|  | PARISH
INTERCESSORY PRAYER CHAIN GENERAL
DESCRIPTION | A plan whereby a
group of people in the parish agree to pray daily at home for other people who
are seriously ill or have serious personal problems. Additions and deletions to
the list are made by telephone chain calling. |
BACKGROUND | At
any given time in any parish there are people who are seriously ill, have been
involved in serious accidents or have personal problems which are almost overwhelming
to them. The power of intercessory prayer to heal and clear up troubles has been
documented by many people many times. Our Lord promised to answer our prayers
if we have faith. One parish prayer group sponsored by a Brotherhood Chapter,
in a 22-year period, prayed for over 3,400 people, some of them from far off corners
of the world. The grateful thanks of the recipients have been poured out in numerous
letters and cards returned to the group. The rector has praised its members many
times for the almost instant availability of people to pray for those in real
trouble. The rewards to those who pray are found in the words of one woman who
wrote recently, “From the moment I entered the hospital I felt as though
someone were holding my hand.” |
HOW
IT WORKS Although
any number of men and women may be recruited to serve as the prayer group, a workable
group is about 15 to 25 people. A chain may be set up with the Chairman calling
three Assistant Chairmen who call two people and who in turn, call two more. Those
last called do not have anyone to call. One other person could be a secretary
to send out cards to those placed on the list and to type up and mimeograph a
new list when the old one gets filled up. Members of the group are asked to pray
at least once daily, at home, for everyone on the list by name. In special situations,
persons may be placed on the list by initials only, in which case no card is sent.
Before a new list is typed and at least once a month, the Chairman should contact
the rector and others who have placed people on the list to see if their need
for these special prayers has passed. Some groups operate on the basis that requests
are accepted for four weeks only, after which time names are removed automatically,
unless renewed voluntarily by the original requestor. The successful
operation of a. prayer chain such as this depends on the faith fullness and dependability
of the Chairman and callers to make calls promptly and on the Chairman to see
that old names are removed within a reasonable time. The list should not be allowed
to become so long it is an unreasonable burden. It is also essential that some
feedback he given to all “prayers”, so they are aware their efforts
are effective and appreciated. Although this kind of a group does not depend on,
or probably want, regular group meetings, occasional or annual meetings may be
very worthwhile. This depends on the feelings of the group. A
practice followed by another Brotherhood group is for the Chairman to place the
names of persons desiring prayers on a list for the rector to ask for the corporate
prayers of the congregation each Sunday. |
HOW
TO GET STARTED The
first step is to decide exactly what type of intercessory prayer group to form.
Next a general announcement and invitation should be made to the parish through
the Sunday Bulletin or newsletter and/or specific invitations sent to selected
people to participate. A special effort should be made to recruit shut-ins as
this is one activity in which they can participate and feel they are being of
service. The names of people who may be interested can be obtained from the rector
and leaders of various parish groups. Some suggestion on how
to maintain the Prayer List - Divide the Prayer list
into 4 parts (Healing, Died, Spiritual Guidance, Thanksgiving)
- Place people
on the any part of the list for a specific period of time (week, month or until)
and label these entries as "Until (date).
- Place people on Prayers
for Thanksgiving for every answered prayer
- For people who have died (or
entered the larger life) pray for then for a week or a novena (9 days)
- Review
the list every day for changes checking with the source of the request at lease
once a month.
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ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES | Samples of lists and
a card which can be mailed to those placed on the prayer list can be obtained
without charge from the National Office of the Brotherhood. Such cards may be
purchased from the Brotherhood for 5c each, minimum order 25 cards. A list of
books and pamphlets on prayer may be obtained from the NATIONAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
815 Second Ave., NY, NY 10017. |
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