Creative Prayer: Musical Prayers

Focus: Praying for each other

Before You Begin:

This adventure is similar to “Musical Chairs,” but everyone wins!

You’ll need five pieces of paper in these colors: red, orange, blue, green, and brown. (If you don’t have one or more of these colors, substitute another color and adjust the later directions as necessary.) The papers should be at least the size of a playing card, but can be bigger if you like. If you have more than five members in your family, use two papers of each color. You’ll also need a way to play music.

The Prayer Time!

Place your pieces of paper in a large circle on the floor. You may want to tape them to the floor to be sure they stay where they are put!

Tell your family that in this creative prayer time you’re going to play “Musical Prayers,” which is a variation on the classic game Musical Chairs. Then have each family member (including you) stand on a piece of paper. When everyone is in position, start the music.

While the music is playing have family members walk around the circle from paper to paper. When you stop the music, have each person stop by standing on the paper closest to him or her. Then take turns praying as follows:

If you’re standing on a red paper, pray for the adults in your family. This can include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and so on, as well as moms and dads.
If you’re standing on an orange paper, pray for the person on your left.
If you’re standing on blue paper, pray for each child in your family. If you want, include cousins or family members not living with you (such as step-siblings or older children).
If you’re standing on green paper, pray for the person on your right.
If you’re standing on brown paper, pray for yourself!

After each person has prayed according to these guidelines, start “Musical Prayers” again and start moving! When you stop the music, family members will be on different colors, and can pray again according to their new color.

Repeat the music and praying sequence as many times as you and your family want.