Tag Archives: prayer

Gregory of Nyssa on Prayer

In prayer, a person is present with God, for the person who prays is separated from the enemy.  Prayer safeguards self-control, controls the temper, restrains pride, cleanses us of malice, overthrows envy, destroys injustice, and corrects impiety.  Prayer is the strength of bodies, the prosperity of the home, the good will of the city, the strength of the kingdom, the victory in war, the security of peace, the bringing together of enemies, the preserver of allies.  Prayer is the seal of virgnity, the pledge of marriage, the shield of the traveler, the guard of those who sleep, the courage of those who keep watch, the productivity of farmers, the deliverance of sailors. . . . Prayer is conversation with God, the contemplation of unseen things, the fulfillment of things desired, equal in honor with angels, the progress of good things, the overthrow of evils, the correction of sinners, the enjoyment of the present, and the substance of things hoped for.1

  1. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Lord’s Prayer, quoted in Christopher A. Hall, Worshiping with the Church Fathers (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2009), 142.

A Sermon for the Week of Prayer

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything; recovering from a back injury has necessitated that I limit the amount of time I spend in front of the computer.  I thought I’d break my silence with the text of a sermon I preached in the Providence Community Chapel yesterday during the school’s Week of Prayer.  Perhaps the sermon can in some way be as edifying for you to read as it was for me to preach.

Continue reading A Sermon for the Week of Prayer

Upcoming Christian Unity Worship Service

A former student of mine has drawn my attention to an upcoming ecumenical worship service which she has been involved in planning.  The service, to be held at the Church of St. Andrew Anglican (2333 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough, ON) this coming Sunday, June 4th at 7:00 pm, is hosted by the Ministerial Association of North East Toronto.  The theme of the service is “One Spirit, One Church.” Continue reading Upcoming Christian Unity Worship Service

A Prayer for Christ the King Sunday

This past Sunday many congregations marked the end of the Christian year by celebrating Christ the King Sunday.  The Feast of Christ the King is a relatively recent addition to the Christian calendar.  It was established as a festal celebration by Pope Pius XI in 1925 and has, in the years that have followed, also begun to be celebrated by many Protestant denominations and congregations.  There is a certain fittingness to the Christian calendar ending with the proclamation, “Christ is King!”  Not only does this resonate with the shape of the biblical narrative itself, it also provides an obvious segue into the season of Advent, where we await the coming of the King.  As I was preparing for worship this past week, I came across a prayer I wrote for worship on Christ the King Sunday back in 2008 that seems like it might also be of use for us today. Continue reading A Prayer for Christ the King Sunday

Rowan Williams on Sneezing and Muddying the Waters

I recently had a student write a book review of Rowan Williams’ short book Being Christian: Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer for my summer systematic theology course.  Williams, who is perhaps best known for having served as the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, is one of the most erudite and learned theologians of his generation.  That being said, this brief introduction to “the essential elements of the Christian life”1 may possibly go down as his most important work. Continue reading Rowan Williams on Sneezing and Muddying the Waters

  1. Rowan Williams, Being Christian: Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2014), vii.