Prayer and Worship

Q What is prayer?

A Prayer is responding to God, by thought and by deeds, with or
without words.

Q What is Christian Prayer?

A Christian prayer is response of God the Father, through Jesus
Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Q What prayer did Christ teach us?

A Our Lord gave us the example of prayer knows as the Lord's Prayer.
See page 364

Q What are the principal kinds of prayer?

A The principal kinds of prayer are adoration, praise, thanksgiving,
penitence, oblation, intercession, and petition.

Q What is adoration?

A Adoration is the lifting up of the heart and mind to God, asking
nothing but to enjoy God's presence.

Q Why do we praise God?

A We praise God, not to obtain anything, but because God's Being
draws praise from us.

Q For what do we offer thanksgiving?

A Thanksgiving is offered to God for all the blessings of this life,
for our redemption, and for whatever draws us closer to God.

Q What is penitence?

A In penitence, we confess our sins and make restitution where
possible, with the intention to amend our lives.

Q What is prayer of oblation?

A Oblation is an offering of ourselves, our lives and labors, in
union with Christ, for the purposes of God.

Q What are intercession and petition?

A Intercession brings before God the needs of others; in petition, we
present our own needs, that God's will may be done.

Q What is corporate worship?

A In corporate worship, we unite ourselves with others to acknowledge
the holiness of God, to hear God's Word, to offer prayer, and to
celebrate the sacraments.