FIND A CHURCH

PRAY: Talk, listen, and respond to God

Pray is to dream, to hope, to expect, to trust, to imagine. Whether worshiping with a community, reading alone, reflecting on the Bible, considering a personal experience, a story, or a movie, we are at work in an ecosystem of prayer, the research and development aspect of the Church. Prayer attunes us to noticing God breaking into human history – breaking through our prejudices and preferred notions with questions about poor and powerless persons, about justice and peace, about personal and systemic transformation so we might break out with new God given hearts to pursue God’s heart’s desires.
PRAY Poster
Path of Discipleship Posters

CHILDREN

YOUTH

ADULTS

PRAY: CHILDREN

Experiencing

I experience many ways to pray with others — with or without words (ex. at home, church, possibly school or camp).

Experiencing

I experience God’s love in the words, silences, songs, colors, and movements of worship through the rituals and seasons of the church year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost and after).

Belonging

I experience how prayer connects me to God, nature, others and my own deepest self, and I am open to new ways of praying.

I am aware that God is with me wherever I am, but that there are certain places where I feel closer to God.

Belonging

I understand myself as part of a community shaped by worship, rituals, and the seasons of the church year.

I look forward to worship and want to come more regularly.

I recognize Baptism and Communion as practices that are part of belonging in this community.

Searching

I am looking for ways to pray that are true for me and that deepen my relationship with God.

Searching

As I learn about different worship styles and rituals, I think about how they are similar and different from my own.

I am curious about how other friends and family worship and am open to trying new ways when I’m with them.

Owning

I know and practice the types of prayer that deepen my relationship with God, and I’m still open to new ways of praying.

I want to show others how they can pray to draw closer to God.

Owning

I understand and accept the practices of Christian worship, including baptism and Eucharist, as my own and desire to understand them more fully.

Worship is part of how I respond to God’s love and share myself with others.

Resources for Pray: Children

  • Introduce Godly Play to your congregation. Prayer time and silence are built into each session. Mentors model different kinds of prayer. Learn more about Godly Play from The Rev. Emily Griffin, Godly Play Trainer
  • Use Praying in Color for Children by Sybil MacBeth to guide you in inviting your children to doodle with markers and crayons, naming and drawing people, places, and concerns.
  • Pray with your children each day at mealtimes and at bedtime. Common Prayer for Children and their Families by Jenifer Gamber and Timothy JS Seamons has prayers.
CHILDREN PRAY CHART DOWNLOAD

PRAY: YOUTH

Experiencing

I experience a variety of ways to pray with others, with or without words, in community. 

Experiencing

I experience God’s love through the words and actions of worship, rituals, and liturgical seasons.

Belonging

I am open to trying new ways to pray.

I experience my community in prayer, building friendships with one another and with God.

Belonging

I understand myself to be part of a community that worships together, has shared rituals, and practices the liturgical seasons.

I know that Baptism and Eucharist are essential practices to my community.

I understand that the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds state essential beliefs for me and my community.

Searching

I explore new ways of praying and begin to practice spiritual disciplines on my own.

Searching

I am increasingly aware that people worship in many ways and that people understand worship in many ways. 

I desire to reflect on and claim the meaning of worship for myself.

Owning

I know the ways of praying and spiritual disciplines that deepen my relationship with God while remaining open to other ways of praying. 

I am comfortable showing others how to pray and draw closer to God.

Owning

I understand and can experience community in a variety of Christian worship settings.

I understand that we gather together to worship God, to become the body of Christ, and to be sent out to serve others.

Resources for Pray: Youth

  • Find an outdoor labyrinth using a labyrinth locator and take a field trip to walk the labyrinth together.
  • Listen to 365.org together when you gather.
  • Pray with your children each day at mealtimes and at bedtime. Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People by Jenifer Gamber and Sharon Pearson has prayers. 
YOUTH PRAY CHART DOWNLOAD

PRAY: ADULTS

Experiencing

I experience a variety of ways to pray with others in community, with or without words.

Experiencing

I experience God’s love in the words and actions of worship, silence, rituals, music, and seasons of the church year.

Belonging

I experience how prayer connects me to God, nature, others, and my own deepest self. I am open to new ways of praying.

I understand that God is with me wherever I am, but that there are certain places where I feel closer to God.

Belonging

I understand myself as a member of a community shaped by worship, rituals, and the seasons of the church year.

I look forward to worship and want to come more regularly.

I recognize Baptism and Communion as practices that are part of belonging in this community. 

I recognize the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds as foundational to Christianity.

Searching

I am increasingly aware of the variety of spiritual disciplines and ways to pray, with a desire to explore those that deepen my relationship with God.

Searching

I am increasingly aware of diverse worship styles and rituals and their multiple meanings with the desire to reflect on and claim their meaning for myself.

I am beginning to recognize the role of prayer in combating the world’s injustices.

My prayer sustains me through challenging circumstances. I pray even though I doubt.

Owning

I know and practice the types of prayer that deepen my relationship with Jesus, and I’m still open to new ways of praying.

I seek to show others how to pray to draw closer to God.

Owning

I am ready to commit to the Christian life in the Episcopal Church either by baptism, confirmation, reception or renewal of my baptismal promises.  

Worship is central to how I respond to God’s love.

Resources for Pray: Adults

ADULT PRAY CHART DOWNLOAD