SIZZLIN’ SUMMER PRAYERS
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.
Use some of these “cool” ideas to help children turn up the heat this summer as they learn about the power of prayer!
Three “M” Chant—Encourage children to pray at three specific times during the day: morning, midday, and mealtime. Help create a chant: Morning, midday, mealtime—Morning, midday, mealtime. Remind children that the chant is not a prayer, but a prayer reminder for them to thank God, to ask Him for help, and to trust God to respond to their prayers.
Pop a Prayer Bubble—Distribute a 4-by-4-inch square of bubble wrap to each child. Lead a time of sentence prayers, encouraging each child to say a short prayer. Then, lead each child to pop one of the bubbles on his or her square. Be advised that this could easily get out of hand, so try to encourage serious prayers and consider allowing only one child to pop at a time.
Prayer Stop Pathway—Cut hexagon shapes from red paper and write a prayer request on each one. Create a masking tape path for children to follow. Strategically place the prayer “stop” signs along the pathway. Allow time for each child to go through the path or follow as a group. Encourage volunteers to pray at each stop.
Prayer Line—Tape a written prayer request on the back of each child. (Use half sheets of white paper.) Ask children to line up behind one another and place their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. Ask children to pray silently for the request before them.
Pass a Prayer—Write several prayer requests on file cards and provide a music source. Instruct children to stand in a circle. Explain that a prayer card will be passed while the music plays. When the music stops, ask the child holding the prayer card to pray. Continue until all requests have been passed.
Two-by-Two Prayers—Cut floral foam into 2-by-2-inch cubes. Write one half of a prayer request on paper and secure to one block. Secure the other half of the same request to another block. Color code for younger children. Guide children as they match requests and say a prayer.
Walking Stick Prayers—Locate a walking stick or a tree limb. Write prayer requests on sticky notes. Place the sticky notes on a focal wall. Ask children to line up across the room. Hand the stick to one child and tell him or her to “walk” to the wall and choose one of the notes. As the child returns, ask him or her to “prayerwalk” with the stick, praying aloud or silently. Hand the stick to another child and continue until all have prayed. (Alternate idea: Provide dowel rods for each child, but be aware that multiple prayer requests will be needed.)
Hidden Prayer Requests—Write prayer requests on palm tree or sunshine shapes. Hide them around the room. Allow one child at a time to retrieve one of the hidden requests. He or she may pray upon finding the request, or group prayers may be made once all hidden requests have been located.
By Judith K. Moore
