Prayer tables
Prayer tables reflect the presence of God in the space where you meet. They can incorporate the liturgical sea son, theme, lesson, or subject of discussion. They provide a sacred space in your room
Common Components of a Prayer Table
Bible
Cross
Candle
Christ in life
Symbol of the Season:
Any object that can be explained as relating to the season or specific observance. Some ideas:
¨ Christmas-Nativity, crèche, angel, etc.
¨ Ash Wednesday-ashes, dry palms Pentecost-fire, dove, etc. Epiphany-presents, “gifts”
¨ Advent-Advent Wreath, candles
¨ Easter-Light, Candle, egg, etc.
¨ Mary-Pictures, Rosary, statue
¨ Palm Sunday-palms, crown,
¨ Lent-items giving up
Christ in Life:
People being Eucharist to others-Kids in service to one another, Family, celebrations, Pictures, individual objects, beads, drawings, items to represent teens from school, sports, drama, bowl to pour into or remove water from, oil Sacraments symbols, wine, bread, grapes, ANYTHING!
Colors:
¨ Green-Hope, God Loves Us, Ordinary Time
¨ Red-Blood/Holy Spirit, Good Friday, Christ the King, Martyr
¨ Purple—Penance, Advent, Lent, Ash Wednesday
¨ White-Celebration, Funerals, Weddings, Baptism, First Communion, Holy Orders
¨ Easter, Holy Thursday, Christmas,
¨ Blue (Not a Liturgical color), Mary
www.usccb.org – for daily readings, liturgical season
Formula for all Prayer
To Who For Through
GATHER: The first part of prayer needs to help those who are gathered to become aware of their relationship to God and their relationship to each other. As the group comes together to pray what actions, gestures, music, singing, proclamations, litanies or other preparations will help this occur?
LISTEN: The next movement of the prayer gives those now gathered a chance to hear the scriptures or current stories which allow us to reflect on how God is active in our lives. Readings, drama, videos, person stories, witness reflections, music, songs, psalms, gestures, litanies and silence are some elements which might be included
RESPOND: The third movement of prayer reminds us that it is not enough to just hear the word of God, we must keep it. How will we respond to our awareness of how God continues to love us unconditionally? Spontaneous and composed prayers, intercessory prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, psalms, songs, music, actions or gestures are options.
SEND FORTH: The final movement of prayer sends us forth with a renewed mission to live the Gospel each and every day. Prayer helps us to focus on the big picture but also the simple ways that each of us needs to be a disciple to those around us. Spontaneous and composed prayers, music, songs, actions and gestures, blessings, commissioning, exchanging a sign of peace are some of the ways this can occur.
Types of Prayer
Conversational: A form of shared prayer in which people stand and pray aloud together to Jesus as a child would pray. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the participants engage in a personal conversation with Jesus following these four steps: Welcome and Praise, Thanksgiving, Forgiveness and petition.
Scripture: Very broad category that includes everything from reading and reflecting on the bible to memorizing scripture verses that have personal meaning and thinking about them when one needs to. Scripture passages can be substituted for the Rosary Mysteries or used to highlight and emphasize meditation on the standard 15 Mysteries. Psalms, Proverbs, Wisdom, and Sirach have some wonderful short and longer passages that can be incorporated into prayer.
Music: Secular or Spiritual/Christian music is a great source and type of prayer.
Movement: More formally, “Liturgical Dancing”, but any way in which students can express thoughts of or towards God in a physical way is a prayerful expression.
Gimmicks: Prayers can be fun activities that are incorporated into lessons and assignments. Students can “Add a written word” where one person starts the prayer and it moves around the room which each person something. Finish a prayer, “Oh, God, Please help me to…..” BE CREATIVE!
Hymns and Poems as prayer Music or poetry which is used as a prayer. Introduce kids to Catholic poets such as Jessica Powers
Group Prayer: Any prayer where parts are recited as a group. It could be a combination of Scripture readings with prayer that is said by different groups.
Short Prayer Quick verbal or non-verbal thoughts of or toward God. (“Help!” or “Thanks!” are probably the most common.)
Liturgical Our public prayer when we assemble as a community to profess and celebrate what we believe. We praise, thank, ask forgiveness, and petition God as one body. Participating in this prayer strengthens our bonds with God and with one another. It makes us grow in divine life and all forms of love. During liturgical prayer, the secular and the sacred meet. Through words, actions, and symbols we connect with God and become more like God.
Mantras A word or phrase repeated monotonously (perhaps from scripture) as a means to center oneself and come into the presence of God.
Circle Prayer Individuals in a circle offer prayers for personal intentions or a specific petition.
Meditations In a communal setting, a leader will focus and lead the group through a series of contemplation’s on an image, images, thoughts, biblical story, or other focusing concept.
Guided Imagery/Meditation An individual exercise in a large group, led by one person, to focus, relax, and provide an opportunity to engage in a personal conversation with God.
Trinity Prayer Thanks to the Father, Forgiveness from the Son and discernment from the
Holy Spirit
Slide Meditation Music and scriptural passages that are centered on a theme, such as faith, hope, love.
Jesus as Model and Teacher of Prayer: Locate scripture where Jesus prayed (Matt 11 :25, Mark 1:35, Luke 4:16, 6:12, 22:31-32, 22:39-42, John 17:1-26. Imagine prayers Jesus would have said on different days in his life. These references provide Jesus advice on praying: Matt 6:5-6, 6:9-13, 7:21-23, Luke 11 :5-8, 17: 11-19, 18:2-8, 18:9-14, 20:47, 21 :34-38, 22:39, John 16:23
One Liners: Help! 0-h-h-h!, Wow, “Jesus, Mary, Joseph”
Praying with Scripture—Lectio Divina: Pick a word, phrase and summarize with a reflection (“what is God saying to me in this scripture?”)
Leading a Prayer Service
The Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit guides all prayer. Prayer leaders do not perform, but offer themselves as a vehicle of the Spirit for those at prayer. Pray to the Holy Spirit to guide and inspire you.
Scripture
Prayer services should always involve the Word of God so that participants can listen to God speaking to them.
Music
Singing and instrumental music are not just frosting on the cake. They are essential ingredients in prayer services.
Environment
Introduce elements into the environment to create a greater awareness of the sacred. Consider candles (when appropriate), dimmed lights, enthroned Bible, cross, and objects from nature such as flowers, rocks, and shells.
Assembly Participation
Don’t think of what just you are doing during prayer. Ask yourself what the assembly is doing. Be sure to involve the assembly as a whole in the prayer, not just those taking the Leader or Reader roles.
Nonverbal Elements
Consider the elements of movement and gesture (procession, bowing, venerating the Bible, outstretching hands, laying on hands, blessing) and of symbols (water, oil) as well as of silence.
Verbal Elements
Follow and borrow from the prayer of the Church (Roman Missal, Liturgy of the Hours): introductory rites, psalm responses, antiphons, penitential acts, collects, intercessions, and blessings. These prayers are rich and evocative and therefore, powerful.
Liturgical Feasts and Seasons
Pay special attention to the time of the liturgical year (Advent, Lent, feasts, solemnities) when selecting themes and prayers.
Know your assembly.
Be aware of the age level of your assembly and their faith development as well as their level of maturity.
Prepare.
As when planning a session, be sure of your focus, theme, and goal. Envision the prayer, feel the flow, get a sense of space, time, sound, silence, and so on. Select Readers and assign roles ahead of time. If possible, rehearse with those chosen to read.
Include silence.
Our lives are noisy already. Much of our prayer is too wordy. Allow for periods of silence. Be sure to include silence during the prayer service, perhaps after a prayer or a reading.
Give instructions beforehand.
There’s nothing worse than interrupting a prayer to give directions such as “the left side takes this part, and the right side takes that part!”
Be creative.
Consider using appropriate visuals (video, DVD, slides, PowerPoint, and so on).
Encourage spontaneous prayer.
Not everyone is comfortable with spontaneous prayer, but it is a form of prayer that needs to be taught and fostered.
Proclaim.
Throughout the prayer service speak clearly and slowly. Proclamation is more than merely reading the text and less than a dramatic performance. As you speak, try not to bury your head in the text; look at the assembly as much as possible. Speaking in this way will help to involve the participants.
Move with reverence.
Moving with reverence means moving not too quickly or slowly, and not stiffly, but with ease and regard for what you are doing.
https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/parish-ministry/leading-prayer/leading-a-prayer-service-part-1
Resources:
App: Pray as you go
OnLine Prayer