Nine Ways to Pray: a Novena of prayer stations for Pentecost

St Mary’s Twyford May 17^th – 21^st 2010

Sally Dakin

Verse(s)	Instructions	Equipment
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4)	Take time to relax. Focus on your breathing: breathe slowly and deeply, in through your nose, out through your mouth... Know that God created you and gives you life; he breathes life into every bit of you, even the bits you don’t much like...	comfy chair, cushion, floor rug
Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honour God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)	Your body is a holy place: how do you treat it? Your body belongs to God: do you look after it for him? Do you abuse or misuse your body, or any part of it? Is there anything you need to repent of? You might like to ‘wash’ in the font as you confess your sin and receive God’s forgiveness. And you might like to use one of the prayer cards.	towel, Psalm 51:10-12 & ‘God be in my head…’ on cards
After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were openedand he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” (Matthew 3:16-17)	Give thanks to God for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who reveals the Father’s love for us in Christ. Add some pieces to the picture and glorify him…	big dove outline & ‘Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit’ on card, shiny paper, scissors, glue sticks, bin
God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)	Take a moment to consider what you are worried or anxious about, and what you are afraid of. Tell God all about it… What would it mean to receive this promise from God? Memorise the verse, and put card in your pocket or purse.	verse on laminated cards
We have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. (1 Corinthians 2:12)	Which gifts of the Spirit might God want to give you? – have a look at the lists. The fruit of the Spirit is for us all: take a wrapped bar, and wrap another one for someone else.	lists of spiritual gifts & fruit, Fruitus bars labelled with fruit of the Spirit, wrapping paper, sello dispenser, scissors, ribbons, some bars ready wrapped, bin, Bible
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (Ephesians 6:18)	Here you can pray for your family and friends and neighbours and colleagues. You might like to blow bubbles as you pray for particular people... (Have fun with the fan – and please turn it off afterwards.)	bubble mixture, fan
Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. (Revelation 2:7)	What might God’s Spirit be saying to the church in Ruscombe & Twyford? Write the message on the paper roll.	Bible, pens in pot, till roll
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come. (Luke 4:18-19)	Here you can pray for the world. Focus on one or more of the quadrants and add your concerns; pray also for issues others have raised. How might the Spirit be leading you to help those who are suffering?	giant graffiti circle divided into four quadrants – ‘the poor’, ‘the captives’, ‘the blind’, ‘the oppressed’ – with media pics/headlines in each; globe in centre, marker pens, ‘In God’s Hands’ book
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)	What does the Holy Spirit want to commission you for? Take a piece of paper and prayerfully fill in the gaps... Take the paper with you as you go.	worksheets, pens in pot