Every Sunday, when Christians gather to worship, prayer takes a central role. Throughout our time of singing, praising, giving thanks and hearing the word of God, the assembly prays. Our prayer gives voice to our longing for God’s grace and shapes our expectations for encountering that grace in our lives and in the world.
The assembly prays in many ways throughout a service of Holy Communion. Some prayers — like the prayer of the day and the prayer of thanksgiving — are spoken by the presider, who is entrusted with the responsibility of speaking on behalf of the community. Many of the presider’s prayers include those beyond the congregation. Other prayers — like the prayers of intercession or the post-communion prayer — are offered by a lay assisting minister, who is attentive to the needs of all. The whole assembly participates in prayer with repeated responses like “Hear our prayer” and with hearty “Amens,” and then follows the command of Jesus by praying the Lord’s Prayer.
Prayer of the day
The prayer of the day, once called the collect, gathers or collects the people of God into the sacred space and time of worship. Located between the time of gathering and the time of the word, this prayer often gives voice to the themes of the assigned Scriptures of the day. Prayed thoughtfully and deliberately by the presider, this prayer leads the assembly deeper into the shape and content of the day’s worship. This prayer, centered on the week’s lectionary texts, may be used for personal devotion.
Prayers of intercession
The prayers of intercession, spoken for the needs of the church, the world and all people, have been included in Christian worship since the second century. These follow the proclamation of the word of God in readings and preaching and are a response to that life-giving word. In sure and confident hope of God’s grace in Jesus Christ, these prayers express the assembly’s particular concerns for the whole world and for all people. Before Holy Communion, the community turns outward, recognizing that the grace offered in word and sacrament is for the sake of the whole world.
The prayers of intercession are best when locally prepared by those who are sensitive to the needs of the world and the local community. The prayers may begin with such preprinted resources as Sundays and Seasons, but should always be adapted to the particular community’s concerns.
The service of Holy Communion in “Evangelical Lutheran Worship” includes a helpful outline for the prayers of intercession (pp. 105-106). This outline begins with general prayer concerns and becomes increasingly particular to the local community:
Prayers reflect the wideness of God’s mercy for the whole world —
For the church universal, its ministry and the mission of the gospel;
For the well-being of creation;
For peace and justice in the world, the nations and those in authority, the community;
For the poor, oppressed, sick, bereaved, lonely;
For all who suffer in mind, body or spirit; for the congregation, and for special concerns; and
Prayers of thanksgiving for the faithful departed and may include those who recently have died and those commemorated on the church calendar.
The prayers of intercession are best clearly spoken, without elaborate phrases or language. The assembly may be invited to respond to open-ended bids. For example, the assisting minister may invite the assembly to give voice to their concerns with bids, followed by a time of silence. Following the above outline, the assisting minister may say,
Let us pray for the church, the world and all God’s children.
For the church universal, its ministry and the mission of the gospel
(pause for the assembly’s response).
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the well-being of creation
(pause for the assembly’s response).
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Each prayer bid may be followed by a gesture that invites the community to offer their specific concerns silently or out loud. The assembly may also participate with a sung response.
Prayers of thanksgiving
At the baptismal font or the communion table, the presiding minister offers prayers of thanksgiving that follow the ancient Jewish practice of proclamation (for example, Nehemiah 9). The words of these prayers are spoken both before God and on behalf of the assembly. This way of thanksgiving and prayer retells the story of God’s work of salvation through history, anticipating the coming of Jesus Christ.
“Evangelical Lutheran Worship” includes five prayers of thanksgiving at the font and 11 options for prayers of thanksgiving at the table. These prayers may also be spoken in other words. At the baptismal font, the presider gives thanks for water and for the salvation that comes through the sacrament of baptism.
At the communion table, the presider recalls God’s saving works throughout history, culminating in the ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The prayer of thanksgiving at the table concludes with the whole assembly giving voice to the Lord’s Prayer.
Prayer after communion
This prayer, spoken by the assisting minister on behalf of the community, gives thanks for the gift of communion and anticipates the sending of the assembly out into the world in mission and service. Assisting ministers may use one of nine prayers provided in “Evangelical Lutheran Worship,” options provided in Sundays and Seasons or prayers in their own words.
For more information about prayer in the worshiping assembly, see two books in the “Using ‘Evangelical Lutheran Worship’” series:”The Sunday Assembly” by Lorraine Brugh and Gordon Lathrop, and “Keeping Time: The Church’s Years” by Gail Ramshaw and Mons Teig.
