Our Hands, God's Hands

In this prayer service, students consider the power of our own hands as the hands God uses, as well as the work of God's hands.

1. To prepare for this prayer experience, place some oil in a bowl. Cover a coffee can with construction paper and write the words of Romans 8.35 on the outside. Cut up strips of paper so that each student can have at least one strip of paper.

2. Gather the students in a circle, close enough so that they could hold hands. Place the bowl of oil in the center of the circle with the can. Pass out the slips of paper.

3. Begin the prayer experience with words such as these:
We gather together in prayer today to honor men and women who have died, men and women who are suffering from injuries sustained in tragedy, as well as people around the world who pray as we grieve and heal. Yet, despite the immense tragedy of these events, we know that all persons, living and dead, are held within the hands of God and that hands working for God are always stronger than hands that destroy life. Let us join hands with people around the world who pray, cry, and try to heal and rebuild. (Allow a moment of silence.)

4. Explain to students that it is important to honor the feelings of fear, loss, uncertainty, and horror that this event brings. Invite students to write down some of the negative feelings that they have experienced on the piece of paper. Ask students to share what they have written if they feel comfortable. Give them a chance to give voice to the horror of the situation for a few minutes.

5. Pass the can silently around the group and ask each student to place their strip of paper into the can. At the end, ask the final student to read the verse. Explain that this action is a way of giving those negative feelings to God, of putting them into God's hands, and of reaffirming that nothing--not death or incredible grief--can separate us from God and God's love.

6. Ask students to suggest the types of people who will be working to help and heal after this tragedy. Who will be the hands for God in the healing process? (Students might suggest people on site who may hug families of victims, heal wounded victims in hospitals, or search for survivors, as well as people who will pray, give blood, write checks, and so on, from afar.) Have students each choose one of those roles for themselves so that they may symbolically represent this role.

7. Ask a student next to you to share who she or he symbolizes and anoint them with the oil. "I anoint you on behalf of all (rescue workers, and so on) with oil that represents healing and empowerment as you work for God." Invite each student to do the same: ask who his or her neighbor symbolizes and anoint them.

8. Finally, read this passage from Exodus:
Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek (the opposition) prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands; one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the sun set. (17:11-12)
Note that while Aaron and Hur did not have the ability to do Moses' work, they could be his support. Make a connection between their action and the action all of us can take as we pray and discern other ways that we can be of service in this situation and in our pursuit of peace.

9. Conclude with a song such as "On Eagle's Wings" and a sign of peace.