March 11, 2019 Lent Prayer Bottle

One of my favorite things to do during Lent, is to create opportunities for faith exploration at home. I love the simplicity of children's prayers; their ability to connect to the wonder and love of God. This prayer bottle was intended as an offering for families to pray together. To take a simple item like a sensory bottle, and to use it to open the door of conversation, both within the family and most importantly, with God.

We made these during our children's program the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. The response has been tremendous, with families who were absent stopping by the parish office to create bottles during the week, and adults emailing asking for the instructions so that they could make their own at home.

Below are the instructions for the prayer bottles, and the prayer practice that was attached to them.

Supplies:

Water bottles (Remove the labels)

Clear liquid soap

White iridescent glitter

Small mirrored glitter (or something similar)

Palm leaf confetti

purple sequins

small shells

small cross

Instructions:

Fill the bottles 2/3 full with warm water

Add 2 tsp white glitter, 2 tsp mirrored glitter, 3 pinches palm leaves, 3 pinches purple sequins, 10-12 small shells, 1 cross.

Fill the container the rest of the way (all the way to the top) with liquid soap.

Use hot glue to secure the lid in place.

Write Pray, or I Pray on the lid of the bottle.

Shake the bottle to combine everything inside.

The prayer that goes with it is:

Dear God,

When I look in this bottle I see lots of things. I see sparkles that remind me that Jesus is the Light of the world. I see tiny mirrors that remind me that I am made in your image. I see shells that remind me that when I was baptized I was marked as yours forever. I see palm leaves that remind me to shout, “Hosanna!” and give thanks for all of my blessings. Most importantly, I see the cross, which reminds me that you loved me so much that you gave me Jesus, and through that love all things are possible.

  • (find the Cross) Where did I see God’s love today?
  • (find a palm leaf) What am I thankful for today?
  • (watch the mirrors) Where did I see God in myself today?
  • (see the sparkles) Where do I need to shine my light to help someone?
  • (find the shells) Say the Lord’s Prayer.

                                                       AMEN

                                                                                                                                  - Charlette Preslar, Director of Youth and Family Ministry