Allofusprayindifferentwaysatdifferentstagesinourlives.SometimesourwayofprayingchangesaswegrowinourrelationshipwithGod.

God has created each one of us as a unique being, so our way of praying is alsounique to each individual. Today, prayer is not only confined to Scripture, as theuse of pictures, contemporary readings or poetry is also a way to enter into theexperience ofprayer. Some ofusmay find itdifficult topraywith toomanywordsand feel drawn towards using art and symbols inour prayer. For others itwill beprayingthroughtouch,or contemplating a picture,an image,a painting,or anicon. Or wemaybedrawn toexploring shape andcolour in prayer. Thesedifferent ways ofpraying canhelp us toenter into themystery ofGod’s presence,through the artistic gifts ofothers. Indoing so,we also recognise ourselves as co-creatorsofGod.

Multi-sensoryprayer Prayerusingimagesandsymbols

Booksuggestions Astley,NandRobertson-Pearce,Pamela(eds)(2007)SoulFood-nourishingpoemsforstarvedminds,Bloodaxebooks.Dickins,Rosie (2014)TheUsborneArtBookaboutColour,UsbornePublishing.Wallace, Sue(2000)Multi-Sensory Prayer,over60ready-to-use ideasforcreativechurchesandsmallgroups,ScriptureUnionPublishing.Websites

www.prayerwindows.com/art-as-a-prayerwww,Usborne.com/quicklinks

Frontcoverimage:www.Pixabay.comandKDixon

The Prayer Pack

Gazingatanimageorholdingasymbolicobjectcanbeagateway,aportalintocontemplationandcommunionwithGod.

Asyoufocusandbecomeabsorbedbywhatitisyouhavechosentouse,rememberitisnotthephysicalattributesthatarebeingworshipped–notthepicture,wood,stoneorclayitself–butwhattheyrepresent.Allowyourselftobesimplypresentinthemoment,presenttoGodasGodispresenttoyou.

Usinganimage

Lookthroughthepicturesprovidedhereandchooseonethatspeakstoyouthemost.Holdingthepicture,restyoureyesonwhatyousee,andrelaxintoit.Letitstillyou.Considerwhatisbeforeyou. Allowyoureyestotravel,thenrestwhereyourattentionismostdrawn.Whatstrikesyouinwhatyousee?WhatdoyouglimpseofGodthroughit? Whatareyoufeeling?Youmaywanttotryandpositionyourselfinthepicture.Whathappenstoyouasyoucontemplateyourpartinit?Doesitevokeamemory,aninnerimage,music,apoem,asong,orapassageofScriptureperhaps?Doesitsomehowconnectwithyourlife–ifso,inwhatway?Whydoyouthinkthismightbe?

YoumayfindtherearethingsyouwanttosaytoGod,orsensethatGodisinsomewayspeakingtoyou.

Whenyou’reready,gentlybringyourselfbacktotheroomandendyourprayerbysayingthankyouorusingwordsthatarefamiliar,suchastheLord’sPrayer(OurFather)–whicheverfeelsrightandcomfortable. Usingprayerstones,aholdingcross,orotherobjects Holdtheobjectinthepalmofyourhand,cradlingandclenchingitinturn,thenrelaxingyourhand. Feelitsweightandtexture. Consideritsstory–whereitcamefrom: thewind,sun,frost,waterandhumanhandsthathelpedgiveititscurrentshape. Contemplatehowthatstoryspeakstoyou;howdoesitmakeyoufeel?Doesitremindyouofsomething?WhatdoyouglimpseofGodthroughit?Perhapsyouwanttothinkaboutyourownstory,andwhathasledyoutotoday. YoumayfindtherearethingsyouwanttosaytoGod,orsensethatGodisinsomewayspeakingtoyou. Asyouholdyourcrossorstone,knowthatyouryesterday,todayandtomorrowareheldinthepalmofGod’shand. Whenyou’reready,gentlybringyourselfbacktotheroomandendyourprayerbysayingthankyouorusingwordsthatarefamiliar,suchastheLord’sPrayer(OurFather)–whicheverfeelsrightandcomfortable.