Prayer Space 2021
July 18, 2021
A Prayer Space enables children of all faiths and none to explore life’s questions, spirituality and faith in a safe, creative and interactive way. St Mary’s has had the privilege of running prayer Spaces at Stoke Bishop Church of England Primary for some years now, and this year was no exception. The room is set up with a number of creative stations that encourage the children’s own personal reflections. Only low-level lighting is used and soft music. Before entering the room, we encourage the children that this is a time for them to slow down, to be calm and quiet. A time for them and their thoughts, there are no right or wrong answers.
1. Big Questions
If you could ask God a question, what would it be?
2. Thank You
When times are hard, it can be helpful to think of things you are thankful for.
3 Worries
If you want to, write of draw your worry on a piece of paper and place it in the box. Leave it there – put down your worry.
4. Empty Chair
When someone we love leaves, or dies, we miss them. It’s like they leave an empty chair at the table of our lives. Is there someone that you miss?
5. Our Tears
God understands our sadness and shares our tears. Place a glass nugget in the bowl as you think about something that has made you sad this year.
6. Prayers for the World
Look at the World Map. What would you like to change in the world? What could you do to make the world a better place? Write or draw a thought or prayer for the world on a post-it note:
7. Hope Blossoms
This encouraged the children to think about their hopes and dreams; they wrote their hopes and dreams for themselves, their family and/or the world on a square of paper, folded the corners to the centre and placed it in a bowl of water. They could reflect on their hopes and dreams as they watched the flower opening in the water.
8. Be Still
The children particularly enjoyed just being still on cushions around the Bubble tube.
9. Transition Flags
On the one side of some paper bunting, the children wrote or drew what they were sad to leave behind in this school year and on the other, they thought about what they were looking forward to in the new academic year. These flags have been given to class teachers to put up in their classrooms.