Prayer Tables and Communal Prayer - October

This was our only October table in this atrium -
not sure where the time went!
We did a lot of singing instead of communal prayer this month ;) 

Turned off lights and closed blinds - full darkness
so they could read about the Creation of Light

All those candles! They love light! 

by himself

leading prayer
these ladies have it down pat -
time for their new communal prayer adventure ;) 

These ladies as well as are ready for the next step in
Communal Prayer
(post to come about our Communal Prayer evolving adventures!)

Communal Prayer

These children are so inspiring!

This year, I am trying something new in my "local" atriums - a pair of children set the prayer table at the beginning of class; a candle is lit throughout the atrum, with or without someone at the prayer table (an adult will supervise). The children planning Communal Prayer may make minor modifications that suit their theme. The two pairs of children must coordinate amongst themselves who will light/snuff (remaining) candles - or if they will ask others in the atrium to do so.


These boys set the prayer table - all those candles! They had a couple of lessons to learn about lighting candles, but they had the inner desire, self-control and respect - all the things that matter. These two boys are well-mannered, goofy at the right times, and serious only when they need to be. When it comes to setting the prayer table, they take themselves very seriously. And when it comes time for the photo, well... these boys make me smile!

Reminder to self: lessons in candle-lighting to be renewed next class - we went over everything last year, but a summer has passed.

 They wanted another photo - just in case the first one didn't come out to their liking. ;)

Three young ladies planned Communal Prayer on this day. They sang the song "Our God is An Awesome God" and led a well-organized prayer time at our beautiful table - with confidence! 

Thus far, I am really seeing good things come from having different children setting up the prayer table (a couple of volunteers clear it away after class as well) and planning Communal Prayer - there is communication and collaboration. They are taking SO much responsibility for the atrium themselves - even in other ways - because everything is not all laid out for them. They have the supplies they need, the lessons they need, some of these children have been in atrium for 5 years now (next year, I will have 4th graders who have been in atrium since age 3 along with some who joined along the way). It has been amazing to be part of these atriums and seeing them grow over the course of the last 5 years - and now to see these children really taking responsibility for themselves, for the atrium space, for their own faith formation.

Give them the keys - in this case, wings that have not been clipped - and they will fly!

Typical Work in Our Atrium

This is a combined level 2 and 3 atrium. I love these children! I also have 2 5 year olds who are ready for some of the Level 2 work but are mostly receiving appropriate 3rd year level 1 presentations.

Level 3 girls preparing to plan Communal Prayer,
first helping the level 2 children with reading the Blue Unity mute pieces

the strong reader at level 2 is reading the Blue Unity booklet
while the other two level 2 are being assisted in reading the movable pieces
how we adapt for readers and non-readers - all 3 very bright 7 year olds
just that 2 aren't quite there yet with reading 
After this work, the two boys will go work on drawing and cutting/pasting

Level 3 young ladies working on the History of the Gifts

Level 1 - polishing - she loves to polish until it shines!
she joined us and contributed to the Blue Unity first presentation
Then wants to polish ;) 

Level 1 - joined us for the Blue Unity initial presentation
she wants to draw some of the images on her own paper

2nd year Level 3 boys - reviewing the Roman Missal

Prayer Table Decorating

One of the work options in the atrium is to set up the prayer table - in my level 3 atrium, 2 of the first few children to come in can choose to set it up; in the combined atriums, it is typically the children planning communal prayer who decorate or rearrange what is there. Slowly, my older level 1 children will begin setting up a simple prayer table as well.

It always begin with a cloth, includes a Bible and a candle - from there, is anyone's imagination where it will go.

This is a prayer in itself as they select their items, discuss where items will go, and create something that is worthy enough to bring our minds and hearts to communication with God, the angels and the saints.

I love to see the results - especially from children who have tougher outer layers or those who are more quiet and less expressive. This year, I hope to document each created prayer table.

Communal Prayer for Level 3

Communal Prayer is such a beautiful experience for everyone involved.

Sample for level 2-3 combined

The children prepare a special prayer time for the other children in the atrium. It is supposed to set up so that children MAY come if they like but do not have to. Thus far, I've not had a child NOT come. ;)

This is not a material that is handed to us in formation; only suggestions and ideas.

The children in the local level 2 atrium have been working on a form of communal prayer for the last couple of years. The main catechist is striving to keep it simple and straight-forward, so that the children can just get right into it, without a lot of fanfare. As each level 2 trained person has come in with different ideas, and worked through different suggestions, the simple format is what the children and the main catechist keep going back to. She has a paper for them to fill out with the options - they do not have to use every blank. They fill out their paper with their selected Scripture passages, songs, and the like; and they do it. It is so beautiful to see! (I've only seen them once, but continue to hear how wonderful it went other times).


Now, last year's 3rd graders are my 4th graders; my 5th and 6th graders have never worked with it.

And I am preparing the materials for our level 3 atrium.

I LIKE that simple format, but I also like the idea that each atrium has it different - so that as the children get older, they learn more than one way to do things.

I wanted to put this material together 2 years ago, but it is has been sitting. Sitting on prayer, sitting on observation, sitting on contemplation; just sitting and waiting patiently for just the right moment.

Another sample of level 2-3 combined

The children in my combined level 2-3 atrium -- some of them have been in that atrium space before and knew the working of the materials there, so they have been planning prayer times and teaching the new children how to use the material.


This is NOT a work to be underestimated; or overcomplicated. We want it accessible.


And I have been inspired to follow the recommendation of many in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: as much as possible to connect it with the Liturgy of the Hours - next to the Mass itself, the Liturgy of the Hours is the greatest prayer we have in our Church; and it has a LONG history, extending back to the history of the Jewish people.

What a fine connection for the level 3 children who are delving into the history of Worship in Israel, the history of the Jewish People, typology, the origin of the Liturgy of the Word and so much more.


So that is what I have done. Spent 2 long nights organizing it, writing an introductory booklet for the children; simplifying, simplifying, simplifying - to get just the right amount of essentiality and richness.

So, after many long sleepless hours, I have the format ready. I combined the various "hours" in the Liturgy of the Hours, to find the overall pattern. I have then chinked here and there in search of the essential for the children, and prepared the introductory booklet to explain what is communal prayer, what is Liturgy of the Hours, what are the parts we will use, and how to use the material, along with a one page guide for the planning itself. I want them to know the history and the connection to the church - not just that "this is something we do in the atrium" - WHY do we do it in the atrium?

Now to fill in the pieces ;) That part will go more quickly since I have the framework. I will prepare a packet of cards for each "part" that the children can select (they do NOT need to use every part; and they can add their own options to the few I will provide - in fact, I WANT them to add to the material - to enrich it - to make it their own - so it both feeds and is fed by the life of the community) - sample Psalm cards to choose from; sample Scripture passages that correspond with a couple of feast days; and lots of blank cards for them to make their own.

These cards may not have the full text; but they will also have access to larger song charts; the Bibles and hymnals in the atrium; and other resources as they see fit.

Above all else, I want this work to be THEIRS.


So all of this work - and I will place it in the atrium, give an introduction; then observe. How is it working? How is it feeding their prayer lives? How does it need to be changed?


Many times, the children will make the changes themselves ;)


THEY know what is most essential!