NEW Back to School or Summer Camp Prayers
Fine Arts Camp 2017 Morning Devotions
Supplies needed 1 paper plate per child
1 white votive candle per child
1 candle liter -Introduce myself & purpose of morning devotions -Read Scripture: Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. ~Psalm 143:8 (NIV) -Gather prayer requests from the children on a marker board. -Introduce Candle Prayers- have everyone sit on the floor cross legged
“Each morning of Fine Arts Camp we will begin with scripture and end with a candle prayer. As we sit on the floor cross-legged, each of us will light our own candle and as it burns we will watch the flicker of the flame and the small wisp of smoke it gives off. As we watch the candle, we will know that our prayers, both spoken and unspoken, are heard by God. We will end our prayer with everyone saying ‘amen’ as we blow out our candles.”
-Pass out votive candles, one paper plate, & have kids light candles off each others
“This candle is our morning prayer. As we watch it burn, we know that God hears our prayers. As we sit here for about a minute, watching the flame, we know that even when we don’t have words, God hears our prayers.”
-After a minute has passed: “ We will now end our candle prayer by blowing out our candles and saying together ‘Amen.’” ~Candle Prayer adapted from Traci Smith’s “Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home.” (pgs 155-156)
DAY 2
Supplies Needed: 1 Paper plate per child
1 pencil per child 1 puffy paint per child 1 labryinth template per child 1 paper plate per child 1 votive candle per child 1 candle liter
-Introduce myself again and purpose of morning devotions. -Read Scripture: This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ~1 John 5:14 (NIV) -Introduce the Labyrinth
“Labyrinths are maze-like structures that date back to ancient mythology. Christians use them as a way to center themselves, look inward, and meditate. In English we often use the words “labyrinth” and “maze” interchangeably. However, a maze has multiple and confusing routes with many dead ends, whereas a labyrinth has only one path to follow the whole way through. Part of the experience of walking a labyrinth is trusting in this one path. Today each of
you will be making a personal finger labyrinth on paper places and we will use
them tomorrow for meditation and reflection.”
-Pass out the paper plates, pencils, and template. Instruct children to draw the labyrinth on their paper place exactly as it is on the template. - pass out the puff paint. Instruct children to put on a thick layer of puff paint so that when it dries, it will be raised up. These will need to dry overnight before used tomorrow. - Pass out votive candles, one paper plate, & have kids light candles off each others
“This candle is our morning prayer. As we watch it burn, we know that God hears our prayers. As we sit here for about a minute, watching the flame, we know that even when we don’t have words, God hears our prayers.”
-After a minute has passed: “ We will now end our candle prayer by blowing out our candles and saying together ‘Amen.’” ~The Labyrinth adapted from Traci Smith’s “Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home.” (pgs 170-172)
DAY 3
Supplies needed: -The Labyrinths the kids made yesterday -1 paper plate per child -1 votive candle per child -1 candle liter
-Read Scripture: This is why I remind you to help God’s gift grow, just as a small spark grows into a fire. ~2 Timothy 1:6a (NIRV) -Practice the Labyrinth (instructions copied directly from Traci Smith’s book)
1. Explain that the idea of the labyrinth is to journey to the center and then out again as slowly and meditatively as possible. There is nothing specific to think about. Try to be open to the experience. 2. Demonstrate how to use your finger to move along the raised path. The labyrinth journey can be taken with eyes open or eyes closed.
3. Set apart some time for each person to take a journey to the center of the labyrinth and back out again. Remember to emphasize that the journey is to be taken slowly. Challenge children to move their fingers as slowly as they can without stopping.
4. After the experience, come back together and talk for a brief time about the experience. Ask:
Was it hard or easy to go slowly?
What did you think about the experience?
Would you like to do it again sometime?
- Pass out votive candles, one paper plate, & have kids light candles off each others
“This candle is our morning prayer. As we watch it burn, we know that God hears our prayers. As we sit here for about a minute, watching the flame, we know that even when we don’t have words, God hears our prayers.”
-After a minute has passed: “ We will now end our candle prayer by blowing out our candles and saying together ‘Amen.’” ~The Labyrinth adapted from Traci Smith’s “Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home.” (pgs 170-172)
DAY 4
Supplies needed: 1 paper plate per child
1 votive candle per child 1 candle liter 1 set of index cards cut in half per child on a metal ring
-Scripture: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. ~Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) -Say:
“As we start our morning, sometimes we are tired and find that we need energy. Other days, we awaken with nervousness or anxiety and find we are in need of peace and calming. And still other mornings we awake in need of joy, or friendship, or something else. This morning you will identify what it is that you need for today.”
-Pass out the index card rings and instruct children to write one the words on the screen on each of the cards. One word per card.
“On each ring are the fruits of the spirit that I just read about from scripture. I would like for you to choose one of the cards that you identify with the most, feel that you need for today, or that is speaking to you right now. Put that card in your pocket. At the end of the day, put the card back on the ring. This is something you can do every day to remember that God will give you what you need each and every day.”
- Pass out votive candles, one paper plate, & have kids light candles off each others
“This candle is our morning prayer. As we watch it burn, we know that God hears our prayers. As we sit here for about a minute, watching the flame, we know that even when we don’t have words, God hears our prayers.”
-After a minute has passed: “ We will now end our candle prayer by blowing out our candles and saying together ‘Amen.’” ~Morning: Prepare for the Day to Come adapted from Traci Smith’s “Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home.” (pgs 21-23)
DAY 5:
Supplies Needed: 1 paper plate per child
1 votive candle per child
1 candle liter -Read Scripture: 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) -Say:
“There are so many things for which we can be thankful: the air we breathe, the home we live in, the clothes we wear, the teachers who have taught us, and our
time at Fine Arts Camp. I want everyone to take a minute and write down five
things that you are thankful for and then we will share them out loud.”
-Give the children a few minutes to write down the things they are thankful for then call everyone back together to share together. After each person has shared, instruct everyone to say together “For these blessings we are truly thankful.” - Pass out votive candles, one paper plate, & have kids light candles off each others
“This candle is our morning prayer. As we watch it burn, we know that God hears our prayers. As we sit here for about a minute, watching the flame, we know that even when we don’t have words, God hears our prayers.”
-After a minute has passed: “ We will now end our candle prayer by blowing out our candles and saying together ‘Amen.’” ~Gratitude Cafe adapted from Traci Smith’s “Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home.” (pgs 18-19)
Compiled by Shawn Howell of www.shawnmhowell.com.
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