CREATING A PRAYER SERVICE
1. Choose a Topic and Theme
•Your topic is the general subject
•Your theme is the slant you want to take on the topic.
•It is the thread that unifies all the elements.
Example:
The topic might be peace.
The theme: Through friendship we are able to understand what true peace is.
•Life constantly points towards subjects to pray about.
•For seniors especially there are so many avenues. Your job is to create a prayer service that will be especially relevant to your audience. SENIORS ABOUT TO LEAVE HOLY NAME AND EACH OTHER!
2. Create the Right Environment
•Although prayer can take place anywhere, it is aided by a prayerful setting or a setting that goes along with your theme.
•Things to think about when you choose your setting.
(a) Is the space that right size? Too big! How can you make it appear more intimate? Too small? How can you arrange the room to give a more open feeling?
(b) What objects or artifacts will set the right tone?
Maybe your theme is friendship. Perhaps a collage of pictures.
3. Selected Readings
(a) One or two readings from Scripture should be used.
•Use a concordance to help you find a match to your theme.
(b) One or two outside readings-
Poems, stories, lyrics of songs etc.
*All readings should be practiced before hand.
You want to involve the community in your service but be sure they are prepared.
4. Involve People Through Symbolic Action
•Effective prayer services include symbolic action
•This is often used to involve participants and build a sense of community.
•This usually entails some item that is visual or tangible, or some act or movement that gets people to do more than just sit and listen.
•Example:
–At the opening of the school year, a student group may pray to the Holy Spirit for the gift of learning. Each person is given a candle. After a prayer for open minds and heart to learn, participants might light their candle and offer a prayer for the light of knowledge.
•Based on your prayer service theme, devise a symbolic action that is simple but will involve everyone in the community and add meaning to the prayer.
•Pick a symbol that can be displayed during your prayer service.
5. Music
•Like almost nothing else, music moves us.
•Because effective prayer comes from us as a whole process-body-feelings and mind-
prayer services include music to touch and express our feelings.
Music can be used to:
1. Start-set the mood (theme)
2. End your service-- and/or
3. Anywhere
•Music can be used for:
–1.Reflective listening
–2.Discussion starter
–3.Shared prayer
Music can be classical, popular, religious--
Questions to ask when choosing your music.
•1. Does the music create the right mood for the theme?
•2. Is the tempo right for the tone of the prayer service?
•3. Are the words appropriate to and meaningful for the group?
6. Create a Way to Share Reflections
•Shared prayer or shared reflections
•If the group is not comfortable with each other this could be a written exercise.
•Your prayer service must be at least 25 minutes in duration.
•You will be asked to hand in a written outline before hand.
•You must be able to lead your prayer service on the day assigned with or without all the members of your group.