In part one I wrote about Christian books and bookstores, in part two about worship (particularly music), in part three about Bible study and in part four about involvement.

I miss extemporaneous prayer. Actually, more than just extemporaneous prayer, I miss the emphasis on prayer in general.

In most mainline churches prayer seems to be a bit of an afterthought. Certainly we pray during the worship service: We pray written down, in unison prayers. We pray the Lord’s Prayer. The pastor will pray (sometimes a spontaneous prayer, sometimes a written out prayer).

Some churches have a prayer list, others don’t. We sometimes pray before meetings (generally if a clergy person is present) or before meals if someone thinks of it. Often we seem uncomfortable with public prayer.

Contrasted with my evangelical upbringing this is shocking. In my church we prayed all of the time. We prayed out loud, in groups, privately. We were encouraged to have a rich prayer life at home. Prayer was vital to the life and the work of the congregation.

Why is the contrast so large? I think part of it has to do with what we believe about God. Evangelicals (I’m painting with a broad brush here, but I think it holds) believe in a God that is intensely interested in each individual, a God who hears every prayer, a God who answers every prayer, and who is intimately connected with the world. Progressives and liberals are rather uncomfortable with such a God. They believe that God cares, but not that God is directly involved in every situation. So prayer tends to be broader, less specific.

I don’t know exactly what I believe about prayer. I don’t believe in a God that cares that I get that parking spot at the mall or that the weather will be sunny for my day at the beach. I don’t even know if I believe God intervenes to heal people (otherwise there are some very good people who wouldn’t be dead). But I do believe that prayer has value. If for no other reason than that prayer influences the person doing the praying.

I find praying helps me to focus on God. To realize that I am not the only one in the world with problems. It helps me to realize that some things are bigger than I am. It helps to orient me to the viewpoint of God: One that cares about the poor and the orphan and the widow.

I miss feeling like I could have a conversation with God and be heard. I miss praying for other people in a group. I miss being able to pray out loud without feeling silly or ashamed. Some of this is definitely more about me than it is about the progressive church, but I don’t see out loud, extemporaneous prayer being modeled in church and I think that’s a problem.

In general I think the progressive church lacks contemplative practices. We might give some lip service to meditation but we don’t often talk about prayer, about lectio divinia, or about the divine office. We are neglecting our own tradition.

I miss knowing what people need prayer for. There is an intimacy that comes with sharing requests with one another (certainly this could be abused and used as a time for gossip or for spite as I am sure there are plenty of people praying for my “healing” of my queerness but again…baby out with bathwater.). There is intimacy in placing your hands on someone and praying for them. There is an intimacy in allowing the words you are saying to God to be heard and shared by another person.

I miss praying with people. I miss praying for people (although I try to do it in my own prayer times). I want to reclaim prayer not just as an act to get things the way I want them, but as a way to orient and center my life and as a way to draw communities together. I’m not entirely sure what prayer does but I know that it does something and I know that it matters.

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