CHILD + FAMILY
PRAYER WALK
Welcome
It’s great to explore new ways to pray and engage with God, especially for children. This walk was designed for a young family to share the experience together.
how it works
- Begin your journey by looking for a stone with the number "1" on it. Then scroll down this page to Station 1.
- Each station explores an interactive type of prayer, and verses from the Bible.
- Look down the path as you leave each station for the next numbered marker.
LOOK
Take a few minutes to wander around the Shepherd’s Garden and discover.
- Can you find a bug? A butterfly? A flower? A leaf?
Show each other and share what you see.
TALK
What do you see here that God has made?
- Did he make the sky?
- Did he make the rocks? The birds? The dirt? The plants? You?
- Does anything make you say “Wow”?
PRAY
Pray by wondering aloud...
- How many flowers do you think God can make?
- Do you think God can make enough for everybody?
- Can he make enough of other things for you? For everybody?
- Do you think he can take care of what you need?
- Do you think that might show that he loves you?
MOVE TO STATION 2
LOOK
What do you think of that long windy path that looks like a game? It’s called a labrinyth.
Have you ever been lost? How long were you lost? Is the path sometimes too long?
This path reminds us that sometimes the way ahead is long and we can get lost.
Sometimes, God asks us to be lost.
- God wanted his people to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.
- Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days.
PRAY
Have your child(ren) close their eyes and imagine being in the desert as you read:
You are in the desert. Feel the hot sun on your shoulders, and the sand between your toes. Take a moment to feel the heat. Look down and see the sand, grab some and let it filter through your fingers. Just over a hill you see something. As you walk, you see that it is a man. He is thin and the wind blows his robe against his legs. His skin is brown and his lips are dry and cracking.
Out of nowhere, you hear a voice. “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
You hear the man say, “It is written, Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
WALK
As you follow the path, look down at your feet.
Think of Jesus walking with you. You won’t get lost or tired.
MOVE TO STATION 3 (at the well)
READ ALOUD
When Jesus came to be baptized, and after John had
immersed him in the River Jordan, they heard a voice from the heavens,
”This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”
ACTIVITY
(Fold back the well cover and then...)
- Dip both of your hands in the water, and look upward as you imagine God “This is my beloved child, with whom I am well-pleased.”
(Please put back the well cover)
PRAY BY SINGING
Sing "Happy Birthday to Me"
Because baptism is re-birth!
TALK
How do you feel after your baptism? How do you feel different? Special?
MOVE TO STATION 4 (over the bridge)
TALK
- Describe what it was like to walk over the bridge. Did it take you someplace new? After we are baptized, we are in a new place with a new life in Christ. What does that new life feel like?
- Have a seat on the bench. Make sure you are comfortable. Breathe slowly and deeply.
READ
- Start by reading the scripture below slowly, two times aloud.
"Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there." Matthew 19: 13-15.
- Share the words or phrases that stand out for you.
- Now sit quietly and listen for God.
- What did you hear or think of when you were sitting quietly?
IMAGINE
- Read the passage one more time. Imagine Jesus' hand on your shoulder or head. What does it feel like? Gentle, warm? How does your heart feel?
- What prayer would you like Jesus to say for you?
MOVE TO STATION 5
TALK
Did you know that you can talk and listen to God anywhere?
- Where are some places that you like to talk to God?
IMAGINATIVE PRAYER
Have a seat at the table. Imagine that God is sitting there too.
He wants to know how you’re doing.
- What things are bothering you?
- What are you happy about?
Tell him how you feel. Ask him for what you need.
"Pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."
Psalms 62:8
MOVE TO STATION 6
READ ALOUD
Now Moses was tending sheep when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire within a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire but it did not burn up. When Moses went to look closer, the Lord called out to him, “Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
ACTIVITY
Experience what it was like for Moses. Take off your shoes. This is holy ground.
- Can you think of a place where someone asks you to take off your shoes? Why? (To keep the floor clean? To not tear the trampoline?)
- Why would God want Moses to take off his sandals on Holy Ground?
PRAY (Have non-readers repeat after you)
Dear God,
Please help me to listen to you, and to do what you say.
I know I have a lot of excuses. Please don’t give up on me.
Amen
God did not give up on Moses. God never gives up on us.
MOVE TO STATION 7
TALK
What do you notice about the woods? Sounds, leaves, shade...God creates all kinds of places for prayer.
SIT QUIETLY
How does it feel to be quiet with God in the woods right now?
PRAY ALOUD TOGETHER
Jesus taught his friends this prayer, let's say it together:
"Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our
daily bread,
Forgive us our sins, as we
forgive those who have
sinned against us
And lead us not
into temptation,
But deliver us from evil."
MOVE TO STATION 8 (Follow the path)
Jesus told his followers, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
His followers asked, “Who then can go?” He said, “...with God all things are possible.”
OBSERVE
- The eye of a needle is very small. Can you think of anything other than thread that might fit through the eye of a needle?
- Look at the narrow space between the trees. Would a car fit through there? A house? Your favorite toy?
REFLECT
- What would you take with you if you had just a few seconds to grab something if there was a fire in your house?
- Why is this important to you?
PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS
Dear God,
I love many things that you have given me. Thank you for them. Please help me to remember that none of these things is more important than you. Forgive me when I forget that you are the most important. Amen.
MOVE TO STATION 9
TALK
Can you name a perfect person? Besides Jesus? You’re right, there aren’t any.
The things we do, when we know we shouldn’t, are called “sins.” We all sin. We want to be good, it’s just hard sometimes.
But Jesus was good, and he didn’t sin. Because he loves us, he takes the blame for our sins.
PONDER
- Take a moment to find a place to sit.
- What is something you did that you should not have done?
- Go to the cross and put your hand on it. Thank Jesus for his forgiveness.
MEDITATIVE PRAYER
Remember this phrase: “Jesus, Help me to See.”
Get comfortable. Close your eyes. Notice your breath, in and out.
Imagine Jesus’ face. Look into his eyes.
Now pray “Jesus, Help me to See” as you let your breath in and out.
Repeat it over and over as long as you need and want to.
When you are finished, say, “Thank you, Lord” or “Amen.” Slowly open your eyes.
MOVE TO STATION 10 (up the stairs to the Memorial Garden)
Jesus loved everyone and spent time with people who needed him.
ACTIVITY
- Think of someone you can call or see or spend time with this week.
- Maybe you know of someone who is lonely or sick and would like to hear from you. Also, think of praying for this person.
PRAY THROUGH REFLECTION
- What are some good things that happened today? Tell God thank you.
- What are some bad things? Ask for God's help.
- What is something good that may happen tomorrow? Thank God for making us hopeful.
- What is something you can do tomorrow to help someone? Thank God for your kind heart.
MOVE TO STATION 11
Take a moment to remember someone you know
who is in Heaven.
Also, think of someone you are worried about.
PRAY
Place a gratitude rock on the center stone as you give thanks for your loved ones in heaven, or take a rock with you.
“And lo, I am with you always.” Jesus
READ ALOUD
Jesus said this about Heaven,
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house there are many rooms. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you with me so that we may be together. You know the way to the place where I am going. “ John 14:1-4
MOVE TO STATION 12
OBSERVE
How big is God?
God is very big and loving. He wants to hear from us every day. He loves us so much that he sent his son, Jesus to us, and Jesus loved us so much that he died for us. But our God is SO big that death was not the end for Jesus. He rose from the dead and he will rise us up too - if we believe in him.
What do I do now?
The Bible says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
So...
God made you and he will help you to do what you are meant to do. Don’t worry about it, just talk to God about it.
THANK YOU FOR COMING! This is the end of the Prayer Walk. We have shown you many different ways to pray. Sometimes doing things a little differently helps you to think in a new way.
We Hope You Enjoyed this Time Today.
Caring for God’s Creation Team