We have a prayer service on the first Sunday evening of most months.  I say “most” rather than “every” because there is flexibility when vacations, special events or calendar vagaries come along.   But once a month, a Sunday evening is dedicated to prayer.

Whereas the Tuesday morning prayer Meeting is devoted exclusively to prayer, the Sunday evening time is a worship service where prayer is the main focus.  We sing, usually hymns.  A short sermon is presented, often from a scriptural emphasis on prayer.  For example, during the year when Sunday evening sermons were based on the Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Days, it was natural for the November and December prayer service sermons cover parts of the Lord’s Prayer.

The format and sequence for the prayer time varies.  Some is done in small self-organized groups; this is a little less comfortable in the pews of our new sanctuary than it was when we could move chairs around.  Sometimes individuals will say a written-out prayer.  Sometimes, prayer requests are taken from those assembled; one person volunteers to pray for each request raised.

Each service will have a theme or main topic. As examples, we have prayed for Youth and Sunday School, specific individuals facing an illness or other crisis, for our denomination, church finances, the MSU campus, the ministries of the church.  The leader will explain specific areas for prayer; often specifics are displayed by the projector to remind everyone.

One thing we might add would be keeping  track of the prayer requests.  We do see answers to prayer and are certain that the Lord is with us (Matthew 18.20).