Simple Tips for Leading a Simple Prayer

Simple Tips for Leading a Simple Prayer
While it is true that we can pray simply and spontaneously, at more formal gatherings, our prayer is to resemble how we pray at Mass. In other words, the prayer is meant to be liturgical, which means that it should have a basic structure. This means including parts for the assembly, including Scripture, and including elements of sign, symbol, and ritual.

Many of us have never been taught how to prepare and lead a simple liturgical prayer. With that in mind, I offer Simple Tips for Leading a Simple Prayer. The emphasis is on simple. For many occasions, the prayer is intended to be brief: 5 to 10 minutes as an opening prayer. We often do not have the time or need to do something more complex. Even so, we can do something liturgical. Simple Tips for Leading a Simple Prayer is a primer for learning how to lead others in liturgical prayer. An example prayer aide that leaders can share with fellow pray-ers, is included.

This handout is referenced in my book, A Church on the Move: 52 Ways to Get Mission and Mercy in Motion. A Church on the Move offers 52 practical and doable strategies for moving entire parishes forward at full speed by discovering creative and ingenious approaches to tap into the power of God’s extraordinary grace in ordinary ways.

About Joe Paprocki 2758 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

3 Comments on Simple Tips for Leading a Simple Prayer

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*