Church: A Praying Community
July 9, 2023

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Deuteronomy 6:4-11

"It doesn’t change God. It changes me.”
---C.S. Lewis, Shadowlands

Translation
Matthew 6:10
your kingdom come your will be done

Matthew 26:42
“My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

To whom is Moses speaking when he says, “Impress them on your children?”

Lord’s Prayer [corrected]
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
May Thy kingdom come.
May Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Who has the responsibility to impress children?

There are many ways to parent children: from Tiger Moms on one end of the spectrum to laissez fair at the other end. On that spectrum, where are you in your approach to parenting children about life in general?
--About social skills?
--About politics?
--About spiritual matters?
--To what degree is investing spiritual practice important to you?

Do members of your family consider the practice of faith as normal? Why or why not? What is the evidence?

At home (other than church ministries), what do you do to instruct your children about life, faith in particular?

BEYOND SUNDAY
Use these questions to guide you in going deeper into the message given on Sunday, either in a group or by yourself. This week the focus is on the church being a praying community.

There are many forms of prayer. There are prayers of adoration and praise to God. Confession is a different kind of prayer. A lament is a prayer in which you lay before God the struggle inside us. It is always good to offer prayers of thanksgiving out of a grateful heart. Then there are prayers of supplication and intercession. These are requests for help and assistance from God, for ourselves and for others.
--Do you have a balanced prayer life utilizing the five different kinds of prayer?
--Which kind of prayer is your strength?
--Which kind of prayer do you need help?

Prayer is also shaped by our attitude.
--What is our attitude when we pray? Is it simply a task to do and get done? Am I demanding of God? Do I pray angry, yelling at God? Why are you angry?

When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He said, “When you pray, pray like this, ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed by Your name. May Your kingdom come. May Your will be done.” The tone of praying this way is very different. It is one of invitation. It is one of a quiet heart.
--What is your practice of prayer.
--Do you have a regular time? Or only when you are in deep need?

Last of all, prayer changes the person who prays.
--How has God changed you when you pray?

For PCC's budgeted giving year
(June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024)

Annual Budget: $3,100,000

Giving Update (as of 7/5/23)
Needed to Date: $775,000
Giving to Date: $171,658
Shortfall to Date: $603,342