An empty box has always invited play and imagination – whether it becomes a den or a treasure box. The idea behind a Prayer Box is to invite families to consider how they might like to pray and express faith at home in a non-prescriptive way that allows for imagination and play. A Prayer Box can be tailored to suit all ages and families can utilise the resource in their own way creating an experience that is unique to them.
Some benefices have already been experimenting with the Pray Box idea...
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St Peter’s Church in Oundle they have introduced a ‘Chatting to God’ bag, rather than a box, in their Messy Church. The bag. which has a big smiley emoji ironed on the front, allows children to wear it like a rucksack and carry it around with them. At each Messy Church session items are introduced in keeping with the session’s theme to help families experiment with prayer at home.
One little girl, Lucy, used the bag each night to pray and then asked to share her bag with her class at school. Her teacher’s response was wonderful, ‘What a lovely time this was! Lucy explained what was in her bag and then led everyone in praying “Dear God, thank you for a wonderful day. Thank you for friends. Help us to have a good day. Aaaaaaamen”. Thank you for encouraging Lucy to do this, it was a really special moment.’
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In the Tove Benefice, Towcester a ‘Flat Jesus’ has been introduced that can be coloured. The idea, inspired by the well known children's book ‘Flat Stanley’ was to help families think Jesus going everywhere with us, and to look for opportunities to talk about Him. Some children from the benefice took their ‘Flat Jesus’ into the local care home to visit their grandparents starting inter-generational conversations about faith.
The Welland Valley Benefice in the Corby Deanery are introducing the Prayer Box concept through their Messy Church. Children & Youth worker Fiona said ‘we need to model how to pray for children and their adults alike. We can’t assume that people know how to pray’. Welland Valley Benefice have begun working directly with their Messy Church attendees to put together ‘Chatting to God’ boxes to discover what resources would be helpful for families to help prompt prayer at home.
Find out more about creating a Prayer Box and how you might encourage families to pray at home here.
If you’re already using prayer boxes in your benefice and have a great story to share, send the details to communications@peterborough-diocese.org.uk