Individual Prayer before Worship

Prayers of the individual members of the congregation before the service belong only indirectly to the service. It is important because it is intended to put the people in the proper frame of mind to worship. The time before the service should be put to this purpose and not for socializing or for looking around. This prayer should include personal prayer for one’s family, the minister, the consistory, the people of God as a whole in their needs, those not there, and for one’s self. Through...