Prayer is vital to the well-being of our soul since it connects us deeply to the Lord and to those around us as we pray for one another. Prayer is an ordinary and essential part of everything we do at Redeemer. We pray multiple times during the worship service each Sunday and make a place for prayer in all of our groups, studies, classes, and ministries. Besides this, we also provide the following opportunities to seek prayer for our own needs and offer prayer for the needs of others.
Weekly Prayer Guide
One way we encourage people to pray for one another is by sending out a Weekly Prayer Guide each Wednesday to the congregation. To submit a request for prayer, either complete the Prayer Request portion of the Keeping in Touch form (aka “the blue sheet”) on Sunday mornings or email your request to Office Manager Seya De Lastic. If you prefer your request to remain confidential, please indicate that on the form or in your email and we will share it only with the pastors, staff, and elders.
Wednesday Night Prayer Online
Every Wednesday night we come together online as a church family to pray for one another, for the requests published in the Weekly Prayer Guide, and for the work of God in our city, state, nation, and world. We gather on Zoom at 8 pm and finish promptly at 8:45. The group is open to all and you’re welcome to join us anytime. The link goes out by email to the congregation each Wednesday afternoon along with the Weekly Prayer Guide.
Prayer with the Elders
In James 5:13-16, Christians are encouraged to request anointing and prayer from the elders in time of need:
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
To schedule a time to meet with the elders for prayer, contact any of the pastors directly and they will be glad to make the arrangements. We usually do this in the sanctuary after the worship service on Sunday mornings, but we will be happy to meet with you at another time if that is more convenient.
Why do it and how?
Prayer can often feel intimidating if not futile, but as one author put it:
This is why Jesus told us to…
Pray then like this:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.Matthew 6:9-15
