Ex-Church of Christ Support Board

My mother's church used to have continuous 24-72 hour prayer marathons where someone (they would rotate people). would be at the church at all times to pray for the state of the nation without interruption. During the day or early evening they might have more than one person praying. I always wondered if people who came in at 3 am in the morning would really pray for hours. Has anyone here participated in sessions like these or know any stories about them?

We did 24 hours and more 'sings' but not praying like that. Where were you? Sings were a 'thing' in Tennessee. Songleaders would sometimes give us alternative tunes, or have everybody singing ALL the verses instead of one, two and five, or something like that. Also older songs, and some unfamiliar songs - all day, and all night, taking turns and people would sing for hours then go to rest and maybe come back later. I was in my teens, I think.

h**ps://dianasinging.com/

Looking at the date - I must have attended some of the very first Diana Sings. I wonder how gussied up they are by now? Facilities were pretty basic as I remember, but the attendance was good - hundreds at least.

longdistancerunner wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2024 5:39 pm My mother's church used to have continuous 24-72 hour prayer marathons where someone (they would rotate people). would be at the church at all times to pray for the state of the nation without interruption. During the day or early evening they might have more than one person praying. I always wondered if people who came in at 3 am in the morning would really pray for hours. Has anyone here participated in sessions like these or know any stories about them?

I was in Tennessee at a pretty traditional CoC.

I have never seen a CoC have a prayer service or vigil of any kind. My experience of the CoC was that prayer was the most minimal part of the service. I think that is because so many men did not feel adequate in prayer, though they were called upon. From time to time, I committed the faux pas of saying "no" when called upon for prayer. Congregations learned to ask me beforehand if I thought I might be up to the task. I have seen congregations where a monthly schedule for each service was worked up with the names of who would say prayer, serve the table, maybe read the Scripture, etc.

On the other hand, I have often scheduled or participated in prayer services and sometimes vigils since departing for the denominations. In fact, the more liturgical churches are oriented to a more robust implementation of prayer. Virtually all prayer books or breviaries in these denominations have some sort of methodical system of hours of prayer (which usually last more like 12-15 minutes, not a whole hour).

Hymn sings: these were sporadic in Northern Ohio. But when one was hosted it usually lasted between 90 minutes and 2 hours. I suppose you could discern a pattern. The available song leaders would form a queue on the front couple of pews and each would lead a song. Then one of two things would happen: audience requests for the old standards or those who had learned one would lead a new song. Whichever thing hadn't happened second would happen last. I don't recall hymn sings usually having an invitation.

I’ve never done a 24-hour prayer marathon, but I’ve heard from friends who have, and they said it can be really tough to stay focused, especially in the middle of the night. One friend mentioned that it helps when you’re part of a group, like during the daytime or early evening, because the energy keeps you going. But when it’s just you at 3 a.m., it can feel like a real struggle to pray for hours. They said it’s all about pushing through, though, and staying focused on the intention behind it.

It would be difficult for the COC to have prayer marathons, because they think prayer is just talking to God. They probably run out of things to say. Those who believe prayer is also meditating and listening to God can manage longer sessions. At 3 am, though, most of us could have trouble staying awake.

Shane R wrote: ↑Fri Nov 08, 2024 9:38 am I have never seen a CoC have a prayer service or vigil of any kind. My experience of the CoC was that prayer was the most minimal part of the service.

Shane, I'm not sure they really believed in prayer, or thought it did any good. TBH, I'm not even sure they believed anything supernaturally oriented was "real".

But back to what you said about the male members not being comfortable with praying publicly. My dad would never do it.

According to Christianity the Jews and Romans tortured Jesus by crucifying him why would anyone want to be so cruel as to make him go through the torture of listening to a 24 hour Church of Christ prayer marathon?

and what would they pray for?

"oh lord, please bless our church library with the collected works of Foy Wallace"

oh lord send us a debater to debate the one cuppers and non sunday schoolers.

"lord them heathern baptist just built a big pretty building downtown. will you burn it down through a lightening strike?"

oh lord would you please tell the crickets not to jump in the baptistry water this season?

B.H. wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2024 11:33 am the torture of listening to a 24 hour Church of Christ prayer marathon?

Ivy wrote: ↑Fri Dec 06, 2024 6:57 pm

Shane R wrote: ↑Fri Nov 08, 2024 9:38 am I have never seen a CoC have a prayer service or vigil of any kind. My experience of the CoC was that prayer was the most minimal part of the service.

But back to what you said about the male members not being comfortable with praying publicly. My dad would never do it.

Did your family pray before eating? Mine only did it on some holidays and when guests were over for a meal. I always took it as one of those things we did for the benefit of others; keeping up appearances.