InPrayer by CPH

jist a scheme to get you to buy all their stuff. I found npthing free. Deleted!

About 3 days ago, after the last iPhone update, the app began to crash whenever I began to scroll down. This happens on the iPhone and iPad version of the app. I have deleted it and reloaded it, powered down the devices and turned them back on, and the app still is not working. I hope that an update is installed soon, as I otherwise enjoy the use of this app. As it stands now, it is totally useless.

Echoing all the comments about pricing, but on top of that, the widget doesn’t work, either. It’s supposed to show the daily readings, but only shows John 3:16.

My wife and I have loved the PrayNow app, but I thought I would give this new version a try. Was very disappointed to find out that it is missing all the Orders of Daily Prayer, Short Orders of Service, and other content that was available under the Table of Contents section of the PrayNow app. It is also missing the tune feature if you like to chant the Psalmody. The only reason to upgrade to this is that it includes the Suggested Reading from the Book of Concord, so that you don’t have to have a hard copy with you or the e-version. Also very disappointed that there is little to know preview of this new version or a free trial available online so you are forced to pay for the subscription to find out. Very questionable for a Christian publishing company.

How fitting that on the day our reading from the 3 year lectionary was Jesus throwing the money changers out of the temple in John 2, I learn that the reason I cannot recommend the “Pray Now” app to friends anymore is that CPH has abandoned a wonderful app that worked so well for family devotions. For the utility that was available for a one time cost of the previous app, CPH will exact the same amount for about a year and a half subscription to “In Prayer”. One would think that a non-profit organization interested in spreading the Word of God would receive enough support from Christian app builders that they could arrange public domain material in a way that places the least burden on the faithful and those seeking the Word. I understand that CPH needs to stay financially viable, but to go to a subscription model to share God’s word is appalling. I will also be canceling my “Portals of Prayer” subscription - a price I once thought small enough to justify; I can no longer accept this horrid business practice. This subscription based model is reminiscent of Tetzel.

The Treasury of Daily Prayer should continue to be free especially for owners of the print edition. My family owns two copies of the leather bound print version. Now you think we should pay for the electronic version? Ridiculous!

This app has nothing useful at all unless you purchase it. I already am subscribed to the Portals of Prayer app. I am waiting for an app by CPH or the LCMS that has our material like The Portals of Prayer, The Lutheran Witness, The Small Catechism, CTCR Documents, The Reporter, etc., all in one place that is free so that more people will read our doctrinal material. We have the best theology and doctrinal understanding of scripture than anyone else. It has always disturbed me with how greedy and money hungry we are with it. If you look at the Mormons app and the Jehovah Witnesses app, all of their material is free to read. We have to do something to get our material in the hands of more people that doesn’t cost so much or even free. We can and have got to do better than this.

I used to love the “In Prayer” app. The daily bible readings and selections from The book of Concord were great. Now it’s bundled under a paid app, which I was fine with- except now the app isn’t as intuitive and it’s really cumbersome to use to the point that I don’t use it.

PrayNow was an expensive app. CPH discontinued PrayNow with InPrayer and expects us to buy an annual subscription for material (Treasury of Daily Prayer) we had already purchased in PrayNow (not to mention many of us also have purchased print and electronic copies of Treasury of Daily Prayer) At the very least, CPH should have grandfathered the Treasury of Daily Prayer subscription for previous purchasers of PrayNow. It is ironic the devotions urge reading the Catechism when Luther had some pretty harsh words about those who use tricks to steal in his Large Catechism. I am sorely disappointed in the actions of the supposedly Lutheran CPH.

Some reviewers have complained about the subscription price. But that's pretty trivial per year, so I don't have a problem with it per se. Still, compared with the arguably better (free) app this replaces -- PrayNow -- it's pretty weak. PrayNow has much more material. And for design comparison, the Anglican Church in North America's Daily Office app is more complete and flexible than both. And free. The app presents a very few CPH publications for purchase (e.g. Lenten reflections) or subscription (e.g. Portals of Prayer). And there are also links to additional books to buy from CPH. I'm not sure how useful this is. Graphically, it looks very nice, for what that's worth, and is fool-proof to use (being so limited). It does have the text of suggested readings from the Book of Concord, where PrayNow only gives the cite. But InPrayer entirely omits the "Writing" for the day, which InPrayer includes. It looks like this is in line with a purpose to streamline (uncharitably "dumb down") the app. As it stands, PrayNow is better unless you're only interested in the daily readings and might like the convenience of a purchase/subscription point inside an app. The subscription model isn't a terrible thing, but needs to be much more attractive. I hope PrayNow continues to be availabl. Maybe they could rename this one "PayNow."