Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

 I was thinking about prayer labyrinths the other day and came across finger labyrinths- a portable and very sensory version of the tradition!  I had a go at making one and really found that tracing the path helped me to focus in prayer.  I thought about buying some for the children to use because it might appeal to the more kinaesthetic while they are listening to God in silence but soon realised it was going to be very expensive as we might like to give all of the children a chance to try it at the same time!  The next best thing I could do was make my own.   I'm afraid they're not as tactile as wooden ones might be, but the sense of following the path on a journey with God is the same!  We tested them out with three of the children at Powersource and one, at least, really seemed to find it useful.  We'll introduce them to the children as a whole in the coming weeks.  As with everything, what appeals to some will not appeal to all, but if ...

When we first set this up we were quite surprised that it was actually the boys who preferred coming to this area! We set out some thows and cushions in a corner where, during time we spent with prayer stations, children could just come and sit silently with God.  We lit a candle and detailed one of the adults to keep a quiet watch over the area so that the children could light tea lights if they wanted to.  We also provided pens and paper so they could write or draw, stones to hold as a physical focus and a few reflective questions such as "If God came to your school, who would he talk to?"  We made it clear that this was a silent area and anyone who was disruptive would be asked to leave the space.  We had no trouble whatsoever and at one point we ran out of space to sit!