It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don’t try to make them elaborate, this isn’t a contest but the doorway into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak. —Mary Oliver
According to the Catechism in the Book of Common Prayer (page 856), Prayer is responding to God, by thought and by deeds, with or without words. The principal kinds of prayer are: adoration, praise, thanksgiving, penitence, oblation, intercession, and petition.
We have compiled a short selection of simple prayers for use at any time, from the Book of Common Prayer, that you can find on this page.
The Book of Common Prayer is a book that is both ancient and modern, a devotional and teaching resource for individuals and congregations. It is also the primary symbol of our unity, and has defined our faith and tradition since the publication of the first English Prayer Book in 1549. We are many and diverse, and we come together in Christ through our worship, our common prayer. Much (most) of our personal and group prayer is found in this prayer book. You can find an online copy of the Book of Common Prayer here, and you can download a PDF copy here. 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).
In addition to our public worship services (details here), there are many opportunities for individual and group prayer at All Saints. Daily Prayer via Zoom (subscribe to the All Saints e-blast here to get the Zoom links)Join us Monday through Saturday at 8:00 AM via Zoom for Morning Prayer, and Monday through Thursday at 8:45 PM for Compline/Evening Prayer. We have an active Prayer Chain ministry. To become one of our prayer warriors, or to submit a prayer request, you can call the church office 402-393-8612 and ask to speak to one of the clergy, or submit an online prayer request here. Find out about our Centering Prayer group, which is currently meeting on Thursdays at noon via Zoom, by sending an email here. Our lay Ministers of Care team provides prayer and loving contact with our homebound or those in care facilities. Contact the MOC team here. Our outdoor Stations of the Cross is always open for a prayer walk, as is our Prayer Labyrinth. This free PDF, The Way of Love for Families, has great suggestions for Bible readings to do at home with children, examples of prayers for morning, mealtime, and bedtime, and specific suggestions for family activities. The popular daily devotion Forward Movement posted each day online here, and it is available as a podcast here.
Praying the Rosary is a tactile aid to focus on prayer. Our minds naturally tend to wander, and it can help to have something we can hold onto physically —sometimes, just the touch of an item dedicated to prayer can remind us of the peace of God and put us in a prayerful frame of mind. There are many forms of prayers to use with the Anglican Rosary; see below for several different sets of prayers you can use on our website with our online, interactive Anglican Rosary.
There is a great deal of symbolism woven into the design of the Anglican rosary. There are thirty-three beads representing the thirty-three years of Jesus’ life. The Cruciform beads form the cross and can also represent the four compass points of the earth. The seven beads of the Weeks can represent the seven days of creation, the day of the Sabbath, and the number seven is often used in the Bible as symbolic of perfection. To enter into prayer there is an Invitatory bead, much like we say an invitatory collect at the beginning of our services to invite us into worship.
(Thanks to King of Peace Episcopal Church in Kingston, Georgia for parts of this Rosary content.)
Our online interactive Anglican Rosaries let you virtually move from bead to bead as they walk you through the prayers. Each selection below provides a different set of meditative prayers you can use individually, or in a group prayer (for example, by sharing your screen in a Zoom prayer meeting). Click on one of the choices below and give it a try! (Note: because of screen size, these work best on devices larger than smartphones.)
You can download a PDF of all of these prayers, and selected Psalms and canticles, here.
ChurchNext, a ministry of Forward Movement, has released a set of free courses, Prayer and Worship in Our Homes. These courses equip people for prayer and worship even if they cannot gather with others in person at church. Prayer and Worship in Our Homes includes five classes, in these videos: Simple Prayers for Any Time Prayers for our Nathion Everyday Spiritual Practices with Keith Anderson How to Pray with Christopher Martin Praying with Saints with Scott Gunn and Tim Schenck How to Pray Online with Karekin Yarian Praying the Anglican Rosary with Suzanne Edwards-Acton