Christian Prayer

Aim: To know what prayer is and to understand why it is important

for Christians

What is Prayer?

Prayer is communication with God.

Christians can pray anywhere at anytime. It can be asking God for something, thanking God or just asking Him a

question. Prayer does not need to be formal it can be like chatting to a friend.

Personal Prayer

Personal Prayer is when Christians pray on their own. God will

hear them and answer them when

they pray in this way. Christians may pray aloud or they may

pray silently.

Public Prayer

Christians will often come together to pray.

They will normally meet at their local church but it could

take place anywhere. Jesus said that when Christians agree to pray together about

something, God hears and answers.

Meditative Prayer

During meditative prayer Christians

will sit quietly, normally alone, and focus on God. Some

Christians will use words of the Bible to

help them concentrate their

mind on God.

Vigils

Vigils are night prayers. Jesus would often pray at night.

Christians like to pray at night because it is quiet and

peaceful. Churches may organise a vigil if it is a

special time in the Church year or if they are praying for

something very important. Often if someone is harmed

in their community there may be a vigil.

Task

Christians believe that prayer is important. Write a letter to Alan the Alien explaining what prayer is and different ways in

which Christians can pray. Alan really

needs to know why Christians pray too!