Contemplative Prayer Stations

This contemplative prayer station uses the prayer of examine, a meditation of sorts used by our church fathers for centuries.

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Directions for Leadership:
Set up an area that is comfortable using pillow, blankets and chairs. Around the area place stacks of the following Directions.

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Directions:

Make yourself comfortable, making sure your posture is relaxed and your breathing calm. Take a moment to be still and quiet, and then ask God to be with you through this activity.

Now, think about your day. Go through each thing you did, the people you interacted with, how you spent your free time, where you went. Ask your-self; what was my attitude, how did I act or react, what did I say to others? Spend several minute going through this, get specific.

Next, think through your day again and look for where God may have been working: maybe in something natural, or through a person, or through you. Ask yourself; did I join God, hinder Him, or just observe? Did I notice at the time or only just now?

Spend a moment longer on this and ask God to show you anything you may have missed during the day.

Last, think through your day one more time from beginning to now and make a mental list of all the things you are thankful for, and also the things you need to confess to God.

End your time by praying this to God:

Lord make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy.
O divine master grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
And it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it’s in dying that we are born to eternal life
Amen

(The Prayer of St. Francis)