Among efforts to consider include…

• Create sign up sheets
  • usually done every half hour
  • usually 12 hours (from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for instance)
  • people can sign up for as many times as they want
  • allow for a maximum number of people per time period?
• Assure there are several announcements about the event, the importance of corporate prayer and the power it can unleash in a church
• Put a big piece of poster paper up so people can write their prayer requests on it relating to the vigil topic (Strength for leadership, Finances, Strategic Plan, Illness, etc.)
• Have slips of paper that people can write their requests on so it is more private (no need to give your name)
• The day of the vigil…
  • have several locations in the church building available with comfortable chairs
  • have prayer requests received on the poster paper and slips of paper available
  • have books on prayer available for perusing prior to their prayer time
  • include a hymnal at each location
  • have printed verses about prayer that people can meditate if they wish
  • If praying for individuals or groups, consider pictures that represent them
• Volunteers can pray for the list or slips of paper but they didn’t have to.
• Allow for vigil participants to write about their responses after the experience, possibly including some of these in a church newsletter article or webpage post

NOTE:  many thanks to Janet G. (member of Zion Lutheran in Anderson Township) for much of the thinking on this based on their church’s experiences!