PRAYING WITH CHILDREN DURING A PANDEMIC
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the children’s team would encourage GA, RA, and CA leaders to focus on encouraging children to pray for workers, their communities, and their families. Consider using some of these prayer ideas to share with children and families as you reach out to them during this time.
Pass a Prayer—Write prayer requests on pieces of paper that can be rolled up and placed in empty water bottles. Or, ask older children to make prayer labels to wrap around the outsides of the bottles. Invite children to stand in a circle and pass the bottles to music. When the music stops, ask the child holding the bottle to read a prayer request and say a sentence prayer. Continue until all prayer requests have been read.
Design a Prayer—Encourage children to create prayer labels to go on the tops of canned food collected for a food pantry. Tell them to use the phrase, I said a prayer for you today. Guide children to glue the prayer labels to the tops of the cans, then say a prayer for the people who will receive the food.
Polka Dot Prayers—Cut out white circles about 2 inches in diameter. Place a piece of colored poster board or paper on a focal wall. Invite children to write prayer requests on the “polka dots” and place them in a random order on the colored paper. Prayers may be said in a group before putting the dots on the wall. Or, allow children to say a prayer as they add the dots each week.
Necklace Prayer—Provide several buttons, colored shapes, yarn or string, a hole punch, and markers or pencils. Allow children to write simple words on the colored shapes or buttons and then thread them on the yarn or string. Ask volunteers to choose a shape or button and say a prayer.
Chalk It Out Prayers—Guide children to draw pictures or write prayers on the church sidewalks and/or parking lots. Be sure to ask permission and use caution if in a parking lot.
Noodle Prayers—Cut a pool noodle into 2-inch-wide circles with a pair of scissors. Write prayer requests on paper and roll them into the insides of the noodle pieces. Or, write prayer requests on the outside of the noodles with a permanent marker. Prayer noodles may be passed from one child to another using an unsharpened pencil or small dowel rod as music plays. When the music stops, ask the child holding the prayer noodle to read the request and pray.
Bat the Prayer—Write prayer requests on inflated balloons. As children try to “bat” the balloons in the air, ask them to voice the prayers. You may need to have several groups of 3 or 4 children.
Tube Prayer—Ask volunteers to name prayer requests for a missionary. Tell children to find a partner, and give each pair a paper towel tube or small cardboard tube. Guide children to voice a whispered prayer through the tube. They may continue prayers as long as time allows. Ask an adult to close with prayer.
by Judith K. Moore
