A Decade of the Child Prayer for Children

by The Decade of the Child Planning Team

Leader: Adults brought children to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. We too bring children today. We pray for children who are abused, neglected and undervalued.

May our hands be the hands that hold.

Leader: We pray for children who do not have adequate health care, for those who suffer because of AIDS, and for those harmed by war.

May our hands be the hands that heal.

Leader: We pray for children who are vulnerable: those victimized and exploited, those who are poor, hungry and homeless and for those without family.

May our hands be the hands that help.

Leader: We pray for the spiritual nurture of all children and we pray for children constantly confronted with too many choices and for those who are not allowed to experience childhood.

May our hands be the hands that offer hope.

All: May we be moved to open our minds, our eyes and our hearts so that we too will embrace the children as we follow Christ’s example — for children are, “God’s gift to the world and Christ’s call to the church.”

Amen.