The role of private prayer and devotion in Anglicanism?

[Lel]

Over time, I've come to experience that in Anglicanism, people don't talk too much about private prayer and devotion. Instead, direct experience with God is often via the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. I understand that we are personally connected with Jesus through His body and blood, yet that still strikes me as a bit impersonal.

I guess that in a way, I miss the personal prayer and devotional life experienced with God in my more evangelical Protestant days. Is this something done at all in Anglicanism? What other ways are there to personally experience God in the Anglican faith?

[SirTimothy]

Well, I use Compline from the '79 BCP to more organize my private evening devotions. Private prayer is VERY important, we just don't emphasise it as much as perhaps we should.

Timothy

[benedictine]

Timothy, you're completely right. Our Liturgy should be the basis for our private prayer, but it should not replace it.

[karen freeinchristman]

I think in the Anglican church we are given the freedom to pursue our own ways of engaging in private prayer and devotion, but I think this makes things difficult for new believers and seekers, because it isn't talked about much.

I pray that there will be renewal in the church in terms of our private prayer lives, and more encouragement between members of the church in the deepening and discipline of private prayer. :pray:

[Lel]

Well, I use Compline from the '79 BCP to more organize my private evening devotions. Private prayer is VERY important, we just don't emphasise it as much as perhaps we should.

Timothy

In a way, structure in private devotion is good because it gives one a starting point, but how can one really relate to God when everything is so structured? (Mind you, I like structure, but I'm wondering if there's a happy medium, so to speak, and not just a happy person that tries to conjure spirits.)

[AngCath]

Over time, I've come to experience that in Anglicanism, people don't talk too much about private prayer and devotion. Instead, direct experience with God is often via the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. I understand that we are personally connected with Jesus through His body and blood, yet that still strikes me as a bit impersonal.

I guess that in a way, I miss the personal prayer and devotional life experienced with God in my more evangelical Protestant days. Is this something done at all in Anglicanism? What other ways are there to personally experience God in the Anglican faith?

Many of us have vibrant personal prayer lives in the form of the Daily Office, rosaries, icons, scripture reading, contemplative prayer... but when we gather it is not what we talk about because the Eucharist is the focus.

[karen freeinchristman]

I guess that in a way, I miss the personal prayer and devotional life experienced with God in my more evangelical Protestant days.

I'm not sure I understand why you cannot still maintain the same personal prayer and devotional life you used to have. Can you elaborate more as to what that experience was like? :confused:

[lunamoth]

Hi Lel,

Congratulations on your confirmation. :) I hope you find as many blessings in the Episcopal Church as I have.

I agree with the others above that private prayer is a very important part of Episcopal life, as it is for all other Christians. I've also come to use the BCP to help me structure my private prayer, but it always ends up as much of a conversation with God as it is personal liturgy. I also use the Forward Day by Day to pick Bible readings each day. The readings in that little booklet, published quarterly, follow the daily office and is also the same, I think, as for RC. I don't know, I just really like it that the rythym of my prayer life is in beat with others. I've also been trying to do centering prayer, which has been a very spiritually enriching addition to my prayer life.

Of course there is always off the cuff conversation with God throughout the day too, but when I am tired in the evening it is often so very helpful to have the discipline to carry me to where I need to be. :)

cheers,
lunamoth

[benedictine]

I use the Anglican Breviary, which is an Elizabethan English translation of the Old Roman Rite, with certain additions for anglicanism. I also use the Rosary, and I do a lot of spontaneous prayer, but this is mostly my bedtime prayers after Compline.

[Lel]

I'm not sure I understand why you cannot still maintain the same personal prayer and devotional life you used to have. Can you elaborate more as to what that experience was like? :confused:

Everything before was so spontaneous. You read the Bible all the time, as there was major social pressure to do so. There were different passages read at whim. And prayer was conversation. You couldn't pray from a book, that was like rote repetition, and we all know what the Pharisees did.

In Anglicanism, I feel like I have to be more structured in prayer and Bible reading. First, there isn't the social pressure to engage in it as much, so as those are the parts of my Christian walk that I'm not quite as comfortable with, I tend to let them lapse easily. Second, the role of the BCP is so great in Anglicanism that I feel I must go by the BCP guidance, and I feel that spontaneity is lacking.

I guess I feel like I need a shove and a shove somewhere in the middle -- where prayer and private devotion are done both in spontaneous and structured manners.

[Lel]

Hi Lel,

Congratulations on your confirmation. :) I hope you find as many blessings in the Episcopal Church as I have.

Thank you! :)

I agree with the others above that private prayer is a very important part of Episcopal life, as it is for all other Christians. I've also come to use the BCP to help me structure my private prayer, but it always ends up as much of a conversation with God as it is personal liturgy. I also use the Forward Day by Day to pick Bible readings each day. The readings in that little booklet, published quarterly, follow the daily office and is also the same, I think, as for RC. I don't know, I just really like it that the rythym of my prayer life is in beat with others. I've also been trying to do centering prayer, which has been a very spiritually enriching addition to my prayer life.

Of course there is always off the cuff conversation with God throughout the day too, but when I am tired in the evening it is often so very helpful to have the discipline to carry me to where I need to be. :)

cheers,
lunamoth

I guess I ought to learn to read down sometimes! Yes, that's what I seek...something in the middle....off the cuff and structured, disciplined and spontaneous....

Thank you! :hug:

[karen freeinchristman]

I recently tried praying with the Daily Office and I found it really good. I am one who normally prays in a more spontaneous and unstructured way, as well. Sometimes structured prayer is hard to do in practice because of having two kids (probably just an excuse). But I agree with lunamoth that praying 'in the same beat' as others can be a good way of being in communion with the universal church. I am sure God likes spontaneity but also likes order. There is the saying, "pray as you can, not as you can't".

God just really wants us to pray. :prayer:

[SirTimothy]

In a way, structure in private devotion is good because it gives one a starting point, but how can one really relate to God when everything is so structured? (Mind you, I like structure, but I'm wondering if there's a happy medium, so to speak, and not just a happy person that tries to conjure spirits.)

Personally, I find the structure helps me to actually concentrate on what I'm praying, rather than trying to think up clever spontaneous things to say to God. When I pray prayers that I know I am praying with the world-wide church (Compline) I feel this sense of awe, that together, the church is praising God using the same words. I integrate a fair bit of spontaneous prayer into the structure, but I find it helpful (particularly integrating the Prayers of the People) into it, so I remember what I'm supposed to be praying for, rather than only praying for certain things. It's different for everyone, I'm sure, but this is the way I've found easiest.

Timothy

[lunamoth]

Thank you! :)



I guess I ought to learn to read down sometimes! Yes, that's what I seek...something in the middle....off the cuff and structured, disciplined and spontaneous....

Thank you! :hug:

LOL, if it's the middle way ye seek, the Episcopal Church is the place to be!

cheers,
lunamoth

[lunamoth]

I recently tried praying with the Daily Office and I found it really good. I am one who normally prays in a more spontaneous and unstructured way, as well. Sometimes structured prayer is hard to do in practice because of having two kids (probably just an excuse). But I agree with lunamoth that praying 'in the same beat' as others can be a good way of being in communion with the universal church. I am sure God likes spontaneity but also likes order. There is the saying, "pray as you can, not as you can't".

God just really wants us to pray. :prayer:

Oh, I know what you mean! I have two small children ages 2.5 and five. I'd love to get up early for morning prayer, but I'd never be able to get into it with one ear open for them waking up (and they always wake up when they hear me). But you know that morning prayer we all say..."Oh God thank you. Today I have not (yelled at my kids, been impatient in the grocery line, etc), but any minute I'm going to get out bed, and then I'm really going to need your help!"

cheers,
lunamoth

[Lel]

But you know that morning prayer we all say..."Oh God thank you. Today I have not (yelled at my kids, been impatient in the grocery line, etc), but any minute I'm going to get out bed, and then I'm really going to need your help!"

cheers,
lunamoth

:amen:

That's about how I start my day....oh wait, a few thought sins before I get out of bed. :eek:

[Naomi4Christ]

I find that there is great emphasis on private prayer, as well as prayer in 2s or 3s, before getting on to home groups, cell groups and the wider congregation. Yes, there is also a great deal of public prayer but there is also an expectation that you will pray privately as often as you can. And there is much support in helping you to develop prayer habits.

[karen freeinchristman]

You are fortunate, Dogsbody, to belong to a church that has all that support.
In my church, I think there is an expectation that we all are engaging in private prayer, but not enough support or encouragement, and we don't have home groups, unfortunately. People at my church don't seem to be comfortable with that.

[Lel]

I agree -- not every church has much support for private prayer and devotion. Mine doesn't seem to have all that much support for such, and my parish certainly doesn't.

Rejoice in the support you have!