Ways to Pray 2

Praying with the imagination Ask the pupils to close their eyes. Imagine you are surrounded by darkness. Listen to the sounds around you. Picture the classroom in your mind. Picture in your mind your best friend. Imagine what it would be like if you were blind and unable to see things or people again! Now listen to the story of ‘The healing of Bartimaeus. (see Mark 10: 46-52). Read it slowly. At the end invite the pupils to think about what Jesus did for the blind man. open your eyes. Thank God for the gift of sight. Try this with other short Gospel stories. Photo prayers Have a collection of photos (people, places, situations etc). Invite a pupil to choose one of the photos. Ask the class to share their thoughts about what they see. Conclude with a short prayer thanking God for the insights we are given. Making a prayer circle Ask the pupils to join hands. Mention people/situations that it would be good to keep in our thoughts and prayers. Still holding hands, say the Lord’s prayer slowly and thoughtfully, pausing after each phrase. Praying with pebbles etc Give each pupil a pebble (etc). Ask them to look at it. Ask them to close their eyes and then to feel it carefully. Reflect on the idea that we are all unique and this is something to thank God for. God loves us and accepts us just as we are. God in nature Ask the pupils to provide an object from nature or supply one yourself (a leaf, twig, flower, stone pine cone, shell, sand etc.). With some quiet music in the background, encourage the pupils to be still but relaxed. With the object in their hands ask, Is it hard/soft? Does it have a smell? Does it tell you anything about God? Is God like the object in any way? What does it tell you about yourself? Are you like this object in any way? Turn to God in your heart. Think whatever is prompted by your heart. Echo prayers Ask the pupils to echo (slowly) a phrase spoken by you or a leader, such as Thank you, Lord, for the experiences of this day. Help us, Lord, to be the people you want us to be … Using the rosary Rosary beads help some people to meditate. Traditionally the Hail Mary is said ten times (corresponding to ten beads) providing a prayerful background to thinking about key moments or ‘mysteries’ in the salvation story. With some imagination this can be adapted to suit the needs of the class. A short prayer could be repeated while the class look at an image that might stimulate their i magination. Music can also be played to enhance the atmosphere. More prayer resources will be placed on the pool in the ‘Ways to pray’ folder.

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Transcript of Ways to Pray 2

8/14/2019 Ways to Pray 2

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ways-to-pray-2 1/1

Praying with the imagination

Ask the pupils to close their eyes. Imagineyou are surrounded by darkness. Listen tothe sounds around you. Picture theclassroom in your mind. Picture in your mindyour best friend. Imagine what it would be

like if you were blind and unable to seethings or people again! Now listen to thestory of ‘The healing of Bartimaeus. (seeMark 10: 46-52). Read it slowly. At the end invite the pupils to think about what Jesusdid for the blind man. open your eyes. ThankGod for the gift of sight.

Try this with other short Gospel stories.

Photo prayers

Have a collection of photos (people, places,situations etc). Invite a pupil to choose one of the photos. Ask the class to share their thoughts about what they see. Conclude with ashort prayer thanking God for the insights we

are given.

Making a prayer circle

Ask the pupils to join hands. Mentionpeople/situations that it would be good to keepin our thoughts and prayers. Still holdinghands, say the Lord’s prayer slowly andthoughtfully, pausing after each phrase.

Praying with pebbles etc

Give each pupil a pebble (etc). Ask them tolook at it. Ask them to close their eyes and thento feel it carefully. Reflect on the idea that weare all unique and this is something to thankGod for. God loves us and accepts us just aswe are.

God in nature

Ask the pupils to provide an object from natureor supply one yourself (a leaf, twig, flower,stone pine cone, shell, sand etc.). With somequiet music in the background, encourage thepupils to be still but relaxed. With the object intheir hands ask, Is it hard/soft? Does it have asmell? Does it tell you anything about God? IsGod like the object in any way? What does it

tell you about yourself? Are you like this object in any way? Turn to God in your heart. Thinkwhatever is prompted by your heart.

Echo prayers

Ask the pupils to echo (slowly) a phrasespoken by you or a leader, such as Thank you,

Lord, for the experiences of this day. Help us,Lord, to be the people you want us to be …

Using the rosary

Rosary beads help some people to meditate.Traditionally the Hail Mary is said ten times(corresponding to ten beads) providing aprayerful background to thinking about keymoments or ‘mysteries’ in the salvation story.

With some imagination this can be adapted tosuit the needs of the class. A short prayer could be repeated while the class look at animage that might stimulate their imagination.Music can also be played to enhance theatmosphere.

More prayer resourceswill be placed on thepool in the ‘Ways to

pray’ folder.