NSC Germany, A House of Prayer. Prayer Initiatives and Houses of Prayer

NSC Germany, A House of Prayer. Prayer Initiatives and Houses of Prayer

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The Charismatic Renewal was newly endowed in recent years with a very old tradition, the tradition of constant prayer. All over the world, at very different places and with very different backgrounds, houses of prayer arose, with prayer around the clock on every day of the week, open day and night, 24/7, to praise and worship, to give thanks and intercede.A5, 60 pages

The national NSC of the German Charismatic Renewal has released a paper for those looking for new possibilities to foster prayer today – within prayer groups or initiatives of prayer and also the founding of Houses of Prayer. It offers inspiration and orientation in the tradition of the church.

From its beginnings the Charismatic Renewal was a community of prayer: A new love of prayer, both personal and community developed. In families, prayer groups and communities the wealth and variety of prayer have been rediscovered.

The Charismatic Renewal was newly endowed in recent years with a very old tradition, the tradition of constant prayer. All over the world, at very different places and with very different backgrounds, houses of prayer arose, with prayer around the clock on every day of the week, open day and night, 24/7, to praise and worship, to give thanks and intercede. Houses of prayer with constant prayer, is a demanding program. Following Luke 14:28-30: You have to sit down and take account. Are there sufficient resources for the project? That means: Is there sufficient spiritual experience and expertise, enough "manpower?" The Spirit of God always gives in abundance, no question, but: Can we accomplish it and how?

This study guide will serve to answer these questions.


This text was written by
the Theological Committee of the German Charismatic Renewal in the Catholic Church (CE in German) and the Experts consulted.

Members of the Theological Committee of the CE
(German Catholic Charismatic Renewal):
Martin Birkenhauer, School Chaplain, Chairman of the Theological Committee
Deacon Helmut Hanusch, Chairman of CE
Dr. Johannes Hartl, Theologian, Director of the House of Prayer Augsburg
Dr. Michael Kleiner, Old Testament Theologian

Experts consulted:
Sr. Johanna Domek OSB, Benedictine sister of Perpetual Adoration in Cologne
Karl Fischer, Theologian (diploma), CEO of CE
Hans Gasper, longtime advisor in the Office of the German Bishops' Conference (on pastoral and ecumenism)
Kim Catherine-Marie Kollins, initiator of Burning Bush Initiative-International
Dr. Hannah A. Schulz, Counselor and Educator of Counselors and Spiritual Directors

Published by the Executive Board of the Charismatic Renewal in the Catholic Church in Germany

1st edition in German: September 2015
1st edition in English: December 2015

An e-document of the German and English edition can be downloaded (Downloadbereich) from the website. English translation done by Dr. Annette Klein, with Dr. Fr. Kenneth Metz and Virginia King. Scripture quotes are taken from the New Jerusalem Bible.

 

Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................................6
Part 1. Pray Constantly (1 Thess. 5:17) – the Tradition of Constant Prayer ..........8
1.1 The Yearning for Perpetual Prayer ...................................................8
1.2 Blessing, Worship ...........................................................................8
1.3 Petition .........................................................................................10
1.4 Intercession ..................................................................................10
1.5 Thanksgiving .................................................................................11
1.6 Praise ...........................................................................................12
1.7 Holy times – Holy Places .............................................................12
1.8 Common and Individual Prayer ...................................................14
1.9 Preformulated and Freely Formulated Prayer.............................15
1.10 Eucharist and Eucharistic Adoration ..........................................16
1.11 Perpetual Prayer ........................................................................17
Part 2. The Diversity of Prayer Initiatives and Houses of Prayer .......................19
2.1 Examples in the Catholic Church ..................................................19
2.2 Examples from the Protestant Sphere ..........................................23
2.3 Ecumenical Examples .....................................................................25
2.4 The Diversity of Prayer Initiatives – A Conclusion ........................26
Part 3. Comments and Suggestions for Catholic Houses of Prayer ......................27
3.1 Houses of Prayer ............................................................................27
3.2 Psychology of Young Movements ..................................................33
3.3 Considerations regarding the House of Prayer Augsburg ...............34
3.4 The House in the Storm .................................................................35
Part 4. Digression: The IHOPKC as an End Time Movement ...............................37
4.1 Millennialism in Christian Tradition ..............................................37
4.2 Postmillennialism and Premillennialism .......................................39
4.3 Premillennialism and Dispensationalism ......................................39
4.4 Mike Bickle and the IHOPKC .......................................................41
4.5 The Millennium and Theological Discussion ...............................42
4.6 The Millennium — a Lasting Question .........................................43
4.7 A New Heaven and a New Earth .................................................45
Appendix: Commentary of the Theological Committee of the German CCR concerning Different Styles of Worship ............................................................47
Endnotes ..........................................................................................................48