Helping children to pray for each other: prayer stones

This is something very simple that I want to introduce this term as part of our prayer routine. A lot of our prayer stations are to do with praying for ourselves and about ourselves so this activity is intended as a way of praying for others in the group, which will also (hopefully!) lead to more of a sense of family and community.

I bought a bag of stones for £1 from the Range and used a permanent marker to write on them the names of everyone in the group (including leaders!).

The plan is that, as a prayer station, children can choose one of the stones at random, hold it and ask God to bless that person. They can they lay it on a cross shape. We can also use the stones when we gather together after the prayer station time. Everyone can choose a stone, ask God to bless that person and then remember to ask God to bless them every day that week. If the person they are praying for is in the room, they could also ask for any requests to bear in mind!

Comments

Button Prayers

If you are looking for an active, kinaesthetic, way of praying in a small group or even with the whole congregation, then this might be for you! You will need: A collection of buttons of different shapes, sizes and colours- at least one button for each person praying. Give everyone a button. Feel the hardness of the button and think about people who are going through hard times. Ask God to help them. Buttons are used to fasten clothes together. Ask God to bring together people who have fallen out and moved apart from each other. Pray that He will bring peace. Look at your button and see how many holes it has. Think of that number of things you would like to say thank you to God for and say Thank you prayers. Look at the colour of the button and say thank you to God for something that is that colour Find someone who has the same colour button as you. You might want to make a small group of people with the...

Trusting God: The Amazing Water Glass Trick!

I used this idea in an assembly yesterday, focussing on people we trust and what it means to trust God. This would work really well if you are exploring miracle stories or stories about trust. Suitable verses to use with it might be: Joshua 1:9: Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Psalm 56: 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. John 14: 1 Jesus said, “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me I have to admit that this trick is not an original idea. I found the trick in this book: Simple Science Object Talks by Heno Head Jnr and would definitely recommend getting cold of a copy if you can! You will need: A glass of water (about half- 2/3 filled) and an index card. This is what you do: place the index card over the top of the glass, making sure that the whole of the rim is covered by it, and press...

The Power of Prayer: Skittles Experiment!

This experiment with skittles is colourful, easy and makes a great statement about what we are asking God to do when we pray. In essence, prayers are a way of joining with God and asking him to have an effect on the world and situations around us. We pray because we believe that our prayers, through God's power, will make a difference to the world. In this activity, colour is released from the sweets into the surrounding water, creating a colourful picture, symbolic of how the prayers we raise to God are a way of us joining with Him to release the kingdom here on earth and have an impact. You will need: A bag of skittles, a plate, hot water (not hot enough to scald, but hot enough to make the colour run!) Arrange the skittles in the plate Pour some hot water onto the plate to cover its surface. Pour it carefully so that the skittles stay in place. Wait and the skittles will gradually release their colour Try an alternative... Cover the s...

Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

Search This Blog