I want to share an idea for children's prayer that I saw recently. After Christmas, we happened to pop into the Zionskirche, the church where Dietrich Bonhoeffer taught confirmation classes, while taking a walk. Near the altar, they had the following set-up for spontaneous prayer. My children were immediately drawn to it and so was another child who happened to be in the building.
There was a nativity scene with a basket full of tea lights and a candlelighter nearby. The children were encouraged to light a candle, say a prayer, and then set the candle among the nativity landscape. This is especially meaningful if the children have spent time on passages like Isaiah 9:2 ("The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light") during Advent.
The second part of the prayer set-up involved placing a written or drawn prayer in the holes of cinder blocks. My daughter, who can't yet write, drew a picture.
This type of prayer is great for both younger and older children, because it allows them to express themselves verbally or non-verbally, depending on where the child is developmentally. It also particularly appeals to children who tend towards the spiritual style of symbolism.
There was a nativity scene with a basket full of tea lights and a candlelighter nearby. The children were encouraged to light a candle, say a prayer, and then set the candle among the nativity landscape. This is especially meaningful if the children have spent time on passages like Isaiah 9:2 ("The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light") during Advent.
The second part of the prayer set-up involved placing a written or drawn prayer in the holes of cinder blocks. My daughter, who can't yet write, drew a picture.
This type of prayer is great for both younger and older children, because it allows them to express themselves verbally or non-verbally, depending on where the child is developmentally. It also particularly appeals to children who tend towards the spiritual style of symbolism.
I would definitely like to do something
like this next year!
It's so encouraging to see churches taking children seriously. I've pinned this on Pinterest!
ReplyDeleteYes, it is! Thanks for the pin!
DeleteI love these ideas Sheila! Thanks so much! I once saw a prayer wall made of card board that I tried like crazy to find for our atrium but it is no longer being made. The brick idea is a great alternative, although those are some pretty cool bricks. I'll have to dig around and see what I can find. I pinned this also, so hopefully lots of people will find these great ideas and your wonderful blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Leslie! I've seen bricks like this one a lot here - maybe they are a German thing? Maybe one could be made out of plaster or something like that.
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