Contemplative Prayer Stations

This contemplative prayer station focuses on our sin using buckets of sand. If you have done what the paper says… put sand in your bag and carry it to the next spot.
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Directions for Leadership:

This is another powerful station. This can be set up in back for individuals to go through or can be set up in an entire room and done as a large group. I will explain it as if for a large group.

Set up: Place pillow cases (enough for every person) at the entrance of the room or sanctuary. Set up a large cross front and center of the room and around the outside walls place buckets of sand… a bucket for each type of sin, so you may have as many buckets set up as you need as there are lots of ways to screw up! If you have a very large group you will want more buckets (60 people, large room, 20 buckets). Above each bucket place a directions s[specific to each sin:

Greed
Take a moment and think about this last week. Were you selfish? Did you take more of something than you needed? Were you greedy with your money? Time? Do you wish you had more money, things, or toys?
If yes, take a full scoop of sand and put it in your bag.

Laziness
Did you choose to play on the computer, surf the net, lay around the house, instead of working, doing schoolwork or chores around the house? Did you oversleep last weekend? Did you watch TV or a movie instead of doing something you know needs doing?
If yes, take a full scoop of sand and put it in your bag.

Losing your Temper/Hate/Prejudice
Did you lose your temper with your kids this week? Or with your parents? Or your brother/sister? Or friend? Is there someone you treated badly lately? Do you find yourself hating your enemies (personal and national)?
If yes, take a full scoop of sand and put it in your bag.

Jealousy/Envy
Do you wish you had something your friend has? Are you jealous of their car, iPod, girlfriend/boyfriend, husband/wife, house or family? Do you wish you looked like someone else?
If yes, take a full scoop of sand and put it in your bag.
Pride/Arrogance/Vanity
Do you spend over 10 minutes looking in the mirror every day? Is there anyone you think you are smarter than, better than, prettier than? Did you refuse to apologize even though you knew you were wrong? Have you tried to make someone feel stupid? Have you called someone an idiot, moron or any other negative term?
If yes, take a full scoop of sand and put it in your bag.

Overindulgence/Substance abuse
Do you have a bad habit that you just can’t quit? Have you overeaten lately? Have you bought things you didn’t need? Have you shopped for clothes even though you have a full closet? Is there something you can’t quit even though its harmful to you or those around you?
If yes, take a full scoop of sand and put it in your bag.

Lying/Cheating
Is there someone you have been dishonest to? Have you lied to your parents? Have you cheated on a test? Have you hidden the truth? Have you been dishonest with your spouse? Have you taken credit for something that’s not yours?
If yes, take a full scoop of sand and put it in your bag.

Have someone greeting people as they come in. People will be handed a pillow case/bag and told to go stand in front of the cross. When ready to begin, pray and then read the following:
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Many of us have trouble with the concept of sin. It is difficult to accept that even when we are trying to be good; there are areas of our life that remain against God’s ideal for us. We may still harbor lusts, or tell lies, or make hurtful comments to others.

Hard as it is to accept our failures, it may be even harder to confess them - even privately in prayer to God. However, that is what God asks us to do:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

We will take the next 20 min. in silence to do this in a tangible way. There are buckets of sand around the room. When we start you will go to a bucket, no more than 3 people to each, and you will read the directions for that specific bucket. When you have finished at that bucket move to another bucket and do the same process over again. Keep doing this until I bring us back together here before the cross.
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At this point have everyone go out to the buckets. Have music playing softly, monastic chants are what we use. When you bring everyone back together, have them stand in front of the cross as a group. If you would like you can teach a bit, having them stand holding their burden (reference Pilgrims progress if you want!) The “sin” gets uncomfortable and heavy. Then invite everyone forward to place their bags of sins at the foot of the cross.

We love doing this station on Ash Wednesday, but we also have done it on Resurrection Sunday too. If you are not doing this station as a group and instead are setting it up for individuals to go through you need to Print up the above as instructions. Add too it this lower section. When setting up there will be a definite beginning and end. The pile of pillow cases at the beginning with the instructions and then the cross at the end.

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(beginning)
Please take a bag from the pile. There are buckets of sand and directions throughout this station. Go to the first bucket (marked by the arrows) and follow the directions given.
When done at that spot move on to the next bucket and follow the directions at each. You may take as long as you need at each bucket. Please, do not rush. When you have gone to all the buckets, move to the cross and follow the directions there.

(end)
Take a moment and be silent before God. Then, when you are ready, take your bag of sand, which holds your sins and lay it down at the foot of the cross. While you do so, pray that God will forgive you and begin to change you into the person he desires you to be.

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Always make sure the printing is large enough to read on the directions. We found we got the least complaints when using 24 pt. or 26 pt.