bath & wells: services for children and young people
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Seasonal Prayers - Ascension Day

An idea...

Take children up onto the top of a hill. Look around at all the houses, roads, etc. that can be seen from the hilltop. Imagine what the disciples experienced when they stood on the hilltop when Jesus left them.

Whether on a hilltop site or in church or church hall, this prayer by St Teresa of Avila could be used:

Christ has no body now on Earth, but ours,
No hands but ours,
No feet but ours;
Ours are the eyes through which to look with Christ's compassion on the world,
Ours are the feet, with which he is to go about doing good,
Ours are the hands with which he is to bless us now. Amen

Discuss the practical ways in which this prayer of St Teresa is true for us. When we pray Thy Kingdom Come what do we mean? Can we hasten the coming of the Kingdom? Does the world show any signs that the Kingdom of God is advancing? If so, how?

Balloon prayers

Have ready a number of inflated balloons and a selection of permanent marker pens. Invite everyone to suggest one-line thank you prayers and write two or three prayers on each balloon. Hang the balloons in clusters around your church or meeting room. These could be made as part of a special celebration service.

Pop the balloon

Have ready a number of inflated balloons and a selection of permanent marker pens. Invite everyone to name some of the reasons for which we might need to say sorry to God. Write these on the balloons. Then have a few moments of prayer asking God's forgiveness for all the things we do wrong and including the suggestions written on the balloons. Finally pop the balloons and explain that when we say sorry to God, he not only forgives us, but he also forgets the wrong things we have done and gives us the chance to make a fresh start.

More Seasonal Prayers