Workshop - Creative prayer

What is prayer?

Prayer is us as we are meeting God as God

is.

Why pray?

•Because we know the value of prayer in our own lives.

•We long to offer the youngsters we know those same opportunities.

A holistic experience of prayer…..

God has made us….

•body, mind and spirit.

•creative.

•amazing bodies

•five senses

•different to one another

Paper cups

Learning Styles

V VISUAL

A AUDITORY

R READING/WRITING

K KINSETHTIC

Biblical thoughts

V VISUAL A tree and its fruit

Matthew 12:33

A AUDITORY The good Samaritan

Luke 10:30-37

R READING/WRITING

Jesus reads scriptures Luke

4:16-22

K KINSETHTIC Feeding of the 5000

Matthew 14:13-21

Multiple Intelligences

Kinaesthetic – Body Smart

Linguistic - Word Smart

Logical - Number Smart

Interpersonal - People Smart

Intrapersonal - Myself Smart

Musical - Music Smart

Visual/Spatial - Picture Smart

Naturalistic - Nature Smart

What the bible says about prayer

•Mat 6:6 When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you.

•Mat 6:7 When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers.

•Luke 11:2 So Jesus told them, "Pray in this way: 'Father, help us to honour your name. Come and set up your kingdom.

•Luke 11:3 Give us each day the food we need.

What the bible says about prayer•Luke 11:4 Forgive our sins, as we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us. And keep us from being tempted.' "

•Rom 8:26 In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don't know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words.

•Phil 4:6 Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.

•Col 4:2 Never give up praying. And when you pray, keep alert and be thankful

Jesus used all the senses.

•“Take and eat; this is my body” Matthew 26 : 26

•“My sheep listen to my voice” John 10 : 27

•“Look at the birds of the air” Matthew 6 : 26

•Touch me and see “ Luke 24 : 39

•She has done a beautiful thing (when Mary poured sweet-smelling perfume over Jesus) Mark 14 : 6

Prayer stylesMeditative prayers Reading a Bible verse or passage to help focus on God.

Liturgical prayers Repeating or reading a prayer that has been written or taught

Shared prayers Praying aloud with others in small or large groups.

Conversational prayers Speaking to God in a conversational way, listening for answers as

well as telling God our thoughts.

Arrow’ prayers Spontaneous, an immediate response to something that is happening.

Active prayers Praying while walking or moving or doing something.

What to PrayBe thankfulAdoration simply means ‘praise of God’. Prayer entirely centred upon God.

Thanksgiving We express our gratitude to God for all that he has done and is doing in the world and in our lives.

Be sorryConfession Aware of being in the presence of God, we also become aware of all our

wrong. We come before God and ask for forgiveness.

Be quietSilence -Quiet, still, meditate on God and listen to what God is saying.

Be ledIntercession - An opportunity to pray for the people of God, to stand before God on

behalf of the world and speak for it to him.

Games to Pray!•“Prayer Works. Prayer is Work. Prayer Leads to Work.”

• Isn’t it frivolous to talk about prayer in the realm of play and games? Aren’t you making the sacred secular? Are you not simply using a gimmick to get children praying?”

•Play is God’s idea and play and games are excellent ways to learn and grow. Why can’t we employ them to grow in our ability to listen to and talk to God? Games are often best enjoyed together so what better way to develop unity without which our prayers stand little chance of success!

Andy Kennedy YWAM

What to PrayActive Intercession

Simple ideas.• Hands together, eyes closed?

• Circle prayers: passing an object to hold.

• ‘Conversation prayers’

• Picture prayers

• Object prayers

• ‘Popcorn’ prayers

• Prayer Tree

• Something to focus on

• Prayer and Praise Rainbow

More ideas.• Using music and scripture.

• Using craft materials as a response.

• Using a blow up globe or Google earth.

• Going outside and collecting items to use to thank God for his world.

• Taking photographs and making collages.

• Pebbles/sand.

• Using wildlife/gardening/Nat. Geographic magazines.

• ‘One small barking dog’ videos to bring visual as well as musical engagement.

• Action prayers, using the whole body.

• Perfumes/ incense sticks.

• Lemon and honey… Ps. 119:103

More ideas.

•Almost 100 Prayer Ideas

Thanks to the following contributors: Rev Dr Sandra Millar/Catherine Kennedy/Joke Vos/Alun Gifford/Wynne Stearns/Lynne Morris/Luci Turner/Eileen Pickering/Martin Abel/The Welsh KK Team/Andrew & Eleanor Carter/Richie Gardner

Prepare your own creative prayer activitiesChoose one of the following themes and prepare a set of

creative prayer activities for the children in your group. Taking into account their learning styles and cultural background.

I am sayings

• I am the light of the world

• I am the gate

• I am the bread of life

• I am the good shepherd

• I am the way, the truth, the life

• I am the vine