Praying the Pattern

The 'Our Father' is often repeated as a set prayer, but rarely prayed as a pattern. However, using it as a framework can let it blossom into our whole life. This book takes a holistic approach to praying, encouraging us to take seriously the fact that Christ gave us this prayer and challenging us to weave it into our lives more fully. Here are creative ideas for prayer groups, retreats and worship as well as for devotional use by individuals: praying with the body, with organisers, scrapbooks, stones, cards, labyrinths, lifestyles and liturgies. Then share your own discoveries on the book's website. Books on the Lord's prayer tend to be one of two kinds. On the one hand there are scholarly books which go into the history, theology and literary things. On the other hand there are more 'devotional' books with meditations on the the prayer. There seem to be few books that take the insights about meanings and structure of the prayer and turn them into practical strategies for praying. Praying the Pattern fills the gap between noting that the 'Our Father' is supposed to be a structuring framework for prayer and the usual practice of recitating the prayer while using other patterns to shape everyday prayer. You can interact with the book and the author at the book's website where there is also new material not in the book, like liturgies, further links, articles and readers' comments.