Six Ways for Prayer Days

Praying with your class or homeroom group.

Why Pray? Psychological and physiological benefits.

• Self-discipline/resilience/self knowledge• Happiness/contentment• Brain development• Whole person/ stillness, balance

Spiritual benefits• Connectedness to humanity/universe (spirituality)• Search for the “Other”• Takes us beyond ourselves

Everyday Spirituality

Spirituality:

is the gift of “me” to the world each day. is a frame or lens through which I view, create and interpret my everyday reality. needs to be nourished by stillness, reflection,

relationships, gratitude, joy, pain, challenge and the struggle of the journey.

enables us to begin with the ordinariness of life and make it an extra-ordinary life- journey that is wonder-ful and awe-some and meaning-ful: even when it hurts.

What is Prayer?1. Prayer is the opening of the heart and mind

to God. (Green Catechism, Catechism of the Catholic Church)

2. Prayer is a communication or petition addressed to a deity, especially in the form of supplication, adoration, praise, contrition or thanksgiving (Collins Dictionary; Harrington 2002).

What is Prayer?3. Any connection made between creation and

the spiritual force/s underpinning and sustaining creation- be it through verbal, mental, corporal, reflective, written, ritualised or other symbolic and artistic means, is prayer.

4. “Being with” or resting in, or attentive to, the presence of the creator force/s through literal and symbolic means and practices known and yet to be devised.

Day 1: Shared Prayers Start with prayers from a few good prayer books-

e.g. Prayers for Teens I and II available from the teacher’s desk.

Invite students to write their own, and/or compile a class prayer book.

Students place their own intentions/ people/requests before God each time.

Prayer without words.

Day 2: Centered Reflection Start with short bursts of centered breathing.

Add phrases, thoughts- e.g. I am loved by God; God walks with me; I can approach God at any time.

Relaxation from toes to head. Gratitude for who I am.

Guided meditation. (Books, tapes) Guided Movement- e.g. Tai Chi

Day 3: Reflection on Religious and Secular Wisdom

Selection of some Scripture passages with meaning for students.

Invite students to bring their own meaningful scripture passages.

Use Benedictine, Augustinian, or Ignatian techniques.

Use readings from other traditions, inspiring people.

Day 4:Music to Lift the Soul Use emotive and stirring music (no lyrics)to

assist reflective listening. Make words available while song is sung, or

musical accompaniment played. Use PowerPoint presentations of music, words

and images.

Day 5: Getting It Down

Allow students time to journal, compose prayers, write letters to God and saints.

Encourage doodling/drawing while music is played.

Diary writing/prayer lists. Prayers for the prayer jar.

Day 6: Prayer with Symbols

Small rituals which employ use of water,shells, stones, sand, flowers, oils etc.

Used with longer amounts of time Small or whole group Assists prayer with or without words Good for people who “don’t/can’t” pray.

Portable “Sacred Space Maker Kit”

Small Prayer Table (Breakfast Tray) Cloth/s of various colours/textures/types Lamp/candle/s Symbol/s- wood/stone/glass/flowers Scriptures Cross Prayer Jar

Prayer with/for Larger Groups Before you start planning:

What’s the purpose of the prayer? What’s the context/s of the prayer?

• Stand alone or appendage?• Participants?• Time limits?• Celebrants?

What is the setting of the prayer?• What are the advantages of the setting?• What are the constraints of the setting?• Is there a better, alternative setting?

What time, resources and help do you reasonably

have/need to prepare this prayer experience?

• People• Technology- PowerPoint; OHT; Lighting; AV; CD Player• Resources- Music; Readings; Symbols

Which Prayer Form?

Which of the forms are appropriate for a larger group?• Centering • Listening and Reflecting• Journaling and Doodling• Conversing with God• Ritualising and Symbolising• Songs and Music • Artistic expression• Without Words

A “Formula” for prayer with groups: e.g. Assembly Prayer

Gather and Prepare; Listen/View and Respond; Share and Give Thanks; Go and Tell

Group Prayer Formula1. Gather and Prepare:

As the group enters the sacred space, they “leave the ordinary”.

Ritual action at door/entranceSacred Setting has special effects:

light/sound, decoration. Key leader of prayer welcomes/ calls them

to prayer, sets them at ease. “Call to Prayer” using procession, drama,

music, voice, symbol, ritual action- e.g. lighting a flame; ringing a bell.

Following the “Formula”

2. Listen/View and Respond: This involves listening, watching, engaging,

observing, experiencing, receiving, joining. Stimulus from: Scripture, Song, Movement,

ritual, symbol, visual, touch, silence.

3. Share and Give Thanks: Participants respond in prayer, song, shared

reflection, movement, action.

Following the “Formula”4. Go and Tell:

Having experienced God in and through a number of forms, participants return to the ordinary world from the sacred space and have been changed by the experience.

Prayer with Smaller Groups

Homeroom Prayer Prayer with your KLA Classes Rituals and Prayers in Sacred Spaces Prayer in Response to a Crisis

Homeroom Prayer

Be practical, based on time available Create a Portable “Sacred Space Maker” kit Roster students Gather a collection of books, or make your own

book of prayers for young people. Homeroom creates its own folder of prayers Prayer Jar Simple Movement such as Tai Chi; centred

breathing. Schedule time/s for longer prayer/rituals- e.g.

for welcome, farewell, healing.

Prayer with your KLA Class

Restore the tradition of praying with your class before lessons begin.

Simple prayer- used for a week. Small reflection- appropriate to KLA Blessing to end the class. Ritual action-

peace/reconciliation/encouragement/support