Some Thoughts on Presbytery-Prayers

One of the responsibilities of the Moderator at a presbytery meeting is to choose the open and closing hymns and to give opening and closing prayers. The stated presbytery meetings for this year are planned with themes for the day, often focusing on a guest speaker's topic. That makes it easier to choose hymns for the day that reflect the theme and to offer prayers that are appropriate for the meeting. Called presbytery meetings present a different challenge because they are usually called for the purpose of deciding issues that could be contentious.

Although I am comfortable offering prayers in public, offering prayers before a large assembly containing many pastors is another matter. Here are some of my thoughts about praying at presbytery meetings, both stated and called:

• It's a prayer, not a sermon. Keep it short and avoid opinionated pronouncements.
  
• Be specific and pray about the purpose of the meeting. Remember that God already knows why you are meeting and doesn't need an explanation.
• Ask for God's direction and help, don't give instructions to the LORD.
  
• Some phrases to avoid: "we just", "the ways in which we blah blah blah", "live into whatever".
• Too many adjectives are like a verbal stutter--one or two suffice.
• Choose hymns with text that is appropriate to the meeting and then repeat an appropriate phrase in the prayer to reinforce the message of the hymn text.
  
• Be prepared with an outline in order to avoid rambling, but allow the Holy Spirit to guide the prayer through the outline.

Comments and additional suggestions from my Gentle Readers are appreciated!