Prayers And Litanies For All Occasions - Resource For Christian Living, Worship And Ceremonies

"Prayers and Litanies for All Occasions" is a set of original prayers that are generally modern in expression and sensitive to the present world realities and sufferings while also being relevant to the Church context. Its liturgical focus is reflected in prayers and litanies that can be purposefully included in Church/Christian worship, suitable for all occasions. Apart from its general application, some prayers are meant to be exclusively personal to the one who prays them. Thus, the overall objective of the book is to bring the cosmic, the ecclesial and the individual dimensions of human conversation with the Triune God into a wholesome unit. In short, this book is Christian theology wrapped in prayers for everyone, everywhere and everyday.

Dr. Eyingbeni Hümtsoe-Nienu teaches at Clark Theological College, Mokokchung, Nagaland, India. She is the author/co- author or editor/co-editor of a number of articles and books including God of the Tribes: Christian Perspective on the Naga Ancestral Idea of the Supreme Being and The Concise English-Kyong/Lotha Dictionary of Christian Faith.

I consider it a great honour to be asked by my former student to write this foreword. All too often, seminary teachers in Northeast India, trying to play catch-up with their peers in other parts of the world, end up disconnected from the church. They no longer feel the living pulse of the faith of grassroots Christians. There is a vast chasm between what they teach in seminary and what they preach in church. Not so Dr Eyingbeni I am pleasantly surprised to see the same attentiveness to details in this small book of devotions as she does to theological scholarship. In this endeavour she exemplifies what Martin Luther said about the three things that make a theologian: oratio, meditatio, tentatio (prayer, meditation, and hardship).

Prayers and Litanies for All Occasions not only touches the significant moments of our lives but the seemingly trivial and mundane routines. They are a poignant reminder that common places can take on new meaning when they are noticed, reflected upon and offered up to-if I may borrow a phrase from the Indian novelist, Arundhati Roy-The God of small things, our heavenly Father who lovingly caresses I consider it a great honour to be asked by my former stu- dent to write this foreword. All too often, seminary teachers in Northeast India, trying to play catch-up with their peers in other parts of the world, end up disconnected from the church. They no longer feel the living pulse of the faith of grassroots Christians. There is a vast chasm between what they teach in seminary and what they preach in church. Not so Dr Eyingbeni I am pleasantly surprised to see the same attentiveness to details in this small book of devotions as she does to theological scholarship. In this endeavour she exemplifies what Martin Luther said about the three things that make a theologian: oratio, meditatio, tentatio (prayer, meditation, and hardship).

Prayers and Litanies for All Occasions not only touches the significant moments of our lives but the seemingly trivial and mundane routines. They are a poignant reminder that common places can take on new meaning when they are noticed, reflected upon and offered up to-if I may borrow a phrase from the Indian novelist, Arundhati Roy-The God of small things, our heavenly Father who lovingly caresses

Prayer as communication with God can occur at any time, place, and circumstance. But there are times when words fail us and we deem it OK not to pray at all. The question of, "How to pray?" is as valid as, "When to pray?" There is no specific way of praying or a particular place for pray- ing because prayer can be said every time and everywhere. God fills the universe and thus is constantly accessible. The prayers herein are a reflection of that theological belief. They are primarily aimed at guiding readers to find mean ing for themselves in the words expressed. The readers may combine one or more prayer lines to fulfill their required expectations for any event. Prayers from one section may be adapted to suit another occasion and so also the arrangements, which can be altered to fit in to a particular need.

Although absolutions are strictly not prayers, yet it has been included to convey the message of God's gracious response to human's prayer. All absolutions herein are extracted from the Bible believing that only God has the last word on the conditions of human sinfulness. All other prayers: are original to the author. They're inspirations received in worship, at home, on streets, during quiet reflections, by nature, global and local events, technology and everyday whereabouts.