became painfully aware I wasn’t really praying to God; I was talking to the people. I was more conscious of the congregation’s presence than I was of God’s presence. I found myself summarizing the sermon or giving the week’s announcements in the prayer. Dear Lord, bless our church picnic next Saturday at 9 a.m. at the city park on the corner of Fifth and Central, and help us to remember that those with last names beginning with A through G are to bring salads… That was no prayer—that was an announcement!