Contemplative Prayer Stations

This contemplative prayer station is just simple meditation using ancient prayers. You can use it for several different topics, posting the prayer for people to contemplate and pray on a wall.
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Directions for Leadership:
This is a very flexible station that you can use for many different topics. Find a prayer (Look in the Book of common prayer, or search the web for prayers of Saints, or find what Liturgical Prayers have been used in your particular denomination) and Post it on a wall (large enough for several people to see from 6 feet back). We like to do so in an artistic manner, like the picture below. Post these Directions next to it. Make the area around the prayer comfortable, either with pillows or chairs.

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Instructions for next to the “prayer":

Quietly pray the words written and placed on the wall in front of you.

As you pray, make the words your own, thinking about each line in the prayer.

The purpose of this contemplative prayer station is to be still, which is rare in our culture.
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Directions For Leadership:
Set up an area comfortable for people to sit or kneel for a long period of time and place these direction around.

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Directions:
At this station you will not be praying “for” anything or “about” anything or thinking of any specific thoughts. You are to simply be still and silent, listening to God.

Ask God to calm your mind and to remove distracting thoughts. If it helps say this phrase over and over until you are calm; “Be still and know that I am God.” As thoughts come, think about them only briefly and then let it pass on. Let your stillness be your prayer to God. Listen to what thoughts he brings forward in your mind.

This contemplative prayer station uses the rocks and water as a way to help participants forgive and bless another person.
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Directions for leadership:
You will need a large pile of or fist sized river rock or smooth stones, washable markers, a large bucket/bowl of water and some towels. If anticipating more than one person at the station at a time make sure to have more buckets of water set up, as this station is very personal. When setting up, make sure to have markers, a towel, and station direction by each bucket. Also remember to take out the lighter colored markers that won’t show up when writing on gray rock.
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Prayer Station Directions:

“But I (Jesus) say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who you hate, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” - Luke 6:27 & 28

Meditate on the above verses out of scripture, and as you do ponder who some of the people you consider “enemies” are. When a name (or “names") pop into your head head, pick up a stone and use one of the markers to print the person’s initials on the stone.

While holding the stone in your hand, say a “prayer of blessing” for the person you wrote down. After the prayer, wash the stone in the water and allow God to wash away the grudge you hold against that person as the water washes the ink off. If you are able to set in motion the blessing for the person you prayed for, take the stone home with you to remember to do so, otherwise just put your clean stone back into the pile.

This contemplative prayer station helps participants to focus on the relationship between them self and God, another person and God, and another person and them self by praying as the braid pieces of fabric together.

This is one of those contemplative prayer station I pulled directly off the web. I think it was a kids prayer site. If you recognize this as your idea… please contact me so I can give you the credit!
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Leadership Directions:
For this station you will need to have gone to a thrift store and bought several bed sheets of different colors and then cut/ripped them into strips about 2-3 feet long and only around 4 inches wide. Put the strips in piles and place chairs around for people to sit in whilst they braid. If possible find something (we use a movable room divider) to pin the finished braids up. Don’t forget large fabric pins if you do, otherwise make a place for people can lay them out. Place prayer station directions above or next to the piles of fabric.

Photo from Live Oak Vineyard, Arcadia, CA
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Directions for at station:
Slowly start to braid the three pieces and as you do, pray.
Pray that God would work in the other person’s life.
Pray that God would work in your life.
Pray that God would bring you and the other person into a deeper relationship that revolves around God.
Pray for anything else that comes to mind.
When you have finished the braid, knot the end and pin it to the wall.

This contemplative prayer station uses a spiritual discipline that has been practiced for centuries by our church mothers and fathers, using our breath to help us focus and meditate on God.
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Directions for Leadership:
Breath Prayer is a form of prayer that has been practiced for centuries in the Christian community. Please Google “breath Prayer” for more information.
Set up: Make a space comfortable for praying and then place the quotes and directions all over so that people do not have to move around much in order to read it all.
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Prayer Station Directions and Quotes to place around the area:
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To silence the mind is an extremely difficult task. How hard it is to keep the mind from thinking, thinking, thinking, forever thinking, forever producing thoughts in a never ending stream. The “breath prayer” is a way to focus on one thought, one image, one phrase or sentence or word that in turn fastens us on God.
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This contemplative prayer form can be used not only in our daily routine and prayer life, but also during times of anxiety, fear, distress, frustration, during surgery or times of illness. The breath prayer can be said comfortably, strengthening us to keep our focus on God in a regenerated spirit.
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The Breath Prayer comes from the Hebrew word ruach, which is translated “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit.” This form of prayer comes easily and naturally as breathing, and reminds us that the ruach of God is breathed into all living beings.
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Said one traveler to another:
“I have come a great distance to listen to the words of the Teacher, but I find his words quite ordinary.”
“Don’t listen to his words. Listen to his message.”
“How does one do that?”
“Take hold of a sentence that he says. Shake it well till all the words drop off. What is left will set your heart on fire.”
-Anthony deMello
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Directions:

Get into a posture for praying – this can be on your knees, sitting, standing or whatever works for you.
Slow your breathing and think about the rhythm of your breath.
Ask God to calm your mind and heart.
Repeat silently this prayer in what ever rhythm is most comfortable with your breathing:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Continue repeating this prayer with every breath for 3 to 5 minutes… ish.
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FYI: There are many other verses that can be used for this type of Prayer. One of my favorites. Psalms - “Your gentleness makes me great.”