Trinity
  Episcopal
  Church
    Since 1746

Statement of Purpose

To welcome and encourage
all in our journey
with Christ

To provide a loving,
active environment
for Christian worship,
learning and service

To utilize our Episcopal
heritage and our unique
gifts, resources and blessings
as a witness in the
community.

Praying by Name

by the Rev. Dr. Paul S. Nancarrow

In the Prayers of the People on Sunday mornings, we pray for all sorts and conditions of people: those who are sick, those who are in special need, those who are leaders among us, those who have died. We typically pray for those people by their first names only; while surnames are listed in the bulletin for identification, prayer is offered by first name.

This practice has its roots in ancient tradition in the church. It goes back to a time when people were given a new name at their baptism, so that their "Christian name" was how they were to be known within the Christian community. It only stood to reason, then, that when you prayed for another member of the Christian community, you prayed for them by their Christian name. Even after infant baptism became the norm in the Western Church, when infants were given their first names, not "new" names, at the font, the practice of praying for each other by first name only was maintained.

You can still see some of that tradition in our Prayer Book today. In the service of Baptism, the candidates are always referred to by first (and perhaps middle) names, but never by surnames. In the services of Holy Matrimony and Ordination, the people to be married or ordained are referred to by their full legal names the first time they are introduced, but only by first names thereafter. It is very much the current Christian custom to pray for those we love and care about by their first names.

And that is true of our Sunday prayers as well. Praying for the sick, the joyous, or the departed by first name only shows our closeness and Christian love for them. If you ever hear a name you don't recognize, you can check the bulletin to see the full name that is printed there. If we receive a prayer request after the bulletin is printed, we will pray for that person by full name; or, if you miss the name, you may ask the clergy for clarification after the service. And even if you don't know the person yourself, feel free to pray for them by name. That is part of Christ's gift to us of love.