Advent Prayer Station Thoughts

Some thoughts for Advent Prayer Stations:

Advent Prayer Stations:

Station 1 – Toys

Dump Truck, Melting Paper, Markers, Water, Instructions

Instructions: The joy of a child unwrapping a Christmas toy is often a highlight of the season, but we are often too wrapped up in our “toys” and things of this world to hear God calling out to us or too see God acting in the world. What “toys” keep you from fully hearing God? Write them on the translucent film and then place them in the dump truck, when done, you may drive the truck over to the water and dump your load into the water where it will melt away.

Station 2 – Music

Strips From Old Hymnal, Stapler, Instructions

Instructions: Look through the strips of music and lyrics from our seasonal songs, find one that touches you and add it to the paper link chain. Read over the choices of others and consider the meaning of the season in the life of the church and the world.

Station 3 – Trimming

Glass Ornaments, Construction Paper Scraps, Tinsel, Pens, Instructions

Instructions: This is the season where we trim our trees, but it's also a good time to consider trimming our lives. We can do that by trimming off the things we don't want in our life, or by trimming our life with the beauty of things we want more of. Think about how you'd like to trim your life, write down your desires on a scrap of paper and place it in a glass Ornament and offer it up to God.

Station 4 – Coloring

Crayons, Print Outs Of Christmas Story Pictures, Instructions

Instructions: We often think of Christ as the light of the world, but light doesn't just bring illumination, but also the brilliance of colour. Find a picture that touches you and sit for a moment and add colour to it.

Station 5 – Hope to the Poor

Basket of Pennies, Money Box, Instructions

Instructions: Many cannot afford the kind of Christmas we may be able to afford. Many do not have enough to even eat or have shelter. Take a coin from the basket and hold it. Consider how we may be able to share what we have with others. Pray that God will give you strength and wisdom to find ways to give freely and generously, then place your coin into the giving box.

Station 6 – Watching and Waiting

Candle Lit, Prayer, Instructions

Instructions: Sit and watch the flickering of the light, think about how God coming to light the world through Christ is a flickering light in the world today, the places where the light is bright, and the places where it seems a bit less likely to stay lit. Read the prayer below and think about how you watch for God in the world today:

The advent of our Lord is near and we long for his coming

We long for new light to shine where there has been darkness.

The advent of our Lord is near and we long for him to call us home

We long for new hope to reign where there has been death and despair.

The advent of our Lord is near and we long for him to appear

We wait on tiptoe attentive to all the signs of his coming

God we have caught a glimpse of your Messiah healed world

And we long for its coming

We long for the place where all beauty comes from

The place where all life is renewed

God we live in anticipation of Messiah’s birth and the world’s rebirth

And we long for its coming

God we long to come home to your world of wholeness and peace

Home to your eternal world where love reigns over all. - (Prayer by Theresa Cho)

Station 7 – Words of Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy

Scrabble Tiles, Instructions

Instructions: We are called to bring the Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy of Christ to all the world. Think about ways you can bring these things to the world and add them to the puzzle, If you can't find a place your words will fit, start a new puzzle, and see if someone later can make a connection between them.

Station 8 – Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards, Pens, Instructions, Marked Directory

Instructions: Think about someone who may be lonely this time of year (if you need help, check the directory) and write them a Christmas Card and address the envelope. Place your sealed envelopes in the sleigh and we will make sure they get delivered!

Station 9 – Light of the World

World Map, Stickers/Stick Pins, Instructions

Instructions: Jesus knew what it was like to be an outcast, to be at risk, to be an outsider, to struggle in a world where powers rage. These struggles are all over the world. Take a sticker and place it on the map in a place where you know people need peace and prayer.

Station 10 - Kingdom Thoughts
Air Dry Clay, Instructions
Instructions: Part of the waiting of Advent is not just historical, but ongoing today as we wait for God's Reign here on earth.  Use the clay and the creative abilities God has given us to create an item, or symbol, or word that represents part of what God's Reign looks like and add it to the scene on the table.

Station 11 - Memories
Christmas Smells (Peppermint, Gingerbread, Potpourri, Pine, etc.), Instructions, Markers, Paper covering Table
Instructions: Take in the various smells around the table and write down what memories they bring about,  As you look over your memories, see what prayers they inspire, maybe for yourself, maybe for others, and take a moment to share those prayers with God.

Station 12 - Prepare ye the way
Soil, Gutter, Spade, Seeds, Instructions
Instructions: We are called, as John the Baptizer was, to prepare the way of God, to make the ground fertile, and to plant the seeds of faith.  Take a moment to till some soil and add a seed and as you do so consider the places in your life where you can help prepare the soil and plant the seeds for others to find justice, peace, love, joy, and thus find God.

Station 13 – Walking in the light

Electric Candles, Garland set up as a spiral on the ground, Instructions, Small Table, Space

Instructions: Take a couple of deep breaths before beginning. Step into the spiral, and walk quietly to the middle thinking about the year gone by. Think about places you felt close to God and places God felt further away. Once you get to the middle pick up and turn on a candle, as you walk back out, find a place where it seems appropriate to set your candle along the garland and leave your candle there.

"Rules" for School

There is a blog floating around talking about a seemingly college age female who is giving some high school freshmen a list of rules (suggestions) for life in high school based on her experience.  I really struggle with it, in large part because the parent writing the blog refers to them as rules, and in part because much of it feels like the church rules we put in place because we want to protect "ours" from "that" culture.  So instead here are my suggestions ("Rules") for students (in the school of life):

1. Surround yourself with people who you can trust and who want the best for you.
2. Think before you act, every actions has consequences
3. Don't let anyone make you feel damaged, you are in the image of God
4. Set boundaries you are comfortable with, and make others stick to them no matter what.
5. Always have a person who you can tell EVERYTHING to
6. Be careful how you let someone into your life, but make sure to risk yourself when you feel it could be worth it.
7. If you think someone may be putting you at risk in any way, step away from them.
8. If someone hurts another person, go out of your way to take care of them and show them love
9. Communicate with God, do this via words, art, music, whatever.  And listen for responses in the world.
10. Take time away from all of the distractions of the world, it will help you hear truth.
11. Be nice to those who seem concerned about you. Listen to them, and sometimes trust them even when you disagree.
12. If you find yourself lying to those in #1 or #11, you may be in a place you really don't want to be.  Step away.
13. Say No when in doubt. If your Yes can't be enthusiastic, take time to think about what's really going on before moving forward.
14. Don't stop just because you feel like you failed or are stuck, keep swimming, stuff happens, figure out what you're going to do next and do it.
15. Write.  Tell you story and put it down in words or art regularly. We are not just in a moment, we are our stories.
16. Find community.  Not just like minded people, not just people your age, gender, race, orientation, politics, etc.  Find diverse people you can trust and who will push you to change.
17. If it doesn't build up others, don't do it.
18. Don't think you have all the answers or the right way to do something. When you feel this way you can devalue and judge others, and make it easier for others to do that too.
19. Wait, think, dialogue before forming opinions. Your immediate reaction may be right, but the emotions involved in that moment may cause more problems
20. Think before you post.  Nothing is private, all we do is shared, see #2.  Also not everyone may understand context they are distant from.

As I wrote these, I realized how defensive the initial list seemed to me.  Some of these are still a bit more defensive than I'd like them to be, but I hope they read more proactive and connected to the wholeness of who we are as humans created in the image of Love.