A sign of love, unity and prayer – that’s our prayer tree in Church. Year 6 children and staff from our schools recently made a new prayer tree for us in church. The children are coming to the end of their time in primary school and as part of their work in their final weeks they often do a project for church and community.
This year the children talked about their hopes and concerns as they make the important transition from primary to secondary school. It is a time of excitement and expectation, and also one of a little anxiety and concern.
From the Children’s Prayer Book
Teachers worked with the children to write about this, and to express their thoughts and feelings in prayer. Children, of different faith traditions, wrote in English, in their home languages, and in the forms of prose and poetry. Their prayers and thoughts came together in a wonderful book of prayers which they brought to church.
Children and staff also worked together in refurbishing our prayer tree in church. The tree uses one of the church pillars as a trunk and around it a lovely striking tree has been created. Special prayer cards representing leaves can be tied to the tree with green ribbon. In this way prayers of anyone can be joined in our holy space – our church.
The children’s prayer book is placed by the tree and already prayers have been written on the leaves and tied to the tree.
The tree, in which people of different faiths and cultures had a part is a symbol of prayer, hope and thankfulness joining us together, and a sign of God’s gift of life in creation.
Thank you to the children and staff for this wonderful contribution to church and community.
Day by day we will ask God to receive the prayers offered on our prayer tree.
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