Praying Through Colouring

(You will need pens/pencils for your people also pictures to colour- pdf book of Kells, Celtic square cross, cork Celtic, peace prayer)

Prayers take many different forms and our whole body can be apart of this.

We are going to try and use our hands while our minds are thinking about things. It is like when we are asleep at night our mind still acts and can come up with solutions or worries. I expect you all have seen or may have used rosary beads and we in way are doing that today. As if our mind is kept to something mundane; Br Lawrence used the washing up we can concentrate on something much more inside us. I would ask you all to remain silent but if you find that too much feel free to wander. We are giving this time to God and through that he will be able to

come alongside us.

You can download a picture of a Celtic cross, or the peace prayer and you can see there are Celtic places.

First choose your the Celtic Cross, Peace prayer or Book of Kells by clicking it.

1. Starting we have to leave things behind. We can’t take the kitchen sink. The journey we are travelling today is for us, it isn’t selfish as we all need refreshment and an input of energy to exist in the world. So we are going to start by letting go, of our worries, our burdens that we have.

Jesus said Come to me, all you that worry and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest… for my yoke is easy and my burden light. (Matt 11 28-30) Jesus carries our burdens, our worries for us. So take any colour and colour in part of the cross and while you do think of those things that cause you pain, worry, stop you enjoying life. What we are doing is that we are giving these to Jesus. We will just spend a little while doing this. If you don’t want to colour that is fine just give Jesus in your mind those things that worry you.

I am sure you all know this hymn, a person can read it or you can sing it:

1 From heaven You came, helpless babe, entered our world, Your

glory veiled, not to be served but to serve, and give Your life that we might live.

This is our God, the Servant King,

He calls us now to follow Him, to bring our lives as a daily offering of worship to the Servant King.

2 There in the garden of tears my heavy load He chose to bear;

His heart with sorrow was torn, 'Yet not my will but yours, He said.

This is our God, the Servant King,

3 Come see His hands and His feet, the scars that speak of sacrifice, hands that flung stars into space to cruel nails surrendered.

This is our God . . .

4 So let us learn how to serve and in our lives enthrone Him,

each other's needs to prefer, for it is Christ we're serving.

This is our God . . .

Lord God you are the God of the impossible, you have heard our thoughts, our worries and you know what is in our hearts. We place them in your love as you cared so much for us that you died in our place to release us from evil. Amen

2. As we travel we other people to help us.

All of us have the support of those we have travelled alongside. So let us spend some more time thinking of those who have come alongside us. Take another colour and colour more of your cross, thinking of those you have met on your journey who have helped you.

This is one of my favourite poems which has expressed my journey of life, my God has a humour and has been beside me in the dark and light. My thanks and blessings go to all who have travelled with me.

Charles Peguy expressed his dream of God

And the Lord said;

I myself will dream a dream, a dream within you- Good dreams come from me you know. My dreams seem impossible, not too practical, Not for the cautious man or woman- A little risky

sometimes, A trifle brash perhaps.

Some of my friends prefer to rest more comfortably,

In sounder sleep, with visionless eyes- But, from those who share my dreams I ask a little patience,A little humour, some small courage, and a listening heart- I will do the rest.

Then they will risk and wonder at their daring.

Run – and marvel at their speed.

Build – and stand in awe at the beauty of their building.

You will meet me often as you work- In your companions, who share your risk.

In your friends, who believe in you enough To lend their own dreams, their own hands, their own hearts, to your building. In the people who will find your doorway, Stay awhile, and walk away knowing they, too, can find a dream. There will be sun filled days, and sometimes it will rain- A little variety! Both come from me.

So come now- be content- It is my dream you dream. My house you build. My caring you witness. My love you share- And this is the heart of the matter.

Lord thank you for those people who have walked beside us and shared our journey, help us to walk beside others and bring them into a closer knowledge and love of you. Amen

3. As we travel we need to know the way to go. We are fortunate that many who have gone before us can give us directions and warnings. There are saints, biographies of many people who

have had their lives changed through meeting the risen Jesus. Jesus is our heading.

In Hebrews 12 it says Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses’.

When in a church I often feel that the place is filled with others, invisible. We must always remember Jesus’ statement When two or three of you are gathered in my name I am there in the midst of you. (Matt18:20)

Jesus is along side us every day of our lives. So now take another pen and colour some more and think of your favourite saint, a passage from the bible a time when you know God helped you or something that helps you, inspires you to keep following Jesus. Be thankful.

This story of St. Clare shows that God does impossible things. In September 1240 when the Imperial Army invaded central Italy, burning cities, cutting down trees, torturing women and children. Fredrick II had Saraecens among his troops fought the pope’s soldiers and had no respect for nuns. They scaled the walls of San Damiano and entered the cloister, Clare rose from her sick bed and holding the Blessed Sacrament going towards them prayed, “Lord

Jesus, do not permit these defenceless virgins to fall into the hands of these heathen. Protect them; for I, who have nourished them with Your love, can do nothing for them.” She also prayed for the city of Assisi nearly all of the inhabitants were saved; as the boldness of the Saracens changed to fear and ran away being routed by the power of her prayer. The following year they returned to besiege Assisi and Clare made all the sisters remove their veils and put ashes on their heads and pray for the liberation of the city. By the next day the enemy had disappeared never to return. Lord help us to bring our problems to you, to trust that you are indeed the God of the impossible and we ask that you will help us to remember that. Thank you for all you have done for us and will continue to do. Amen

4. God wants is each of us to spend time with him, to become refreshed, we all know psalm 23 which says he will lead me beside still waters, there are many things we receive that we do not realise come from God.

A lovely statement Max Lucado wrote. If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He’d a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk. He’ll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe but He chose your heart. And what about the Christmas gift He sent you at Bethlehem? Not to mention

that Friday at Calvary. Face it. He’s crazy about you.

SILENT BLESSINGS

Can you hear the grass grow as it does each passing day? - And when it’s time again to mow, it’s turned from grass to hay.... Can you hear the sun rise at each breaking of the morn? Providing us with brightened skies and heat to fire the dawn.... Can you hear the flowers bloom as their petals open wide? - To share with us their perfume which is scattered either side.... Your silence is the greatest gift You’ve given to us, Lord, - For deep within its reverence, we hear Your Living Word. Our ears are dulled by a cacophony of sound - Folk seem now to need to have relentless noise around What price silence? A price beyond compare - For without Your silences, we don’t know that You’re there...

We need the silence of the growing grass; we need to comprehend Your awesome Power - That raises up the sun, the moon, the stars and silently gives colour to the flowers

Where is this silence found? - In church, or deep within your heart, or hallowed ground

Stop your strivings; let man-made clamour cease - Listen for the silences that grant us Perfect Peace.

Catch them; hold them, lest they fall and soon are gone - For it’s deep within these silences, that you will find His Son...

09.09.96.© Copyright Shelagh Dalton 1996

Sometimes we need to open our eyes to see what is around us, open our ears to hear amazing things. I want you now to use another colour and write or draw at the base of the cross things that you can thank God for.

Thank you God for love for each of us, so many times we do not see your hand at work and we thank you that you have directed our lives before we even knew of you. Be with us now and help us to remain in your care. Amen.

Saint Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be confident knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments

that take our breath away.

A Gaelic prayer for you:

As the rain hides the stars, as the autumn mist hides the hills, as the clouds veil the blue of the sky, so the dark of my lot hides the shining of your face from me. 

Yet if I may hold your hand in the darkness, it is enough. Since I know that, though I may stumble in my going, you do not fall. Amen

Based on Psalm 23

May you know the Lord, the all-powerful, ever-present Lord, as your Shepherd May he provide for you in every way May he physically refresh you, emotionally restore you, and spiritually renew you. May he guide you in right paths and lead and protect you through dark valleys

May he prepare an abundant feast for you. May he pursue you with his love and goodness

May you dwell in his house both now and forever!  Amen.