On a gloriously sunny day at the end of June, as part of the Diocesan Year of Prayer, all children at Peakirk-cum-Glinton C of E Primary School took part in a community prayer walk. Various prayer stations with activities were created where the children could pause and focus on prayer. Children in KS1 (ages 5 - 7 years) took part in activities within the school grounds and children in KS2 (ages 7 - 11 years) walked a route around the village of Glinton with the Revd Keir Dow and his benefice team on hand to support the children along the prayer walk.
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The prayer stations focused on various themes including creation, love, peace, forgiveness and gratitude.
Step 1: Love Step – “Jesus loved people.”
Prayer Focus: Praying for family and friends.
KS2 Activity: Create a nature heart. Think of people that they love and if willing share this with God and the universe either in prayer or whispering aloud.
“Love one another as I have loved you.” – John 15:12
Step 2: Creation Step – “Jesus admired God’s creation.”
Prayer Focus: Thanking God for the world around us.
KS2 Activity: Each child finds a leaf, flower, or nature object to hold. Ask them to offer a quiet prayer starting with, “Thank you, God, for making ___ . For agnostic or other faiths God can be replaced in a way that works for them.
“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” – Genesis 1:31
Step 3: Peace Step – “Jesus cared for the world”
Prayer Focus: Praying for peace in the world.
KS1 Activity: Show Flags, a globe or world map. Each child picks a country to pray for and places a sticker or pin on that countries flag or location on a map.
KS2 Activity: Identify flags of other countries. Each child picks a country to pray for or think about. Imagine what it might be like to live in that country especially countries which don’t offer the same freedoms
“Blessed are the peacemakers.” – Matthew 5:9
Step 4: Forgiveness Step – “Jesus forgave”
Prayer Focus: Saying sorry and receiving forgiveness.
KS2 Activity: Children find a natural item that represents things they have got wrong (examples are small stones, a leaf, a blade of grass, a stick). Drop into water and watch it disappear as a symbol of forgiveness.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive.” – 1 John 1:9
Step 5: Gratitude Step – “Jesus gave thanks”
Prayer Focus: Thanking God for all His blessings.
KS1 & KS2 Activity: Children write or draw one thing they’re thankful for on a sticky note. Add it to a “Thank You Wall” or mural.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” – Psalm 107:1
Final Blessing: Circle up and pray together: “Jesus, thank you for walking with us. Help us to walk in your footsteps every day. Amen.”
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The children ended the day writing down what they were thankful for in school and in the community and these were displayed in the school hall. Of the prayer walk Mrs H Willatt, Deputy Head Teacher said: “It was a brilliant time to stop, pause and reflect at various stations. Thank you to Revd Keir and his benefice team.”