Let us pray…

Have you noticed that in most prayers, especially collect-style prayers (the Eucharistic prayer, the collect of the day, the prayer over the gifts, the prayer after communion…etc) are always preceded by this invitation? 

Let us pray…

Have you noticed that I always take a pause after these words, leaving a space, a silence, before launching into the written prayer?  

That pause, that silence, is part of the prayer too. 

In the old days (and I mean really old days), the church would erupt in loud, noisy prayers following the invitation to ‘let us pray…’ People would offer up their own prayers, before they were all collect-ed (see what I did there) up and gathered into one by the set prayer. 

Let us pray…

Though things might be a little quieter these days, I want to invite you into this pause, to use this space, as part of your prayer life too. 

It is where you might want to take a couple deep breaths. It is where you might want to turn your heart and mind towards God. It is where you might want to offer the prayers of your own heart, silently or under your breath.

Let us pray… 

Thanks be to God!


CG+