Yesterday instead of a sermon I created a series of prayer stations. We are on the cusp of Advent, the start of the Church year, so it seemed like a great time to take a walk through the seasons of the Church calendar.
Advent
Advent is a season of waiting and hoping. At this prayer station, people could create a different kind of Advent calendar. We each chose 25 strips of purple and pink paper and write a prayer, scripture passage, or idea of something to do on a day of Advent on each strip. Each day, a link is added to the chain until it is complete for Christmas.
Christmas
During Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. At this prayer station were gathered multiple nativity creches. People were invited to read the Christmas story from Luke and Matthew and walk through the story, imagining what it might have been like for its participants. We had on hand the People of God figures from Godly Play so we could even place ourselves into the story.
Epiphany
During Epiphany we celebrate the light of God coming into the world and beginning to spread throughout the nations. At this station, people could light candles to remember that this light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it.
Lent
During Lent we think about how our lives could be more closely lived in God. At this station, people were invited to write or draw a symbol of a burden, need for forgiveness, or heartache in their lives and leave it on the cross, a collage created by the community.
Easter
During Easter we joyfully celebrate how new life proceeds from what was once dead. At this station, we thought about the evidence of new life in our own lives and colored leaves that we wired to a lifeless branch to fill it with color and life.
Pentecost
During Pentecost we remember how the breath of God washed over the disciples and sent them out into the world. At this station, several breath prayers were available for meditation.
Ordinary Time
During the long season after Pentecost we are living as God's people in the world, trying to figure out what that means. This station was our indoor labyrinth, a tangible symbol of our journey with God, with all of its twists and turns.
Advent
Advent is a season of waiting and hoping. At this prayer station, people could create a different kind of Advent calendar. We each chose 25 strips of purple and pink paper and write a prayer, scripture passage, or idea of something to do on a day of Advent on each strip. Each day, a link is added to the chain until it is complete for Christmas.
Christmas
During Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. At this prayer station were gathered multiple nativity creches. People were invited to read the Christmas story from Luke and Matthew and walk through the story, imagining what it might have been like for its participants. We had on hand the People of God figures from Godly Play so we could even place ourselves into the story.
Epiphany
During Epiphany we celebrate the light of God coming into the world and beginning to spread throughout the nations. At this station, people could light candles to remember that this light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it.
Lent
During Lent we think about how our lives could be more closely lived in God. At this station, people were invited to write or draw a symbol of a burden, need for forgiveness, or heartache in their lives and leave it on the cross, a collage created by the community.
Easter
During Easter we joyfully celebrate how new life proceeds from what was once dead. At this station, we thought about the evidence of new life in our own lives and colored leaves that we wired to a lifeless branch to fill it with color and life.
Pentecost
During Pentecost we remember how the breath of God washed over the disciples and sent them out into the world. At this station, several breath prayers were available for meditation.
During the long season after Pentecost we are living as God's people in the world, trying to figure out what that means. This station was our indoor labyrinth, a tangible symbol of our journey with God, with all of its twists and turns.
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