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WHDL - 00014919

Sacred Integration: The Integration of Contemplative Prayer Practices in Corporate Worship

Elizabeth Dagley Graham

William Broadhurst Library at Nazarene Theological Seminary

Resource Types

Academic (Thesis, Dissertation, Etc.)

Resource Languages

English

Institutional Repository

Description / Abstract

“How can I learn to discern the voice of God?” “How can I pray?” “Is there more to prayer than asking God for things?” These are questions that I have heard repeatedly over the years of pastoral ministry from some of my most long-standing church members. In a Protestant context where most prayer modeled in congregational settings are expository prayers of a petitionary nature; it naturally follows that the prayer lives of our congregants are often one-dimensional and lackluster. This dissertation seeks to address that issue by integrating contemplative prayer practices in corporate worship. This equips the church with the tools and practices for listening to and discerning God’s voice, both in corporate worship and in daily life. The result is the foundation for a robust prayer life and genuine communion with God. The practices explored in the context of corporate worship in this dissertation include: Lectio Divina, Audio Divina & Visio Divina, Examen, Breath Prayer, Imaginative Prayer, and Jesus Prayer. These practices do not supersede other elements of liturgy but enrich that which is already taking place and enable the members of the gathered assembly to develop a comprehensive breadth of spiritual formation.