Do you pray in your normal voice?

[JoyousWriter]

I couldnt think how to word the title!

I was in Costa yesterday and 2 men at the next table were praying, quite loudly. They had a bible on the table but weren't reading from it. We'll call them Colin and Barry.

They prayed like this: "I beseech you, Lord, to bring good things to Barry" and "Please look upon your faithful servant, Colin".

I've never prayed or heard anyone else pray before.

Is it normal to pray using old fashioned language? Do you pray in your "normal" voice and usual vocabulary?

Is it to try and sounded biblical or because the clergy sound traditional?

It's not something I had considered before.

I'd say it's not normal to pray so publicly, certainly not in the UK. It's a bit showy-off for me.

I don't pray generally, but if I were going to it would be discreet and private.

Clergyperson here. No, I don't usually pray in old fashioned language, unless it's a very traditional service using the Book of Common Prayer, which some Anglican churches use occasionally (we don't). I don't think God requires us to talk to him in seventeenth century English. He just wants us to talk to him.

Nothing wrong with praying in coffee shops (I've done it myself), but Colin and Barry sound a bit performative, praying loudly like that in Costa

I thought Barry was praying ostentatiously but when he finished, and was just talking to Colin, turns out he has a naturally Brian Blessed voice!

Also, if you're praying alone, do you pray in your head or out loud?

Bit of both

I pray in my head. Maybe I'm walking along the road and a thought pops into my head and I think "thank you God for this thing" or "help me with this problem God, guide me what to do". I don't say that out loud. Even at home if I say a prayer before bed I think it rather than say it.
I just use my normal language and voice I think. Unless I'm saying a prayer in a group, then I use more of a teacher voice so everyone can hear me. But normal language i think. Apart from stock phrases like "In Jesus' name".

I haven't ever beseeched in a prayer.

I don't think anyone can answer the question of what's normal for praying aloud in Costas.

Just before the post arrives I sometimes ask God for money and promise to believe if I get some. Once I got an unexpected cheque for about 22 quid. I can't remember who it was from, but an ombudsman had ordered them to identify all customers they had overcharged and reimburse them.

I’ve never prayed out loud, in my head or in Chinese. I’ve also never been aware of anyone praying in Costa.

If I am praying it’s in my head, however my DDs say when I talk to chat gpt it sounds like I am praying. Maybe I am channeling my inner Brian blessed?

Odd to be doing it in Costa full stop! But if you are in a more traditional service then that language is used for intercessions but rare these days