Marty Schroeder
Author of the book titled "Five Inspirational Prayer Services"
A Brief Overview of Each of the Five Chapters
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 ~ Angels Among Us
This prayer service emphasizes and demonstrates how we can all be messengers for God and how a simple gesture, like sending someone a post card, can have a great and long lasting effect on that person. Using the popular song Angels Among Us by Alabama, allows this prayer service to be inspiring, meaningful, and practical for both high school age students and adults alike.Chapter 2 ~ The Seven Capital Sins
This thought provoking prayer service is an examination of conscience that uniquely describes and focuses on the Seven Capital Sins. A definition is given to each of the seven capital sins, along with an explanation on how each of the seven capital sins affects our lives in one way or another. It reminds us how we all can often fall into temptation, at times without even realizing it. There are two versions of this prayer service that are age appropriate, one for adults and one for high school teenagers. Examples are given that are practical for the participants as adults or as high school students, to help them recognize areas in their lives that may need more reflection.This prayer service can be used at any time of the year, with an emphasis for the Lenten season. During one portion of the prayer service, the participants will be invited to take a small piece of paper, write a note to themselves, and nail it to a wooden cross as a physical statement of repentance. The sound of the hammers is very powerful, and it is one part of the prayer service that will be remembered by the participants.Chapter 3 ~ Renewal of Baptismal Promises
This prayer service is much more than the conventional Renewal of Baptismal Promises. This Prayer Service includes both Protestant and Catholic versions but can easily be modified to reflect any number of Faith traditions.The main purpose of this Prayer Service to remind the participants of their commitment to be a follower of Jesus and it is also to reaffirm the vow that was taken at their own Baptism.The Prayer Service concludes with the renewal of the Baptismal promises. A closing communal prayer ends this powerful prayer service. Chapter 4 ~ Prayer of Blessings
This prayer service calls for each of the participants to give a special blessing to either one or two of the other participants using prepared and randomly chosen Blessings. This prayer service works extremely well for groups of people who have spent time praying together or for those people who are part of a Bible study or similar group. It is also an excellent and powerful conclusion to a retreat or spiritual renewal session or for the participants of the RCIA process. Response from this prayer service has been unbelievable. Chapter 5 ~ Gifts of the Harvest
This prayer service concentrates on giving praise and thanksgiving to God for all the good things God has provided us. It speaks of not only the material gifts but also of our unique talents, which are also gifts from God.Each of the participants will receive an item from nature such as a fruit, vegetable or similar item. The participants, while holding their fruits of the harvest, will stand in a circle around a focal point or an “altar” made of straw bales, pictures and other related items, as described in more detail later. The participants will be challenged to think of just one of the many gifts that God has blessed them with and give praise and thanks to God for that gift. The participants are asked to let the item they are holding represent just one of the many talents with which God has blessed them, while giving praise and honor to God. Just as each fruit of the harvest is unique in its own special way, we too are unique in our own special way because of the talents and gifts God has blessed us with. The prayer service includes a scripture passage followed by a scripted message that explains how their gifts or talents from God are just as unique as the fruits of the harvest they are holding. 