We are all suffering from a lack of physical interaction at the moment, and worship services over Zoom or other platforms often fail to engage our bodies. Sara wrote this prayer as a simple way to engage your congregation in movements and postures which reflect Bible passages. As you lead this, remember to keep your arms visible so people can follow your lead. There is a script below, or downloadable as a PDF. 

God cares for us as whole people, and the Bible asks us to bring our physical selves to him. We suffer from a lack of the physical at the moment, unable to meet in the same room, unable to shake hands or hug our friends. So, when we pray now, we want to pray in a physical way, using our hands and bodies.

Of course, we are all different when it comes to mobility, so I just encourage you to engage with this to the extent that you can. Feel free to substitute a movement for something else that works for you.

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Let’s start by grasping our hands into fists in front of us. Think about what is distracting you right now - concerns you have, items on your to-do list, deeper worries about the future. Whatever you come with today, imagine that you hold this in your hands.

Feel the tension of holding on to all these things and the effort needed to keep your hands in fists.

In 1 Peter 5:7, we read: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Let’s slowly open our hands and let go of our anxiety, allow him to carry our burdens today, because he cares for you

Next, spread out your hands wide in front of you.

Psalm 143:6 says: “I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.”

Our hands are so empty, so full of need! Like the parched land cries out, we cry out: Oh Lord, we are thirsty, we are needy! Come and rain down on us, fill us today with all that we need.

Now, if possible, move so your feet are touching the ground. Imagine that this is your root, receiving the life-giving love of Christ. As I read this famous verse from Ephesians 3, use your arms to show how immense Christ’s love is for us [demonstrate the wide, long, high and deep as you read]:

“I pray that we, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how WIDE and LONG and HIGH and DEEP is the love of Christ.”

Now, church, you in whom the Lord dwells, let’s raise our arms in praise to God to end.

Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
who minister by night in the house of the Lord.
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
and praise the Lord. (Psalm 134:1-2)