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Seasonal Prayers - Pentecost

I will be with you always

Teach the following simple line to the group to say as a response to each line.
I will be with you always, and the Holy Spirit will give you words to say.

Thank you that God's power is available for all who trust in you,
I will be...
Whatever we face this coming week, God says
I will be...
Wherever we go in the coming days, God says
I will be...
Whoever we meet at home or in school, God says
I will be...
However alone and afraid we feel, God says
I will be...
Amen

Firestarters Flame collage

Materials: large flame shape on the floor made of paper or card, paper, glue sticks, scissors, pens and crayons

Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. Acts 2:3

The flame symbolises the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the movement of the Holy Spirit now. The aim of Firestarters is to pray that flame into the lives of children.

• Think about the good things about life - friends, family, countryside, flowers, etc.
• Draw some of the good things you have thought of and cut them out
• Stick them on to the flame on the floor
• Make a small flame and stick it to the large one
• Spend some time quietly thanking God for the good things about your life

Wow, Peter    

Teach the actions that will accompany this all-age prayer.

Firstly, everyone should make a fist with one hand. This represents power.Now lift the index finger from that fist and place across it the index finger from the other hand to make a cross, which represents a power greater than that of the fist.

As Peter and John stood before the formidable human representatives of religious and political power, they took courage because they knew that the ultimate power lay in the name of Jesus and his cross.

Use the actions to accompany the response each time it comes between the lines of the following prayer.

Response: Teach us, good Lord, where true power lies.

Loving God, we are surrounded by many voices which claim power over our lives.
Teach us, good Lord, where true power lies
We hear the powerful voices of the crowd, which urge us to fit in with the world rather than challenge its false values.
Teach us, good Lord, where true power lies
We hear the powerful voices of status, which urge us to strive to outdo our neighbours rather than to love them.
Teach us, good Lord, where true power lies
We hear the powerful voices of tradition, which urge us to resist all change so that we fail to see you at work in new and exciting ways.
Teach us, good Lord, where true power lies
We hear the powerful voices of greed, which urge us to look after ourselves and put our own interests first.
Teach us, good Lord, where true power lies
We hear the powerful voices of selfish ambition, which urge us to ignore the lost, the last and the least, in favour of our own immediate gain.
Teach us, good Lord, where true power lies
We hear the powerful voices of spiritual wickedness in high places, which urge us to compromise with evil and turn a blind eye to injustice.
Teach us, good Lord, where true power lies
But we also see the powerful cross of Jesus - where true power and wisdom lie. This is foolishness to the world, but life to those who believe.
Teach us, good Lord, where true power lies
Amen.

Simple Prayer Stations for Pentecost

Here are some simple prayer stations based around symbols of the Spirit - oil, water, fire and wind - to set up for a Pentecost service with all ages. You might just have one or two instead of all four.

The 'ingredients' are included with each activity. It can help to have music playing during the prayer time - perhaps a CD so that your music group get to pray, too.

Oil

You'll need: A bowl of perfumed oil, such as aromatherapy massage oil. (Choose one unlikely to cause allergic reaction - check with the shop.)

Sit or stand and close your eyes. Wait for the scent to reach you. It is invisible but we sense its presence with us. Thank God that he is always with us through his invisible Spirit, even though we can't see him with our eyes.

Choose to invite God's Holy Spirit into your life today and, as a sign of your invitation, smooth a little of the oil on to your wrist.

Water

You'll need: a sand tray or tray of dry compost or stones to represent a barren desert, a bucket of water surrounded by lush greenery like pot plants, and plenty of small waterproof bowls or pots.

The Holy Spirit brings life to dead places, just as water brings life to a barren desert.

What part of your life or which place or situation or relationship is dry and dead like the desert? Ask God to make his Spirit flood into that place like a spring of fresh water. Fill a small bowl with water and place it in the desert as a sign of your prayer. (Alternatively, you could pour out the water in the desert, especially if it's a compost desert, so that by the time everyone has prayed, it's ready for planting. Perhaps it could be the start of a prayer garden or church flowerbed?)

Fire

You'll need: some flame shapes cut out from red / orange card or tissue paper and a set of photos of familiar local places - schools, pubs, shops, your church building, the playground, the gym etc. - and worldwide ones of different countries.

The Holy Spirit brings fire, energy and passion to places and people who were humdrum and dull or loveless and afraid. Pray for people and places around you, by placing a flame on the place or places you would like God's Spirit to set alight with his love and courage.

Wind

You'll need: a bowl of bubble mixture and several bubble wands. Ideally, situate this near a warm air source like a heating vent to give the bubbles more buoyancy. (You could do this activity with helium balloons, but make sure you can get them down afterwards...)

God's Spirit can lift a situation or relationship and take it to a new level, filled with life and hope. Hold such a situation before God now and breathe out your concern for the people involved by blowing into a bubble-wand and watching the bubble take on a life of its own.

More Seasonal Prayers