Name: Children s Prayer Workshop: Participant Guide (Older Child) Christ Church Episcopal November 13, 2010 Rebecca Guzman 1
This booklet has information about what I learned and did today. Please read through it with me and let me teach you about different ways to pray, because these are good for adults too or for families to do together. On the back, there is a resource guide and bibliography. Rebecca says to tell you that she has copies of these books available in her office to borrow if you want. Love, 2
Time Teaching Rooms: 9:00 9:20 Welcome/Intro 9:20 9:40 Labyrinth 9:40 10:00 Music 10:00 10:15 Break/Snack 10:15 10:35 Centering 10:35 10:55 Drawing 10:55 11:10 Break/Snack 11:10 11:30 Casting 11:30 11:50 Walking 11:50 12:00 Closing Labyrinth: We have a canvas labyrinth that we will leave spread out in one room with an instrumental CD in the background. Music: A few taize songs on repeat plus some posterboard with the lyrics displayed and floor cushions to sit on. Drawing: Markers, crayons, and paper. Instrumental music in the background. Open: We will set our children s chapel altar up in one room and have electric candles to light as well as a white board on which to write prayers. 3
There are lots of ways to walk the Labyrinth. We re going to learn using these steps: 1. Prepare to walk the Labyrinth. Get quiet for a few minutes. 2. Start at the beginning of the Labyrinth. While you walk to the center, think about things that worry you or make you feel angry of afraid. Ask God to help you let go of those things. 3. When you get to the center, sit or kneel down and talk to God for a while. 4. On the way back, think about what you heard and what it might mean for you. Rules for the Labyrinth: 1. Do not talk out loud, so you don t disturb others. 2. No running. Walk slowly toward the center. 3. No pushing. 4. You can go around someone who is going slower than you but be careful to do it quietly. Website to Check Out: http://www.gracecathedral.org/ labyrinth/interactions/ index.shtml# 4
We will be learning about Taizé music. This type of music came from a community in France, and they probably explain it best: Singing is one of the most essential elements of worship. Short songs, repeated again and again, give it a meditative character. Using just a few words they express a basic reality of faith, quickly grasped by the mind. As the words are sung over many times, this reality gradually penetrates the whole being. Meditative singing thus becomes a way of listening to God. It allows everyone to take part in a time of prayer together and to remain together in attentive waiting on God, without having to fix the length of time too exactly. Copyright Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, 71250 Tiazé, France After you go home, you can check out the website listed to see some of the words. If you search YouTube for Taizé, you can also hear people singing Taizé music. Website to Check Out: http://www.taize.fr/ en_article338.html 5
Centering prayer is a really, really old way of praying. The goal of centering prayer is to quiet our bodies and minds so that we can really hear and feel God. Steps in Centering Prayer for Children: 1. Choose a sacred word (keep it secret!). 2. Get in a circle with other people (if they are also praying). 3. Be still and quiet. 4. Think about your secret word. 5. If you start thinking of something else, say your secret word again. 6. Be silent for six minutes. 7. Say the Lord s Prayer out loud. (Paraphrased from Journey to the Heart: Centering Prayer for Children) 6
Drawing Prayers are just what they sound like: prayers that are drawn instead of said or written! But drawing is only one part of the prayer the other is taking the drawing with you physically or mentally the rest of the day so that you can continue to pray. Today, we are focusing on intercessory drawing prayer. You will start with a big shape in the middle containing a name for God. Then you can draw little shapes with the names of people, pets, or things that you want to pray about. Pray as you draw and color! We ll leave a space on the back of this sheet for you to staple your favorite drawing prayer from today so you can remember to use it to pray. Show it to your parents also! Website to Check Out: www.prayingincolor.com Example Image from www.prayingincolor.com. Used with permission. 7
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Casting Prayer can be done in many ways. We re going to focus on a type of casting prayer that lets us get rid of anger, worry, and other things that can get between us and God. Here are the steps: 1. Find a rock that is pretty large and has a flat enough surface that you can write on it. 2. Write one or more things on the rock that represent your anger, fear, etc. 3. Take five minutes to find some quiet space and pray about giving those things to God. 4. Here s the best part: go somewhere where not a lot of people are around and throw your rock as hard as you can. Into a lake or pond is best. Into the woods is pretty good too. At somebody is NOT OK! 9
Walking prayer can be done in many ways. The two we will talk about today are devotional walking prayer, which is much like praying the way you would any other way, except that you are walking, and intercessory prayer, which is prayer for others. Devotional walking prayer can be done anywhere, but it best somewhere that you feel very peaceful, like the beach, the park, or the woods (not by yourself!). Intercessory walking prayer is best done in a neighborhood, preferably yours! Some Prayers to Use in Your Neighborhood: Dear God, please bless this house and the people who live in it. Dear God, please bring peace this afternoon to this household. If you can, use clues from the houses to help you form your prayers. If you see little kid toys outside, pray for the children and their parents. If you see a basketball goal, pray for safety when they play basketball. If you see a wheelchair ramp, pray for the health of the person who uses it. You will be surprised what you discover by intercessory prayer walking in your neighborhood! 10
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Children s Prayer Workshop: Bibliography and Recommended Reading for Families 50 Ways to Pray: Practices from Many Traditions and Times, by Teresa A. Blythe. Abingdon, 2006. Journey to the Heart: Centering Prayer for Children, by Frank X. Jelenek. Paraclete Press, 2007. Prayers for Each and Every Day, by Sophie Piper. Paraclete Press, 2008. Prayer for People Who Can t Sit Still, by William Tenny Brittian. Chalice Press, 2005. Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God, by Sybil MacBeth. Paraclete Press, 2007. Praying in Color: Kids Edition, by Sybil MacBeth. Paraclete Press, 2009. Praying with the Body: Bringing the Psalms to Life, by Roy DeLeon. Paraclete Press, 2009. This is What I Pray Today: The Divine Hours Prayers for Children, by Phyllis Tickle. Dutton Children s Books, 2007. 12