Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

This prayer activity would work really well if you are looking at the Armour of God or any story involving God's protection. You will need: oranges or tangerines/ clementines (one for each child plus a couple of spare ones), permanent marker pens, a tall, clear jug or vase. Peel an orange or tangerine and put it into the water. It will sink to the bottom of the jug.  Then put an orange with the peel left on into the water. It will float. The peel is actually like armour, keeping the orange safe from sinking.  Ask children to write or draw on their oranges things that they would like protection from in life- maybe things that scare them. Float the decorated oranges in the water as a celebration of the protection and strength God can give.

If you grew up in the UK then you are probably very familiar with Flying Saucers- sherbet filled rice paper sweets that do look rather like flying saucers! I have to admit to being fairly partial to the odd flying saucer and when I last went to the cash and carry I bought an enormous tub of hundreds of the things. It became very clear I was never going to get through all of them, so I took them with me to a great children's ministry residential I was at this week and challenged a group of children's leaders to come up with some creative prayer activities with them. They did not disappoint.  Here are some of their ideas... 1. Hold the flying saucer in your mouth. Don't bite or chew! Think about something worrying you and offer it to God. Feel your worry 'dissolve' or 'disappear,' then bite into the sweetness released! 2. Flying saucers are out of this world! Think of an amazing experience or encounter. Place the flying saucer in your mou...

This is fun way of praying and symbolically giving prayers to God. Plus it produces a piece of artwork as a byproduct!  You will need: a roasting tin or large tray, elastic bands, paint, water, paintbrushes, paper Stretch the elastic bands around the width of the roasting tin (5 or 6 elastic bands is a good number) and spread them out evenly. Put a piece of paper into the base of the tin. Water down some paint and use a brush to dab some on to one of the elastic bands.  Pray:  Think about the things you want to say to God. It might be something you want to ask for, something you want to say thank you for or something you want to say sorry for.  Tell God about them out loud or in your head. For each prayer, flick the elastic band with your fingers and the paint will fly off and splatter on the paper.  Use the flicking as a symbol of giving your prayers to God. Repeat with different colours for different pra...