be joys and concerns that go unspoken. So, if a name gets announced in some context, it's generally either the person themselves or someone who is family or a friend who announces it, which obviates some of the privacy risk. In some cases, it may be the minister or care team, but then it's their responsibility to have permission to do so. And if someone is "missed", it's because they (or whomever knew) chose not to say anything. We've tried the book thing mentioned above, too, but it didn't go over well. People like the opportunity to speak for themselves, I guess. Posted on: 07/11/2012 01:10 seeler wrote: somegal - I have seen this type of prayer used in small churches and in other church gatherings.    I don't think I have ever seen it done in a congregation as large as yours.  I think it could be very effective, if everybody knew who they were praying for, but I find the use of just first names problematic.  In the small church I formerly attended the minister would pray for Jim, Jack, and Margaret.  We sometimes knew that she was referring to Jim Brown, Jack Sprat, and Margaret Smith.  But when she prayed for Albert you could almost hear the intake of breath and the murmur 'what happened to Albert Gray? - a young man connected with the church.  Only during fellowship hour did we find out that someone had requested prayers for their elderly uncle Albert who lived in another