While We Pray

"While We Pray" is a gentle, meditative choral piece that draws its inspiration from the biblical call in 1 Thessalonians to "pray without ceasing." The music, composed by David Lantz III with words by Susan Bentall Boersma, opens with a quiet unison line that perfectly captures the vulnerability of coming before God: "Our bodies weak, our spirits faint, we fall before Your throne."

As the piece unfolds, the choir asks for the grace not just to speak words of prayer, but to be transformed by it. The central plea—"Then make our very lives a prayer"—is a sincere reflection for any congregation. The melody is tender and unhurried, giving the singers space to truly mean the words they are singing before settling into a quiet, peaceful "Amen."

This anthem is especially fitting for Lenten services, moments of quiet adoration, or as a reflective piece after Communion. It reminds us in the choir loft, and everyone in the pews, that our connection to God is what sustains us, beautifully summarized in the song's closing thought: "while we pray, we live."