Nutcrackers and Cake Prayers

On the way to 5 Senses to Prayer Book 2 - #17

Today is the first official day of Advent. I say official because Advent is a season of the Church and in Church tradition Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas. Our culture generally uses 1st December as the start of Advent, but however you want to count down to Christmas… the count down season is now upon us.

Advent heralds a time of anticipation and waiting for the arrival of Christ.

Long ago in many ways and at many times God's prophets spoke his message to our ancestors. But now at last, God sent his Son to bring his message to us. God created the universe by his Son, and everything will someday belong to the Son.

Hebrews 1:1-2

Some years I’ve had a very specific Advent series in our 5 Senses Virtual Prayer Room. This year it becomes a little complicated as I'm still writing into the gaps of Book 2 in the hope of publication sometime in 2024. I’ll try and write and select prayers that could be used in Advent or at other times of the year.

The Nutcracker Prayer invites an openness as we approach Christmas. The Cake Mix Prayer fits with this time of year when more people get into the kitchen to back gifts and make food to take to parties and celebrations. Both of the prayers today have been used by me in prayer stations and in small group settings so they come tried and tested. As always, make your own adaptations and change to suit you or your group. For instance, the cake prayer could be adapted to use Christmas cake.

The focus of anticipation and looking forward means that an Adventesque season can hit us all year round. The complexities of living means we often find ourselves in a time of antipcipation and waiting for God to be at work in our lives. It’s not a once a year event or something that can be defined as a one size fits all.

This first Sunday in Advent we light a candle for Hope. Hope keeps us moving forward. Hope drives us on our journey. Hope guides us.

May the hope that comes from Jesus Christ light your way this week.

On the journey

Caroline

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Nutcracker Prayer

Sense of Hearing – Adoration & Praise (AP.H.7)

A nutcracker tool is often used most at Christmas time to crack open nuts. At Christmas we think about the birth of Jesus. It’s a time when some people who don’t give too much thought to God all year, suddenly take an interest again. Even those who are a bit of a hard nut themselves, can become soft and caring at Christmas. No matter what time of the year we can praise our God.  We don’t have to wait for external influences to say aloud our praise to God. God wants our praise all year around, no matter how we’re feeling or what is happening in our lives. Take a nutcracker. As you apply external force and crack each nut, say your praise and adoration out loud to God.

Getting ready checklist

• Nutcracker

• Assorted nuts in shells

Further suggestions and adaptations on using this prayer

Prayer Station

Place a bowl full of nuts to crack and a couple of different types of nutcrackers. You’ll also need a container to hold the broken shells. Invite participants to crack nuts and pray, then eat their nuts.

Individual

Place a bowl of nuts on your coffee table or benchtop alongside a nutcracker and a copy of the prayer. Take time to stop and praise God by cracking nuts.

Small Group

Pass around nuts and the nutcracker and take turns cracking nuts. Everyone could pray their own prayer as each nut is cracked so that there is a partylike, celebratory noise.

Large Group

Crack some nuts from the front of the gathered group so that everyone can hear. Invite participants to call out their words of praise after each cracking sound.

Visual Images - Static, Projected, Live Props

• Nuts growing and harvesting

• Nuts being cracked

• Other hard to crack objects