How our Unity of NZ prayer time works

Image credit: Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

Here are the essentials:

1. You’re here, and that’s all we need to do to begin. If you’re one who struggles to get a dedicated time of the day or week to pray, join us! Make this a regular event in your diary and simply turn up.

2. About cameras and microphones. Please, all just check you’re on mute once we get underway. That way, you can repeat any prayers out loud in your own space. Cameras: entirely up to you - on or off camera, and you can also switch on or off at different times during our 30 minutes together. The host will be on camera, but you are at liberty to go camera off and just lock into your private prayer space. This prayer space is a different setting from a meeting - so just do what’s right for you.

3. Our format is very simple. Most weeks, the host guides everyone through five steps or layers of prayer, which are summed up as Relaxation, Concentration, Meditation, Realisation and Appreciation. And within those concepts, we will use scriptures, some denial statements, and some affirming statements.

4. We all come from different prayer traditions, so our unifying thread in Unity prayer is that there is only One God, One Source, and that none are excluded from this Oneness. Therefore, you may like to think of this prayer time in a slightly different light. One helpful phrase is to think of this prayer time as praying FROM God TO God. Also, that the host is simply a host, a friend praying with you, there is nothing extra ordinary about anyone else’s prayers compared with your prayers.

5. During our minutes together, what we are really desiring is that place of stillness and silence. In a group prayer with time constraints and prompts, it can feel a bit clunky. But just enjoy being given space for the quiet.

6. To conclude our time together, there will usually be the Lord’s Prayer. Say it or not, in any version - whatever works for you.We will just slip away from Zoom without further conversation so that those of you who so wish, can continue to sit in silence.