Pentecost Prayer Ideas
1. Take a "Prayer Walk" with the children!
We invite the Holy Spirit to be with us.
Plan your route ahead of time.
Make sure you have an extra adult with you. Make a bathroom call before you head out.
If possible walk to: the school, hospital or nursing station, police station, fire station, store, nursing home, day care centre, playground, a family home and the final stop, outside the church before you head in again.
At each spot , stop, wait till the children are quiet, then ask the Holy Spirit to fill this place with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...ask the children to name these "gifts of the spirit". (Galatians 5:22-23) With each spot they will begin to remember more & more of them.
Leave time for special prayer intentions the children might have. The teacher/leader might need to do the first stop or two, but I am sure the children will soon start coming up with some; e.g. that all the children try their best in school, that there is healthy food in the hospital, etc.
2. Prayer Art!
Materials: paper, markers, crayons or colored pencils.
Have the children draw enough circles to fill their paper! Next, have them write someone's name in each circle. Younger children will need you to do this or an older student, while they dictate the names.
Ask the children to think of this person and pray for then, as they color that circle. By having lots of circles this gives the children the opportunity to pray for people they might not have first thought of!
If you have a CD or tape player, play some quiet music. It is time to have a "conversation with God" about each of the people they have named, as they colour.
This activity can be picked up in the last 10 minutes or so of Sunday School each week.
An on going activity: pictures can be put up on the walls if the children would like. Then a new one started with new names! This will be a good reminder for the children that it is good to pray for all people.
