The Congregation at Prayer
By Pastor Todd Peperkorn, STM
Memory work for some invokes pictures of cramming 30 minutes before confirmation instruction in 8th grade. For others, it may be having texts drummed into your head in elementary school. But for many, memory work isn’t even a memory, as in many parishes it largely disappeared in the 60s and 70s. This is not what God has in mind when He calls on us to speak about His Word at all times (Deut. 6), to meditate on it day and night (Ps. 1), and to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly (Col. 3). That being the case, what are we trying to accomplish at Christ Lutheran Academy and in our parishes when it comes to learning things by heart?
What we are trying to create is what I would call a culture of faith in our churches. Faith hears the Word of God, receives what God gives in His Word, and confesses it back to Him in prayer and to the neighbor in word and deed. Faith always wants to hear more of what God has to give, not less. Faith longs to drink in the wisdom of God’s Word, not see it as one more item on a checklist of “to do” things for the day or week.
This is why we have developed what we are calling The Congregation at Prayer. This little booklet will be distributed every season, and includes readings, psalms, prayers, catechism selections, hymns, bible verses and bible stories for the whole family. The material is what we use in chapel for Christ Lutheran Academy every weekday, but it is designed so that anyone may be able to sit down, take a few minutes, and drink deeply of the riches of God’s mercy. And by doing so with The Congregation at Prayer, you are actually hearing the Word of God and praying together with the whole congregation.
Notice, though, that it is not titled The Congregation’s Manual on Everything to Know About God or The Congregation’s Assignment Book or something like that. This pattern of hearing the Word of God and repeating it back is not meant as a task. Rather, this is for you and your benefit. You need the Holy Scriptures. You need to pray. It is good for your soul, and good for your family. God commands it, but God also ties many wonderful promises to His Word and prayer as well.
But what if you don’t know how to use it? Simple. Here are a couple suggestions: 1) Come to bible class at church. Both Pastor Grenyo and I are using it for closing at Bible class. This way you can see it modeled with both adults and children. We are also using it for meetings throughout the week. 2) Ask one of us to come to your home and show you how to make use of it. Both Pastor Berg and I are committed to teaching this to our congregations and her members. If you ask us, we’ll come.
Christ Lutheran Academy continues to serve the congregations and families of our parishes with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Teaching the faith is what we do. God bless you as you hear His Word, pray and confess His Holy Name.
October 2005 Academy Accents