Rituals at Home–Prayer Dice

Rituals don’t always have to be super serious. They can be fun…even playful. And a little play is good for all of us, especially now.

Since most of us are at home and sitting down at the table together more than ever, why not add a prayer ritual to dinner? Or maybe just adjust one that you already have. Here’s one that can be more meaningful than the same perfunctory prayer said every night. It lets everyone participate and provides a prompt so no one has to pull a prayer out of thin air.

All you need is a regular six-sided die. Before or after dinner, have everyone take a turn rolling the die and then offering up a type of prayer that corresponds with the number.

  1. Offer up a prayer of thanksgiving
  2. Say a prayer for someone else–someone who is struggling, going through a life transition, is ill, etc.
  3. Say a prayer for yourself. Ask for something you need or even just want.
  4. Offer up a prayer for forgiveness–either asking forgiveness for yourself or for the ability to forgive someone who has wronged you
  5. Send up a prayer of praise or adoration. Slightly different from the prayer of thanksgiving. That is a prayer thanking God for something God has done. Praise is celebrating who and how great God is.
  6. Offer up a prayer for people who are hurting–either an individual or a group of people.

Here’s a handy guide to have at the table as a reminder.

Rev. Anne Russ is an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), currently based in New York City. Doubting Believer provides tools and encouragement for the rollercoaster ride of your faith journey. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and YouTube. You can also follow on TikTok. Get emails to keep up with all that is happening.

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