Mark Katrick faith column: Regardless of religion or creed, prayer is as vital as air itself

The church I served full time before retiring after 14 years (St. John’s United Church of Christ) and the church I am now serving part-time (Brighton Presbyterian), have a few important things in common: Their warmth and hospitality overflows. Every guest and visitor is greeted and spoken with like a good friend.

Both churches emphasize mission and outreach. Their members and friends have a heart for “the least of these,” the downtrodden and vulnerable of which Jesus speaks in Matthew 25:31-46.

Both Brighton and St. John’s are praying churches. They put out and update prayer lists on a regular basis.

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Every time we welcome, reach out to and lift up a brother or sister in need is like prayer in action. I used to have a UCC bumper sticker on the back of my dark red Renault Sport Wagon that said, “To believe is to care; to care is to do.” I would add that, “To believe is to pray; to pray is to care; to care is to do.”

No matter what church or denomination you are affiliated with, and no matter which creed you profess, prayer and contemplation is essential, as life-giving as every breath we take. One of the members of Brighton Church once said, “Every thought is like a prayer, so that people get blessed often.”

Throughout my faith journey, I’ve learned to pray by memorizing the Lord’s Prayer, professions of faith, taking part in liturgies and praying the sacred scriptures, particularly the Psalms.

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As a pastor and spiritual guide, I’ve come to relish the spontaneity of prayer — words of comfort and blessed assurance that Christ streams to me, so I can stream them to others. An important part of this is focused listening for the “still, small voice” of God and to feelings and needs being expressed by others, so you can say them back.

People like to know they’re being heard and that what is being spoken from the heart is being taken to heart.

Like with any other ministry in the church, a person never stops learning to pray. The best thing we can do to get better and better at it is to do as Paul advises: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, (and) give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

And while you’re at it, find great churches to worship and pray with like I did.

Mark Katrick is a pastor and spiritual guide.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mark Katrick faith column: Prayer is as vital as air itself