Book of Pastoral Prayer

This work, “A Book of Pastoral Prayers” originally authored by Ernest Fremont Tittle, is of particular significance to me. My father, the Reverend James D. Floyd carried a copy in his breast pocket and consulted it often for prayer. I grew up hearing prayers from its pages, and when my father (may his memory be eternal) reposed in the Lord, I received his copy. It is in his memory, and that of my mother who was a driving force behind his ministry, that I dedicate this modernized and revised version. My father began the work of modernizing in himself. Throughout his copy are hand scrawled notes where he modernized the language, added passages for ladies, and made a few prayers more inclusive.

He was always particularly fond of older forms of prayer, and felt that prayers passed down from our ancestors were of particular importance. He worked hard to modernize them, and to make them inclusive of every individual in every situation. In this respect, he was years ahead of his time, even within the Methodist Church. He truly believed that Christ was in each and every person, regardless of their past and their sin. He always sought out that little spark of Christ and did everything that he could to nurture it into an all-consuming flame.