I don't go to church. I do believe in God and pray often. I have always felt that God can hear my prayers where ever I am. I feel the same about going to the cemetary. My dad is not with us anymore and I talk to him through prayer almost daily. I feel that he can hear me and he is with me here and with my mom at her home where they shared their life more than under a stone at the cemetary.

My question for those that go to church and those that go to the cemetary to spend time with lost loved ones, Do you feel your prayers are heard more at these places than in your home or where ever you are?

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The mighty oak started out as a nut that held its ground.

I feel like that, my mom dies about 4yrs ago and on her anniversary I feel like I need to go somewhere like a cemetery to be near her. She is buried in Pakistan and we are Muslim, but I feel like I need to go to that quiet place like and old cathedral or quiet cemetery to pray for her.

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We buy things we dont need,
with money we dont have,
in order to impress people
we dont like?
(Ramsey, D)

Not at all...I go to church and I visit the cemeteries where I have loved ones buried but I feel they hear my prayers or thoughts no matter where I am.

I too pray to God and ask assistance of lost loved ones anywhere and everywhere I am. I do believe though that a cemetary is a very spiritual place and that there is a definite 'certain something' about saying prayers in a group setting like church - or in my case a Baha'i Center - that is different than saying them by myself. Both I think are important but saying prayers by myself and saying them in a group feel different so maybe the message is received by God differently.

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Better to give your kids the values you have
than the valuables you can't afford.

Lou, this is the part I'm trying to understand...maybe it's just because my family we never church goers. But what makes it different when you say your prayers in church? Anytime I have ever gone, there wasn't enough non talking time for me to quietly say my prayers in peace, especially when I have gone to Catholic services. It seems there is no time in that service to pray on my own. It's nice to sit and listen to the service and take with me a message to think about, but that's it....what am I missing?

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The mighty oak started out as a nut that held its ground.

Treehugger -
for me, saying prayers with others promotes a sense of community among the Baha'is. It can also be a time to share struggles and excitement as we gather to say prayers for healing or for a new baby. In our services we have time for people to say prayers out loud or personally so it is not just a traditional Christian sermon. I did a quick search because I know there is a great quote somewhere in the Baha'i Writings about the power or praying together. I couldn't find the one I'm thinking of but did find the following:

Regarding the value of gathering for prayer, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke as follows:—
Man may say: “I can pray to God whenever I wish, when the feelings of my heart are drawn to God; when I 94 am in the wilderness, when I am in the city, or wherever I may be. Why should I go where others are gathered upon a special day, at a certain hour, to unite my prayers with theirs, when I may not be in a frame of mind for praying?”

To think in this way is useless imagination, for where many are gathered together their force is greater. Separate soldiers fighting alone and individually have not the force of a united army. If all the soldiers in this spiritual war gather together, then their united spiritual feelings help each other.

I guess the important thing is how it makes you feel in your relationship with God. Just keep praying!

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Better to give your kids the values you have
than the valuables you can't afford.

I'm pretty much on the same page as you are, treehugger. There are times when I actually feel a sense of presence when I'm nowhere near church or cemetery.

I agree. I dont think a person needs to go to church to be heard. I am catholic and agree that the catholic service leaves little time for personal reflection, thoughts and prayers, unless you show up way before service begins.

I agree that you don't have to be at church/cemetery, but it can make the connection more personal to individual people. It is my understanding that church mass is more more reflecting on God's messages to us via scpriture. We go separately from mass to say our prayers.
I personally believe that my loved ones are around me guiding me in my life. (okay, guys stop letting me eat junk!!!) :D

allgirls

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

God can hear you where ever you are! He is a big and mighty God! It don't matter if we are at church, cementary, back yard, home even hid away from everyone! The Lord hears you everywhere! We go to church to fellow ship and to grow in our faith, to pray with everyone! But just bc we are not at church don't mean God is not listening.

As far as talking to our loved one that have gone on. My mommy will be gone 2 years on the 20th of this month! I don't pray to her, but I talk to her all the time. I will be cleaning or driving down the road and will talk to her. But again, prayers are heard anywhere you are at.

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When Jesus returns, will you be ready???