How can you pray with children for neighbours? Below are five prayer activities to complement the prayer booklet. The activities can be used at home, in church or at (Sunday) school. With one child or in a group.
The neighbourhood in bloom
Supplies: White paper OR a black and white map of your city or neighbourhood, pencils, markers, pens.
Age: From group 4 onwards
Instruction
The Bible states: "Pray to the Lord for the city [...] and commit to its prosperity, for the city's prosperity is also your prosperity." (Jeremiah 29:7)
In winter, there is little to see of many plants. Many gardens look bare and there is little in bloom. In spring, they start to grow and more and more flowers and colours appear. When flowers are in bloom we can enjoy the beautiful colours and scents.
This text in the Bible contains the call to pray for the "flourishing of the city". What do you think is meant by this?
If your street or neighbourhood blossomed, what would it look like? How would people feel and behave? What atmosphere would there be?
Draw a picture of your street or neighbourhood in full bloom.
If you like, you can add or say a prayer for your neighbourhood.
Who is my neighbour?
Age: From group 3 onwards.
Supplies: Pieces of heart-shaped paper in different colours, OR post-its in the shape of a heart, a wall or table to stick the hearts on, pens.
Instruction
In the Bible, Jesus says that everyone is my neighbour, not just the people at my house, children in class or at church. The people who live next door or near me. The neighbour children I may or may not know, or may not like very much, are also my neighbours. Jesus says we should love all our neighbours as we love ourselves.
Think of someone in your street or neighbourhood. If you like, write or draw a kind thought or prayer for that person on a heart and stick it with the others.
Reconciliation zips
Supplies: Loose zips OR a garment such as a vest with a zip. Loosen the zip.
Age: Primary school.
Instruction
Have you, children or people in the neighbourhood had a fight or argument lately? When people quarrel or argue, they get separated. Reconciliation means bringing two parties together. A bit like a zip. Think about the people you want to bring back together. Say a silent prayer for the people you are thinking of as you zip up. This is a prayer of reconciliation.
Oil
Age: Primary school
Supplies: a bottle of essential oil that smells good with a natural scent, e.g. cinnamon, lavender.
"We are to God a pleasing aroma of Christ." (2 Corinthians 2:15)
Instruction
Carefully twist the cap off the bottle and smell a on the oil. Do you like the way it smells? What does it smell like?
God has given nature to us as a gift. We are allowed to take care of it. We can eat the fruits of some trees and plants, for example. Oil is also made from trees and plants.
The smell of oil is very special. The Bible says something beautiful about fragrance in 2 Corinthians 2:15, look it up. There it says it is important that we spread a "pleasant fragrance of Christ". Do you know what that means?
That you can show a piece of God in the place where you are. When you listen to the Holy Spirit, you speak edifying words, others enjoy being around you, they know you as someone who is kind. This is how you spread the fragrance of Christ through who you are and what you do. Ask God to help you spread His fragrance to other people.
Blessing sticks
Supplies: Wooden ice cream sticks.
"The Lord said to Moses, 'Tell Aaron and his sons: this is how you should bless the Israelites: I wish for you that the Lord will be with you and protect you. That He will be good to you and take care of you. That He will soak over you and give you peace." (Numbers 6: 22-27)
Instruction
Grab a stick and take a minute of silence. Pray for God to give you a name in your mind of someone close to you. Write this name on the stick and bring this person to God. Bless this person. You can choose to use words from the text above.
Sources
Prayer form 2 and 3 are based on: Love your neighbour From Prayer Spaces in Schools & Reconciliation Zips From Prayer Spaces at Home.
Prayer forms 4 and 5 are based on prayer forms from the Kids of Glory Prayer Box for children.