I have had the privilege of going into St. Mary’s School to have conversations with a different class every Monday about prayer. This last term we have been exploring Imaginative Prayer. Imaginative prayer is when a person listens to a Bible story being read and then uses their imagination to place themselves in the Bible story at some point, to discover a new perspective or connection with the story and God. Many of the children in St. Mary’s enjoyed trying this style of praying. I suspect those who played video games or who had stories read to them engaged quickly as they were used to visualising and immersing themselves in a wider narrative that was not of their own making.
We have been exploring the story of Jairus and his ill daughter, who Jesus restored back to life after arriving at the house to a crowd saying she had died. We also heard the story of the woman who had been ill for years but then touched Jesus’ cloak in the crowd and was healed. This healing took place amidst a crowd whilst Jesus was walking with Jairus to visit his sick and dying daughter. It has been interesting to hear how different children in different year groups have responded to these intertwined stories. Many children considered how scared the woman must have been when she touched the cloak and then Jesus realised someone had touched him. Some thought she must have been relieved to no longer be ill. Others considered the crowd around Jesus: how loud and cramped it must have been. Plus how the noise may have been intimidating, even to Jesus! Others became members in the crowd struggling to see Jesus. A few children became disciples who walked with Jesus through the crowd and onto Jairus’ house. Some thought about the daughter raised from the dead; what would she have felt waking up to Jesus? It was fantastic to see children (and teachers) trying out this new form of prayer. Not all found it easy and that is perfectly normal. One way of praying doesn’t work for everyone. It is a case of pray as you can, not as you can’t.
Green Warriors, at St Patrick’s School in Endmoor, have spent these last few weeks growing kale, preparing wildflower beds and planting some new trees. It has been a time of a lot of mud, laughter and growth. In Green Warriors, one of the Bible verses we have been looking at is The Great Commission where Jesus talks to his disciples about them going out into the world: ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.’ Mark 16:15. There are many versions of this statement in the Bible yet the one from the book of Mark is slightly different from others as it mentions creation and the need to tell the good news to everyone, not just humans. This is a radically different message in many ways. At Green Warriors we discussed how this means more than just talking about God to people but putting those words into action; action that shows creation the good news too. This is where the care for the environment and the need to look after our planet is part of this great commission, one that children throughout the world are responding to inspiringly and one that Green Warriors have embodied throughout this last year. It is always good to remember that our actions are part of our wider conversation with the world and God.
CIL Family Project Leader 