A dozen or so years ago (none of us can remember how long it has been) my friend Bev Atwood started a prayer meeting for elders’ wives. We have been meeting one morning a week (at the same time the elders meet) pretty much ever since, and our focus has been to pray for the church. Since those first early days, Trinity Reformed Church has been planted, so we pray for both of our congregations.
For some time we had 3×5 cards with all the different prayer needs listed on them, and we would pass the cards around, each of us taking four or five, depending on how many of us were there that morning. Most of these things are listed (quite handily) in our church bulletins now, so we have dispensed with the cards and use our bulletins. We pray for the elders, the pastors, the deacons, the music ministers, and all the different ministries of our churches or associated with them. So that includes New St. Andrews College, Logos School, Credenda Agenda, Canon Press, and Greyfriars Hall, to name a few. And we pray for all the expecting mothers, the upcoming weddings, those who are grieving or sick, and those serving in the military.
One of the obstacles of having a prayer meeting is getting bogged down with prayer requests and all the details. But this meeting stays on track. Bev reads a selection from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening, then we pray around the circle a time or two, and she closes with some Scripture. It is very straight-forward.
We meet at 6:30 a.m., and since all of us have grown children, it is possible to slip away to make it to the prayer meeting (though I confess I have gone through seasons where my pillow held power over me). If you’re considering starting a women’s prayer meeting, I recommend this style of meeting. Though we visit for a short time over our coffee to catch up, we get right down to business and then out the door to our day.
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Nancy,
Thanks for this encouraging word. I’m currently leading a prayer group for our school (PCCS) and share your delight at ‘getting right down to business’. We haven’t used cards, but we pray through a list made current each week and we stay on track by proceeding down the list.
As prayer is the work of the kingdom, how sweet share this work with others. May God continue to grow His kingdom through works like these everywhere!
Thanks so much for the details of how you all do it. What a huge blessing to each of you and all those that are covered by your prayers!
This is excellent! Thank you for the details!
What would you recommend for a group that included many small ones? Waiting many years? Group naps? 🙂
Bean,
We have met in three or four different homes over the years. If you have a house available that has a big playroom, maybe you could hire a babysitter for the time. Our actual prayer time is about thirty minutes, so you could gather up your kids in short order.
That is a great idea as well! And it would probably lend to the focus of the time, actually. Little people becoming rowdy is good motivation to stay on task. 🙂
Not to change the subject, but, Mrs. Wilson, I was wondering if you could give me some food for thought re: young women who have graduated high school. I know that you’re not against girls attending college (I’m not either!). But what should guide the post-high school decision re: college for young women? Is there anything wrong with them simply staying at home? What are your thoughts re: girls marrying shortly after high school graduation? Is it wise for girls to plan on simply helping their parents/siblings/church family after high school, or do you think they should “have a plan” besides this?
I ask these things because recently some friends of mine have been grappling with these questions. Watching their struggle has made me think that I’d like to have a little more of an idea of how I want to guide my daughter before she’s actually needing to make these decision. I do have some time to think about these things…my daughter’s not even 2 years. 🙂
I’d love to hear your thoughts on these matters or be referred to some sort of book or other resource. Thank you!
Thanks for this practical wisdom. Our very first elders’ wives prayer meetig is scheduled for tomorrow while our husbands are meeting for their scheduled elders’ metting. What a joyful thing to do, and boy were our hearts already there! As I called each wife suggesting we begin this task, it was met with a hearty and excited AMEN!
Thanks for the common sense “kick-start” to do the obvious!