Praying the Lord’s Prayer
Please click on the image to view the document.
Let Us Pray Spring 2025
Once again we will gather virtually each month on the third Monday of the month, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, to hear from a variety of speakers and to spend some time together in prayer.
Please note that the sessions for April and May (3rd Monday is Statutory Holiday) will be held on the 4th Monday of the month.
Spring 2025 Schedule
- April 28th Prayer in Small Churches: Bishop Rachael Parker joins us. Prior to her appointment as Bishop, Rachael was the rector for Dayspring Ministry, a collaboration between three small town parishes in the diocese of Edmonton. Her career has seen her through such positions as archdeacon of rural ministry in the diocese of Edmonton, regional dean of Halifax’s Chebucto region and diocesan youth chaplain in the diocese of Huron. In a video introducing herself to the diocese of Brandon, Parker spoke of her love for serving widespread congregations in small communities.
- May 26th Prayer in the Midst of Crisis: Bishop William Cliff joins us. Bishop William is a pastor, musician and liturgist who has served in the Dioceses of Huron, Brandon and Ontario. He was elected Bishop of Ontario and installed in 2023. In the midst of a crisis, prayer can offer solace, strength, and guidance by allowing individuals to connect with a higher power, express their needs, and find hope amidst uncertainty. It provides an opportunity to acknowledge, and acknowledge the challenges, while seeking support and direction from a source of comfort.
The 2025 Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89192823143
Zoom Meeting ID: 891 9282 3143
Video On Demand
Perhaps you were not able to attend the monthly Let Us Pray session, or perhaps you enjoy them so much you’d like to share them with others? Well, now you can!
Edited recordings of our sessions are made available to you online approximately one week after the original live session. These videos do not contain any personal details of participants, but will isolate the presentation portion of the session, for use in your parish, deanery or Diocese. A perfect resource for a prayer gathering any time it suits your schedule.
April 2025: The Very Reverend Canon Richard Sewell, Dean of St. George’s College in Jersusalm, led an online pilgrimage hosted by the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer (Canada).
.
February 2025: The Very Reverend Robert Key, International Director of Thy Kingdom Come, joined us. TKC is a global ecumenical prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus. 2025 is the 10th year of
.
February 2025: The Very Reverend Kevin George, Dean of St. Pauls Cathedral in London, helps us to prepare for
November 2024: Archdeacon Paul Feheley, AFP Canada National Director, leads us in
Advent has dual themes of preparing for both Christ’s first coming (birth) and second coming. Multiple Advent study resources are available from different Anglican sources worldwide. The O Antiphons are an important Advent tradition, reflected in hymns and prayers. Advent is a time to focus on Christ rather than consumerism and prepare spiritually.
Advent Resources
- The History of Advent
- Advent 2024 Course
- The Episcopal Church
- Advent For Everyone
- Advent Connections
- O Antiphons (PDF)
Next Steps
- You are encouraged to choose an Advent study/resource that works for you.
- Begin Advent practices on December 1st to prepare spiritually for Christmas.
- Join December 16th “Let Us Pray” session for interactive seasonal reflections.
October 2024: The Rev. Canon Val Kenyon introduces the Rev. Chad McCharles and the Rev. JoAnn Todd as they discuss
Chad describes growing up on a farm and how his grandfather’s daily habits, like checking the weather and keeping a journal, were expressions of a deep, quiet faith. He explains how the realities of farming, from relying on the weather to caring for livestock, naturally cultivate a sense of dependence on God and a life of prayer, even if not always expressed in traditional religious terms.
JoAnn shares how her own experience transitioning from an urban to a rural lifestyle has given her a deeper appreciation for the unique perspective of farmers and the rural community. She highlights how the cycles of nature, the realities of life and death on a farm, and the sense of co-creating with God all shape the prayer life of those in rural settings.
JoAnn uses examples of sheep behavior, like their need for a leader and their instinct to flock together, to illustrate the depth of meaning in Jesus’ description of himself as the “good shepherd.” She explains how this metaphor resonates more powerfully for those with hands-on experience caring for sheep.
In closing the session, Val leads the group in prayer, lifting up the concerns and needs of the various parishes and communities represented. She also invites everyone to attend the next session in November, which will focus on preparing for Advent.
September 2024: The Reverend Canon Dr. Susan Wilson (Burlington), joined us for
Link to Supporting Material
Susan’s Powerpoint Presentation
June 2024: Associate Jacquie Boutheon joined us for
May 2024: Oblate Joanne Davies, chaplain at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, joined us for
April 2024: Sister Connie, Sisterhood of St. John the Divine joined us for the
Sister Connie’s Slide Show
Related Information
MARGARET GUENTHER’S SUGGESTIONS FOR A RULE OF LIFE
Baptismal Covenant Reflection
March 2024: Dean Emeritus of Canterbury Robert Willis joined us for
February 2024: AFP Executive member Paul Dumbrille led us in a special 90 minute session focused on John Ortberg’s the Seven Spiritual Pathways to God (Intellectual, Relational, Serving, Worship, Activist, Contemplative, Creation). Although there is no “right” way to access God, it is likely that there are some of the pathways that you more commonly walk on because they are naturally you. It is comforting to know that while we have preferences, we aren’t limited by them. Who amongst us walks on just one path?
Unfortunately, there is no recording of this session.
January 2024: Archbishop Lynne McNaughton discusses the different aspects of Medieval Mystics in this month’s version of Video On Demand. Enjoy!
December 2023: The AFP Executive celebrate their most loved Christmas carols and hymns in this month’s version of Video On Demand. Enjoy!
November 2023: The Venerable Monique Stone joined the AFP to share with us the experience of her pilgrimage to Julian of Norwich’s Anchorage in Norwich, England.
October 2023: The Director of the AFP, Archdeacon Paul Feheley, speaks about Evangelism & Prayer in the Churches of the Middle East and the role prayer plays in these ministries.
September 2023: Reverend Matt Martin, Chaplain at Huron University College, speaks about his experiences of Campus Ministries and the role prayer plays in these ministries.
June 2023: Archbishop Linda Nicholls on Aspects of Prayer in Life and Ministry
May 2023: Bishop Riscylla Shaw onPraying in a New Heaven and a New Earth
April 2023: Dr. Michael Harvey on the ACORN Program, with an introduction by the Reverend Jane Bourcet. Dr. Harvey may be reached via email at michael@unlockingthegrowth.com
March 2023: Former Primate Fred Hiltz joined us in Lent to speak about St Cuthbert, an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist who founded the important abbey on Iona, which became a dominant religious and political institution in the region for centuries.
June, 2022: Archbishop Anne Germond presented Praying With Icons
Pandemic Prayers
Praying during a Pandemic
By Paul Dumbrille. In times of crisis, Prayer Matters. In this pandemic period people are turning to prayer. One small indication that people are praying more than usual, is that the number of people visiting this Anglican Fellowship of Prayer website has increased as rapidly as the COVID-19 virus pandemic has progressed. Is this an … Continue reading “Praying during a Pandemic”
In a Time of Virus, Fear and Economic Meltdown
Almighty God, we pray for those who have died of the coronavirus; for those who are sick, and for those who are afraid of getting sick. Be the shepherd of your people, O Lord, we pray. In the midst of such uncertainty, we wonder how to keep ourselves, our families, our companies and our churches … Continue reading “In a Time of Virus, Fear and Economic Meltdown”
For those who are unable to physically receive communion
The Reverend Nils Chittenden, Rector of St. Stephen’s Church in Armonk, New York, shared a beautiful prayer from the Anglican Church of South Africa for those who are unable to physically receive communion. He writes, “In apartheid South Africa, many prisoners were denied the sacraments and had to find other ways of taking Spiritual Communion. … Continue reading “For those who are unable to physically receive communion”
We pray today for all those suffering from COVID-19, and especially today for those struggling to find support:
Father of all, you call us to be generous to one another, and to recognise in their faces the true image of your Son. Give us grace that as individuals, and as a whole society, that in this time of great need we may minister friendship and support in ways that are safe to all … Continue reading “We pray today for all those suffering from COVID-19, and especially today for those struggling to find support:”
Lockdown
Yes there is fear. Yes there is isolation. Yes there is panic buying. Yes there is sickness. Yes there is even death. But, They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise You can hear the birds again. They say that after just a few weeks of quiet The sky is no longer … Continue reading “Lockdown”
In Time of Calamity
O most mighty and merciful God, in this time of hurricanes, fires, earthquakes and viruses, we flee to you for succor. Deliver the people, we beseech you, from their peril; give strength and skill to all those who minister to the needy; prosper the means of their safety; and grant that, perceiving how frail and … Continue reading “In Time of Calamity”
Come Pray With Us
The Anglican Fellowship of Prayer (Canada) exists to encourage and enable the ministry of prayer in Canada. It is inclusive of all forms of expressions of Christian church life, whether they be lay or clerical, catholic or evangelical, monastic or secular, formal or informal. AFP (Canada) seeks to be a teaching resource to assist both individuals and congregations to grow in the life of prayer. It seeks to increase and strengthen the companionship of Christian prayer throughout the world.
To learn more, please visit our Come Pray With Us Page.
What is Prayer?
Prayer is effective communication with God: effective because it involves the release of energy and because it gets something done; communication because while it makes use of words it is more than words, and because it is not a monologue but a dialogue. God not only supplies the energy which makes the entire process possible, but also is the party at th other end of the line.
Prayer is at the centre of the spiritual life of a Christian. It is connecting and communicating with God. It is the essence of our relationship with God. Prayer is a privilege, not a duty. Like all good things it requires some discipline.
There are as many ways of praying as there are individuals. Our personalities and life experiences influence how we pray, and there are many different Types of Christian Prayer.
Why should we pray?
Because we are told to (I Thess. 5:17)! Because human experience teaches us that prayer a source of understanding and strength, a unifying force and a means of growth. Because by it we can help others (II Cor. 1:6), and because it is a way to the healing of minds, bodies, human relationships and the inner self. In prayer the center of living is shifted from ourselves to God.
How do we know that our prayers are being heard?
A certain way of knowing that our prayers are being heard is by their results. The results of prayer include not only what God may do by way of His personalized, compassionate response, but also direct influence related to the outreach of prayer-power, and not infrequently new attitudes and understanding on the part of the one who prays. In other words, the results of prayer fall into three categories: they are ‘heard’ when God intervenes, ‘productive’ as the release of mental energy (a physically measurable phenomenon) affects situations, and ‘therapeutic’ as change occurs within ourselves. We should remember that God’s concern is never less than our own (Matt. 6:8) and that, whatever may happen, we are never beyond the reach of God’s personal love (Matt. 6:26).
Writing and Sharing Prayers
The Anglican Fellowship of Prayer invites Churches across Canada to learn about writing and sharing prayers.
We invite you to share your prayers in posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Tutorial videos are available for setting up Instagram and Twitter accounts.