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Praying with Babies
Slifers
Presbyterian Church
Farmersville, Ohio
In September
2006, Slifers Presbyterian Church inaugurated a Praying with Babies
ministry. The following was included in their worship bulletin the first day of
the ministry, when the families of four babies were presented blankets
representative of the prayers and love of the congregation:
Praying with
Babies
A new ministry of Slifers
But as for me, my prayer
is to you, O Lord. -Psalm 69:13
 No
matter what “form” we use to pray, words or not, walking, saying scripture or
simply being with a baby, the heart of prayer is beyond “form.” It is even
beyond the content of what is being done or said or hoped for. Prayer is simply
being in the holy presence of God and realizing that God is always near, that
God’s strength is always available, and that God’s love always surrounds you as
parents and your babies. God will never leave this job of parenting up to you
alone. Your child is being raised by you and God with love and support from the
people of God, together in a bond of common love and good will for your baby.
Because babies, toddlers and children don’t have the language skills to express
to the adults around them the experiences they do have with God, we assume they
aren’t having them. When we pray with them, they will, as you will, have an
awareness of God’s light and holiness. They, like you, feel love, support,
strength, and protection. What they won’t have is the language to tell you. So
pray with your Baby, begin to experience and be amazed at how precious the time
of prayer will become for both of you.
The people of God here at Slifers Presbyterian Church give you this baby
blanket. It can be used as sacred space for your prayer time. You can use this
blanket exclusively for your prayer time. By getting the blanket out, finding a
place to lay it, and placing your baby on it, you will begin to settle your mind
and spirit and shift your energy towards holiness. This blanket too is a symbol
of the prayer each of us has lifted up today and the prayers we continue to have
for you and your baby.
*Taken
from “Praying With Your Baby: A Spiritual Journey, by Rev Leanne Ciampa Hadley.
This is a ministry of “The Blessing Center” Beavercreek Ohio.
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