Dear Atrium Families,
This year one of our tasks for children’s faith formation is helping to build the Domestic Church which is your family and home. In October we will be focusing on prayer. One of the most important things you can do as family is to pray together. Set aside a particular time and space to do this.
To enhance your family prayer experience at home, I have put together a Prayer Table / Corner Kit. This kit includes materials our children pray with at the end of every Atrium session.
It includes: Parent Pages Handout from CGSUSA.
Praying with our Children: A Prayer Corner for Home
4 cloths. 1) Purple for Preparation 2) white for Celebration (Holy Days)
3) green for Ordinary Time (Growing Time. ) 4) red for Pentecost (Feast of the Holy Spirit).
A favorite song when we learn our liturgical colors is: https://rb.gy/dye0wz
Glass votive holder, 2 tea lights. We remember when we light it (our practice in the Atrium only adults are allowed to light the candle--you might have a different practice at home).
When we light the candle we always say out loud, “Jesus is the Light of the World.” Our children know that the candle light has gone out when white smoke rises. But we always know that Jesus’ Light never goes out.
Tin box of matches. We use matches in the Atrium in keeping with our practice to use natural materials. The striker for the matches is on the back of the box.
Snuffer. The snuffer is used for safety reasons, so the child does not lean over the candle to sniff it out. Also, snuffing out the candle is a privilege and an Atrium work/job. It encourages our children to remain reverent at this prayerful time...we use it as enticement as the children love this job. However, we always make sure every child has a turn.
Clear Box. Because not all of us are fortunate to have a dedicated shelf or table for the prayer table, the clear box can contain these basic materials in one container. Often a corner of a cleared off kitchen/dining table can be used. Your child can set it up and then take it down (we call it “restoring” the work.
If you have a Bible, that could go on it and the prayer cross I sent should go on it too...the rest of the items that could go on it is totally up to you and your family. Please see the accompanying handout from CGSUSA.
The great thing about having a prayer table at home is that your children have seen this work and know how to do it. Let them lead you in prayer. It’s incredible. Some of my best prayer experiences have come from praying with children in an Atrium.
I would love to see photos of your families’ prayer space, so don’t hesitate to send them to me so we can share them with other families.
Let us pray for each other. In the Peace of the Good Shepherd,
(Miss) Debs
This year one of our tasks for children’s faith formation is helping to build the Domestic Church which is your family and home. In October we will be focusing on prayer. One of the most important things you can do as family is to pray together. Set aside a particular time and space to do this.
To enhance your family prayer experience at home, I have put together a Prayer Table / Corner Kit. This kit includes materials our children pray with at the end of every Atrium session.
It includes: Parent Pages Handout from CGSUSA.
Praying with our Children: A Prayer Corner for Home
4 cloths. 1) Purple for Preparation 2) white for Celebration (Holy Days)
3) green for Ordinary Time (Growing Time. ) 4) red for Pentecost (Feast of the Holy Spirit).
A favorite song when we learn our liturgical colors is: https://rb.gy/dye0wz
Glass votive holder, 2 tea lights. We remember when we light it (our practice in the Atrium only adults are allowed to light the candle--you might have a different practice at home).
When we light the candle we always say out loud, “Jesus is the Light of the World.” Our children know that the candle light has gone out when white smoke rises. But we always know that Jesus’ Light never goes out.
Tin box of matches. We use matches in the Atrium in keeping with our practice to use natural materials. The striker for the matches is on the back of the box.
Snuffer. The snuffer is used for safety reasons, so the child does not lean over the candle to sniff it out. Also, snuffing out the candle is a privilege and an Atrium work/job. It encourages our children to remain reverent at this prayerful time...we use it as enticement as the children love this job. However, we always make sure every child has a turn.
Clear Box. Because not all of us are fortunate to have a dedicated shelf or table for the prayer table, the clear box can contain these basic materials in one container. Often a corner of a cleared off kitchen/dining table can be used. Your child can set it up and then take it down (we call it “restoring” the work.
If you have a Bible, that could go on it and the prayer cross I sent should go on it too...the rest of the items that could go on it is totally up to you and your family. Please see the accompanying handout from CGSUSA.
The great thing about having a prayer table at home is that your children have seen this work and know how to do it. Let them lead you in prayer. It’s incredible. Some of my best prayer experiences have come from praying with children in an Atrium.
I would love to see photos of your families’ prayer space, so don’t hesitate to send them to me so we can share them with other families.
Let us pray for each other. In the Peace of the Good Shepherd,
(Miss) Debs
This is the simple prayer written
as if by a young child. You may want
to incorporate this into your family’s
prayer life. You can purchase this prayer blocks through Autom at autom.com.
as if by a young child. You may want
to incorporate this into your family’s
prayer life. You can purchase this prayer blocks through Autom at autom.com.
