busy day.
• Through prayer and meditation - Christians find peace and a sense of communion with God in their everyday life as followers of Jesus
  e.g.
  → Hail Mary →
  → Grace before meals →
• Heart of Jesus’ lifestyle, Christians believe it is an essential part of your faith

Question 5

Types of prayer:

Answer 5

• Adoration - deep love and respect for God
• Confessonal - statement of faith through prayer
• Contemplation - meditation
• Penitential - saying sorry
• Praise - giving praise