Guidelines to develop prayer groups

If a prayer group(s) already exists, why not join them? If your parish doesn’t have one why not commence one?

I would encourage parishes everywhere to ensure that prayer groups are functioning, specifically for the purpose of praying for:

• The leadership of the Diocese, its mission and ministries
• The forth-coming 40 Days of Prayer
• Your parish - its leadership, mission and ministries
• Don’t forget the needy in your community...

Here are some guidelines:

1. Inform the leadership of your parish of your desire and intention.
2. Find one other person who would want to participate with you.
3. Invite two or three others - no more than that is necessary. ('wherever two or three gather in my name')
4. Pray as you can, not as you can’t. Don’t try and run a marathon if you’ve never tried to complete a one hundred metre dash.
5. Establish a framework - place and time; duration - perhaps you could commit yourselves to meet once a week for the next 4 months.

Consider style. Style? Yes, style.

1. Do you want to use appropriate music?
2. Light a candle?
3. The use of icons or pictures.
4. The use of silence to listen… Who knows, perhaps God may just want to say something? God is always more anxious to speak than we are to listen. Have a pad and pen ready… a sign of faith and expectancy.

In the coming months we will be producing lists of resources that you can draw upon to enrich your prayer life.

Abandon yourself for a little to God and rest for a little in Him. Enter into the little chamber of your soul, shut out everything save God and what can be of help in your quest for Him and having locked the door seek Him out.
Matt. 6:6
(Anselm - Archbishop of Canterbury)