Quality Music and Books

Welcome to the Quality Music & Books Blog! 

Having spent my growing years in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, I learned to say the Lord’s Prayer in both English and Ukrainian.  Although I do not understand the words when reciting or singing this prayer in Ukrainian, the remembered reverence when used during the Divine Liturgy, church functions, and at family dinners still makes for a very spiritual experience.

After marriage I began attending a Lutheran church with my husband, where again the Lord’s Prayer is used as part of the liturgical worship service.  I was quite surprised–or maybe simply naive–the first time I heard someone say that the prayer taught by Jesus and recorded in the Gospels as being just a prayer, not the only prayer, and certainly not necessary in a worship service.

A recent conversation with a pastor in the Nazarene church about the Lord’s Prayer and their only occasional use brought me to ponder upon my opinion for the necessity of praying it so diligently and regularly.  Here, without knowledge of the original language, I will rely on the King James Version ( KJV ) of Matthew 6, a chapter brimming with instructional teaching from our Savior Jesus Christ.

Taking specifically the passages on the prayer, I refer first to verse 9.   After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father …. In this translation “After this manner” certainly does not give firm direction for use in the same manner as the bread and wine for communion.  There Jesus uses the word “when.”  Also, verse 7 gives further instruction about prayer, But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; …  This may certainly imply that repetitious recitation of the Lord’s Prayer is not even correct for this is what  “the heathens do.”

Here is where I offer my own approach as another viewpoint: It is very easy to fall into the habit of repeating memorized prayers without thought for meaning.  For example, musically speaking there are two ways to practice.  Learning difficult music takes hours of practice with many repetitions to achieve success.  One may execute these repetitions without much thought, or one can concentrate not only the written notes being played but also on the interpretation of what is heard.  With the first notes will be learned but nothing will actually be said, for notes without expression are only sound.  With the second there is thought and a story is told.

It is the same with this prayer if used without thought for it’s content.  The Lord’s Prayer as used in Matthew, given the text, may be the prayer of choice, or it may be an example for how to pray.  I suggest that if one is praying words mindlessly that it would be best to change what or how time spent in prayer is being used.

Recently I asked a group of fellow Christians their thoughts on the use of this prayer during worship.  Overall, the consensus was that those whose churches did not use it regularly would like to see it used more often, but were okay with its absence.  All used it during private prayer.

If like myself the Lord’s Prayer is used during private devotions and during worship at the church my husband and I attend, then I must ask for God’s guidance and the mind with which He has blessed me to be certain the reciting is active.  To achieve this I vary the prayer’s wording and also sometimes which portion will be emphasized, and also truly think about what I am saying.  Sometimes I fall into the thoughtless rut, at which time I start the prayer over.

If the Lord’s Prayer is not regularly prayed, then certainly it should be as a model for prayer structure … After this manner therefore pray ye … 

For further reading about the Lord’s prayer I include the following links.

To hear the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic, the Language that Jesus spoke, CLICK HERE.

The Lord’s Prayer in English throughout history, Old English, Middle English, Modern English : CLICK HERE.

The Lord’s Prayer contains a preface and seven petitions.  CLICK HERE for a brief explanation of each portion.

Wikipedia, the Free Online Encyclopedia Article on the Lord’s Prayer : CLICK HERE.

The Orthodox Church in America article on the Lord’s Prayer : CLICK HERE.

The Lord’s Prayer in Contemporary English

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread, and for give us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.  For the kindgom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.  Amen.

Try this ending to the Lord’s Prayer.

For the kindgom, the power, and the glory are yours from time eternal with no beginning and no end.  Amen.