Praying with hands

Introduction:

Here is a simple reflective prayer time based on hands from an original idea by Michael Ford.

Preparation:

You'll need a selection of the verses on cards as below and (optional) a big picture of a hand.

Development:

1 Introduction: Take a look at your hands

Use the following facts and thoughts about hands to encourage children to see their hands in a new light.
How amazing are these two instruments on the ends of your arms! Imagine an advert for them:

Beautiful water-resistant covering, tailored to your size.
Range of UV-reactive melanin colours, depending on length of exposure to the sun, to suit your taste.
Breathable fabric and automatic cooling system, adaptable to a wide temperature range.
Intelligent design: there are grey cells in the fingertips, same as for the brain, to aid piano playing, for instance.
Opposing-thumb action: thousands of uses at work, at play, or around the home. Functions can include 'picking stuff up', 'writing', 'cooking', and 'hanging on for dear life'.
Range of hand-speeds available.
They can withstand up to 500 atmospheres (36 kilos/cm2) of impact pressure or up to 157 atmospheres(11.4 kilos/cm2) of squeeze pressure
There is also a 'gossamer-touch' option for those caring, sharing or playful moments.
They are underpinned by carbon-calcium honeycomb-section alloy, stronger (pound-for-pound) than steel.
Self-cleaning, self-repairing system with renewable energy supply.
High sensitivity and fine control come as standard.
Safety features include pain-response reflex technology for extremes of heat, cold or pressure: automatic withdrawing if pain margins are exceeded.
Standard lifetime guarantee.

2. Readings: Some scriptures on 'hands'. Ask the children to listen out for the different ways hands are used in scripture. Whose hands are mentioned?

Choose some of these and print out on cards for children to read out, leaving a short pause between each. This could be done with a background of quiet instrumental music playing. (All Bible quotations taken from the NIV unless otherwise stated.)

Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? … He who has clean hands and a pure heart.
Psalm 24:3-4

If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?
Psalm 44: 20-21

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:31 (KJV)

The Lord says: '… See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…'
Isaiah 49:8,16

They said to Joshua, 'The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.'
Joshua 2:24

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.
Ecclesiastes 9:10

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
Psalm 63:4

3 Display an outline of a large hand and pray together as below with suggestions from the whole group or give each child a handout of a hand outline to write or draw on individually.
Use the finger mnemonic for prayer to devise prayers for each finger:
Thumb - is closest to your body when your hands are by your sides. Pray for those closest to you - your friends and family
Index finger - pray for those others might point at rudely, people who are left out or hurting
Middle finger - the tallest finger - pray for people in charge of countries, companies, schools
Fourth finger - the weakest - pray for the sick
Little finger - the smallest - pray for yourself

4 Remind the children of God's personal care for every single human being.
The Lord says: '… See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…'
Isaiah 49:8,16

5 Often in church, the minister raises his or her hands as a sign of blessing. Invite the children to hold out their hands now to show they are blessing each other and finish with these words:
'God be in your hands and in mine and in all we do with them today and for evermore. Amen'

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