How to Start a Prayer Group

From time to time you will be asked for help in starting a prayer group, or adding some zip to an old one. The request may come either from the rector of a church or a member of that parish, possibly someone who has attended a workshop on prayer. (Ask your Diocesan Representative for more information on a workshop.)

About Prayer Groups:

Anglican Fellowship of Prayer has been a leader in the small group movement. Under Helen Shoemaker, AFP began to initiate small parish prayer groups in the late 1940's, long before the idea had caught on at a wider level. In fact, Anglican Fellowship of Prayer began as a fellowship of small prayer groups that held an annual conference to encourage each other.

Today many Anglican churches have small groups. Although the function may be very similar, they go under a wide variety of names: fellowship groups, shepherd groups, care groups, cell groups, bible study groups, intercession groups, meditation groups, and prayer groups.

Most of these groups would include:
(A) bible meditation
(B) personal sharing
(C) spiritual direction
(D) prayer
(E) social time (before or after the meeting)

As you might expect, the name of the group usually indicates the amount of time allotted to each of these functions. (In some cases, one or more of the functions will be omitted altogether.) whatever its chosen designation, any group that normally spends 20-30 minutes of its meeting time at prayer could be considered a prayer group.

How To Begin:

If a priest asks for help in starting a prayer group, you should ask him or her to identify between five and twelve people who would be interested in belonging to a prayer group or who want to learn more about prayer. These people should then be invited to a meeting, either at the church or in someone's home, where you can talk about the purpose and function of a prayer group.

If a lay member of the church asks for your help, follow the same steps as above but be sure to gain the approval of the parish priest first. The person inviting you should speak to the rector before you agree to come or any invitations are issued If the rector is nervous of prayer groups, the following steps may help.

Call the rector and outline what you will be talking about. It may be necessary to remind the rector (gently) that you as a Diocesan Representative were appointed to this ministry by the bishop, and that one of the functions of a parish prayer group is to support both the bishop and the parish clergy in prayer. Invite the priest to attend this introductory session that you will be leading but make sure it is understood that the priest is not normally expected to attend a prayer group meeting. Point out that in the beginning, niembers of a new prayer group contract to meet for a period of six-to eight weeks. If at the end of that time, the priest feels the prayer group is causing problems, he/she can ask for its termination.

If, in spite of these measures, the rector does not want you to come and talk to people in the parish about starting a prayer group, do not go. Instead, you may suggest that those who invited you might like to join another prayer group for awhile, or that they just plunge in and start a prayer group on their own. You can help by suggesting books, and by praying for them. In such circumstances, the Holy Spirit will see to the rest!

The Introductory Meeting:

Introduction:

1) Begin by explaining that getting to know each other is a crucial part of forming a prayer group. Ask those present to answer the question "Who Am I?" giving their full names and some information they feel is important about themselves.

2) Explain that a prayer group has two functions - to pray for others and to help its members grow spiritually. The five functions of a prayer group are structured to help this happen.

A) Bible Meditation:

1) Christian spirituality is based on the Bible. Both the Old and New Testaments record the working of God in the lives of his people. Meditation in the Christian tradition means to read and carefully think about a passage of scripture so that God can speak to us through it. Although meditation is normally an individual experience, group meditation is an invaluable training for those who are relatively new to this spiritual discipline. when reading a particular passage of scripture, Joan will benefit from hearing what the Holy Spirit taught Mary in that passage, and Mary likewise will benefit from John's insight into the reading.

2) There should be a pattern for reading the scriptures:

The scripture readings for the following Sunday.

A book of the bible - preferably a gospel or epistle.

A thematic study from the scriptures, perhaps on healing or prayer.

3) Many useful bible study guides are available, however it is important to remember that this is not a time to get educated about the background or sources of the scriptures. Theological study should be done beforehand, or afterwards if curiosity is aroused by a particular discussion. The purpose of meditating on scripture is to hear what God is saying to me (or us) personally. If you use a bible study guide, try to use one based on the inductive bible study method. A period of silence should always follow the initial reading of the passage to allow for silent reflection and personal meditation.

4) By way of illustration, you might like to lead a brief study on Acts 3:1-16. Read the passage over carefully, first in silence, then have someone read it out loud. Ask people to share what strikes them about the passage.

How might it apply to them meeting as a group?

Points that you may want to bring out in the discussion are:

Peter and John were going to the Temple for prayer - their hearts were set towards worship.

Peter and John were going together - Jesus said that where two or three were gathered in his name, he would be in their midst. A prayer group only needs two or three members to be effective.

Peter and John had no money but they prayed for the lame man. Through prayer. they gave him some-thing better than money. A prayer group has no money to give away. But what if does give is far greater value than money. Peter said that the healing of the lame man had nothing to do with his and John's own power or godliness, but came from faith in Jesus. In the same way, a prayer group does not have any power of its own for healing.

Peter said that he and John were witnesses that God had raised Jesus from the dead. Through its faithful meeting for prayer, week by week. members of a prayer group witness to their faith in a living Lord.

B) Personal Sharing:

Personal sharing of personal and spiritual problems normally occurs during the Bible study time or during the period immediately before the intercession time when requests for prayer are brought forward. Members of a prayer group should be warned against gossip and reminded regularly that any confidences shared within the group are not intended to be shared more widely, even for prayer. A lack of trust within the group will seriously hinder or even destroy its development.

C) Spiritual Direction:

In its classical form, spiritual direction is normally a one-on-one relationship between a spiritual director and someone seeking spiritual guidance. A spiritual director can help someone come closer to God

by encouraging good purposes

by helping him/her to recognize and do away with spiritual hindrances

by sharing personal experience, helpful advice, books and prayer resources.

Although few people have the luxury of a personal spiritual director, a good prayer group through the grace of God can meet many of the same needs. Individuals in the group encourage others by their own example, while difficulties shared can be helped through the combined experience, wisdom and assistance of the group members.

D) Prayer

The five facets of prayer noted in the Personal Prayer Notebook are: adoration, thanksgiving, confession, intercession and petition.

A prayer group should always begin with adoration and worship of God. How this is done may vary from one group to another. Some enjoy singing praise songs, while others read a psalm, or have a time of silent adoration. A prayer for the Holy Spirit to open our understanding and speak to us through the scriptures should always precede the time of bible study.

Reasons for thanksgiving, confession, intercession and petition may come to light through the times of sharing, and these should be included in the prayer time. In praying for the sick, avoid unnecessary discussion of symptoms. We meet to pray for the healing of both people and situations. Sadly, it always seems to be easier to find causes for intercession than for thanksgiving. Some groups find it helpful to keep a journal of special prayer requests so that a healing six months later does not go unnoticed. Thanksgiving for answered prayer is especially important both because it honors God and because it helps to build our faith.

God often calls a prayer group into being for a particular purpose. and members should be aware that it is God who has called them together. The reason for a group coming together may not become clear immediately. but usually becomes evident through the way members want to allocate their time for prayer. Of course, God may also use a prayer group for more than one purpose and prayer group leaders should recognize that members often come with a mixed agenda.

Some meet primarily for intercession on behalf of their parish. They pray for the clergy, the Sunday school. the choir. the confirmation class. the worship on Sunday, people on the parish sick list. the vestry meetings. the building fund, the outreach program and so on. Some may meet primarily for meditation and petition to deal with personal needs resulting from traumatic childhood experiences. marital problems. divorce. or serious illness. Some have had an experience of God and are drawn to a prayer group as a way of solid living and expanding that experience.

Problems:

Issues that may cause problems in a prayer group are lack of commitment, betrayal of personal trust, domination of the discussion by one person, non-acceptance of different styles of prayer and not keeping to the agreed times for beginning and ending the meeting. It is up to the leader and the group to recognize and deal with these problems.

Lack of commitment is usually shown in sporadic attendance, late arrivals. early departures, and poor preparation for bible study (if this is expected.) The leader should discuss the problem privately with the member concerned to see what is causing the trouble and whether the group can do anything to help. (For instance, the offer of a lift by another member could help if transportation is a problem. Or someone might find it easier to host the meeting in her home than to find a baby-sitter rather than to go to another house.) One way to deal with this, especially when a group is just beginning, is to agree to meet for six or eight weeks only, with everyone expected to be there every week. At the end of that time, take a two to four week break (perhaps over the Christmas holidays or after Easter) and then start again.

Different styles of prayer are very personal for the people involved. Some are unwilling to pray aloud (unless they are reading a prayer); others may want to pray in tongues.

Those who wish to remain silent should be encouraged to know that their prayer is just as important and acceptable to God as the prayer of those who pray aloud. Such a person may be helped by being given the parish sick list to read aloud during the intercession period. Conversely, if some members are disturbed by those who want to pray in tongues. the group should remember St. Paul's warning not to quench the Spirit.

E) Social Time

The social time is one element of a prayer group which is completely dispensable! At the same time it is often the most popular part of the meeting. Unfortunately, the social aspect has a tendency to take over, partly because praying together generates such a warm climate of fellowship and unity. Strict control is necessary to keep the socializing within bounds, or else the group will fall apart because it is not meeting its primary purpose

The meeting itself should begin and end on time! If refreshments are offered either before or after the group meeting, they should not be allowed to interfere in ary way with the format of the meeting. Either the group leader or an appointed timekeeper should make sure that everything moves on schedule. Having a bell to ring when it is time to begin the meeting (or setting an alarm clock to go off when it is time to pray) can help with an unruly group.

Variations

When a new prayer group is being formed. Some decisions need to be taken about its form and process.

How often will it meet? (Weekly? Alternate weeks?)

Where will it meet? (Church or a member's home?)

When will it meet? (Morning, noon, or evening?)

How long will it meet? (Half an hour, an hour, two hours?)

What is the primary purpose of the group? (Only for parish concerns? Grow in prayer?)

Who will be invited to attend? (Members of the church only? Friends and neighbors?)

A group that meets at the church for an hour just before the mid-week Eucharist will be very different from a group that meets in the evening at a member's home where non-attending friends and neighbors are welcome. Those beginning the prayer group need to pray for discernment to know God's will and purpose for the group.

As stated at the beginning. prayer is the only one of the five group functions that must be part of a Prayer Group.

A "how to" Booklet is available from the AFP office. (See Resources #G-22)