WHAT IS PRAYER?

Prayer is responding to God, by thought and by deeds, with or without words. Christian prayer is response to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit. The principal kinds of prayer are adoration, praise, thanksgiving, penitence, oblation, intercession and petition. Adoration is lifting up the heart and mind to God, asking nothing but to enjoy God's presence. We praise God, not to obtain anything, but because God's Being draws praise from us. We were created to praise Him. Thanksgiving is offered to God for all the blessings of this life, for our redemption, and for whatever draws us closer to God. In penitence we confess our sins and make where possible, with the intention to amend our lives. Oblation is an offering of ourselves, our lives and labors, in union with Christ, for the purposes of God. Intercession brings before God the needs of others. In petition we present our own needs, that God's will may be done.

MINISTRY OF PRAYER

We pray as individuals daily, using our intercessory prayer list as the base. The needs of the church family, its friends, national and world-wide concerns are the focus as we intercede in prayer. The church gathers to share in Bible study and in corporate prayer, both as a large group and in small groups. These are meaningful times of intimate worship when we share needs and praise reports. And of course we join together each Sunday to acknowledge the holiness of God, to hear God's Word, to offer prayer, and to celebrate the sacraments.

When we work, we work, when we pray - God Works!

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words."
Romans 8:26

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7

"Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some men for us and go our, fight with Amalek. 'Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.' So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the sun set. And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the sword."
Exodus 17:8-13

Jesus said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'"
Luke 18:2-5

"If you follow my statutes and keep my commandments and observe them faithfully, I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall overtake the vintage, and the vintage shall overtake the sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and live securely in your land. And I will grant peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and no one shall make you afraid."
Leviticus 26:3-6a

"Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?"
Mathew 7:9-11

DO YOU HAVE A PRAYER NEED?

Whether you are a member of Grace Episcopal Church or just visiting on the Internet, we would like to pray with you or for you. Please let us pray for your needs and concerns by filling in the form below. You may remain anonymous. Very simply, we believe that God hears and answers prayer. He doesn't always answer our prayers when or how we may expect Him to, but as you and we discover His answers, we grow in our understanding and love of God.