Ok this is a day I will never forget , NEVER!
But in a good way
Today started with the Knock knock at my bedroom door and WAYNE!! WAKE UP = mom shouting me, it was time to go to church.
I have been a member of the latter day saints for about 6 months and I love it, I love the people I love my religion our religion.
Anyway me and mom went to church and everything was going well, I was saying hi to the people , Suddenly I feel a tapping on my shoulder, I turn around to see one of the church members.
He says to me "Wayne I was wondering if you could do something for me"?
Without hesitation I say yes thinking he was gonna ask me to help him grab something from his car or maybe just carry something for him. Believe me when I say that nothing could prepare me for what he is about to ask.
He asks me "Wayne Will you say that sacrament closing prayer?" again not realizing the implications I say yes, Straight after I realize what I have just let myself in for.
The sacrament closing prayer means I have to say a prayer for the entire church up on a stand in front of the entire church with every pair of eyes on me as I say it.
Before I can say anything els my name has been added to the list of speakers, to late to turn back now.
Lucky for me the sacrament wasn't until last thing, about 2 hours away I had plenty of time to think of my prayer. The pressure was on time was fast running out, all I had so far as my idea was the first thing that I was ment to say which is, Heavenly father.
Before I knew it I was in the second class and the last class before sacrament, I had still only the first line of my prayer. and before I knew it that class had ended, I now only had a half a hour to come up with a prayer. The bishop stood on the stand at the front and read out the list of speakers. Then he said it. Brother Wayne Webster will give the final benediction.
Time was fast running out I had to think of a prayer, I was so worried I was gonna mess up. I needed to get my ideas down on paper, kinda like a script.
I had no pen and no paper, as luck would have it I had my phone, So I used the compose message and within ten minutes I had come up with my prayer.
the speaker before me was now on the stand giving his speech, after him we would sing a hymn and then it was my time. I remember I was thinking how come when it's a normal day it seems that they talk for longer.
He closed his speech and we began to sing, as we was singing I could feel my nerves beginning to get the better of me, I was thinking to myself things like what happens if I mess up or forget my prayer. I needed to think of a way I could look at my prayer that I had composed on my phone.
I came up with a plan I would hold the phone in between my hands as I held them together that way it would just look like I was holding my hands together in prayer.
The hymn was over, this was it I walked to the front of the church and climbed the steps and walked to the stand and faced the people. all of them bowed their heads and the room went quiet I moved close to the microphone and put my hands together, my phone secretly in between my hands and I read out my prayer.
This was my prayer,,,
Heavenly father thank you for your blessings, watch over us as we travel home.
Keep us safe, Keep the spirit with us, help us to apply your teachings to our every day life, and Keep us on the path of truth and righteousness. I say these things in Jesus name, Amen
The crowd all said Amen and that was it, I turned to walk back to my seat and the bishop said thank you and that it was a wonderful prayer and he shook my hand, and the man next to him said the same and shook my hand.
I felt so relived it was over but I also felt a sense of achievement.
But in a good way
Today started with the Knock knock at my bedroom door and WAYNE!! WAKE UP = mom shouting me, it was time to go to church.
I have been a member of the latter day saints for about 6 months and I love it, I love the people I love my religion our religion.
Anyway me and mom went to church and everything was going well, I was saying hi to the people , Suddenly I feel a tapping on my shoulder, I turn around to see one of the church members.
He says to me "Wayne I was wondering if you could do something for me"?
Without hesitation I say yes thinking he was gonna ask me to help him grab something from his car or maybe just carry something for him. Believe me when I say that nothing could prepare me for what he is about to ask.
He asks me "Wayne Will you say that sacrament closing prayer?" again not realizing the implications I say yes, Straight after I realize what I have just let myself in for.
The sacrament closing prayer means I have to say a prayer for the entire church up on a stand in front of the entire church with every pair of eyes on me as I say it.
Before I can say anything els my name has been added to the list of speakers, to late to turn back now.
Lucky for me the sacrament wasn't until last thing, about 2 hours away I had plenty of time to think of my prayer. The pressure was on time was fast running out, all I had so far as my idea was the first thing that I was ment to say which is, Heavenly father.
Before I knew it I was in the second class and the last class before sacrament, I had still only the first line of my prayer. and before I knew it that class had ended, I now only had a half a hour to come up with a prayer. The bishop stood on the stand at the front and read out the list of speakers. Then he said it. Brother Wayne Webster will give the final benediction.
Time was fast running out I had to think of a prayer, I was so worried I was gonna mess up. I needed to get my ideas down on paper, kinda like a script.
I had no pen and no paper, as luck would have it I had my phone, So I used the compose message and within ten minutes I had come up with my prayer.
the speaker before me was now on the stand giving his speech, after him we would sing a hymn and then it was my time. I remember I was thinking how come when it's a normal day it seems that they talk for longer.
He closed his speech and we began to sing, as we was singing I could feel my nerves beginning to get the better of me, I was thinking to myself things like what happens if I mess up or forget my prayer. I needed to think of a way I could look at my prayer that I had composed on my phone.
I came up with a plan I would hold the phone in between my hands as I held them together that way it would just look like I was holding my hands together in prayer.
The hymn was over, this was it I walked to the front of the church and climbed the steps and walked to the stand and faced the people. all of them bowed their heads and the room went quiet I moved close to the microphone and put my hands together, my phone secretly in between my hands and I read out my prayer.
This was my prayer,,,
Heavenly father thank you for your blessings, watch over us as we travel home.
Keep us safe, Keep the spirit with us, help us to apply your teachings to our every day life, and Keep us on the path of truth and righteousness. I say these things in Jesus name, Amen
The crowd all said Amen and that was it, I turned to walk back to my seat and the bishop said thank you and that it was a wonderful prayer and he shook my hand, and the man next to him said the same and shook my hand.
I felt so relived it was over but I also felt a sense of achievement.
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6 comments:
That was a beautiful prayer. Great job under pressure :)
Oh my goodness, I think I would surely have been sick, passed out, and then DIED if they ever asked me to give a prayer with such short notice. I know from experience that you need time to prepare for such things. Mental preparation, that is. When it comes to things like that, you know that you can do it. It's just the thought of doing it that scares the living daylights out of you!
Wayne, I am SO proud of you! It sounds like you did a WONDERFUL job! And just think- now that you've done that, you can do anything!
I'm so proud of you, Wayne. You're really such a great example of courage and faith to others. I always love it when you pray with me.
Great job Wayne. It gets easier now that the first time is over. Just let the Holy Spirit lead you.
Yes, like Stephanie said. If you let the spirit lead you in prayer, then it is not so much you speaking as it is the Lord moving through you and allowing you to speak for him.
What a good job! I am so happy for you!
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