The document describes six prayer stations set up for a youth group gathering. Each station focuses on a different spiritual theme: 1) Offering prayers through writing note cards, 2) Experiencing God's transformation through play dough sculptures, 3) Confessing sins by writing them on paper and nailing them to a cross, 4) Releasing worries by writing them on Alka-Seltzer tablets, 5) Embracing hope by lighting candles, 6) Giving thanks together by drawing and writing on a large piece of paper. The goal is for participants to engage spiritually through interactive activities focused on prayer, confession, hope, and gratitude.

1. STATION #1: OFFERING PRAYER (NOTE CARDS)
“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to
God.” - Philippians 4:6
As Christians, we all know that we should pray. But it is very easy in the busy-ness of life to find it hard to take time to
spend with God and really focus on him. In this first station, we are going to take a few moments and focus on prayer
through writing.
Using the markers, write a prayer on a note card. You can write however you like: write a few sentences, write a
poem, draw a picture, do whatever you want. When you are finished, drop the note card in the box as a way of
offering the prayer to God. Know that God hears our prayers, whether we say them, write them, sing them, or think
them.
STATION #2: EXPERIENCING TRANSFORMATION (PLAY-DOUGH)
“God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to
make us what we are.” - Ephesians 2:10
Our God is a God of transformation. He is a God of creation and life! And he wants us all to experience life to the
fullest through relationship with him.
Take a few moments and think about how God has changed your life, or think about ways that would like for God to
change your life. (Are you happier? Does your life have more purpose? Would you like to be happier? Would you like
a new, better attitude?)
Take some Play-Dough and mold it into a sculpture or form that represents the change you are thinking about. As you
mold the Play-Dough, know that God is molding you and transforming your life. The change does not always happen
easily or quickly, but God is at work in you.
STATION #3: CONFESSING SIN (CROSS AND NAILS)
“Christ has set us free! This means we are really free. Now hold on to your freedom and don’t ever become slaves of
The Law again.” - Galatians 5:1
Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins through his death on the cross. On one hand, we feel shame at the pain he
suffered for us. On the other hand, we feel freedom and joy that he has set us free from our sin.
Think about things you do that you think hurt your relationship with God and your relationships with others. Are there
things you do that you wish you could stop, but you feel like you’re trapped and keep doing again and again even
though you know it’s wrong?
Take one of the scraps of paper and write out a sin or struggle you have. Now take the hammer and a nail, and nail
the scrap of paper to the wooden cross. Know as you hammer the nail that Jesus has already paid the price for your
sin and wants you to be free. Know as you get up and move to the next station that your sins and struggles are nailed
to the cross and you no longer have to carry them.

2. STATION #4: RELEASING WORRY (ALKA-SELTZER)
“But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.” - Matthew 6:33-34
We all have worries and concerns that burden us down. They can be small things like an upcoming test or a list of
chores. They can be big things like deciding what to do when you graduate or deciding whether or not you want to
date someone.
Take one of the white Alka-Seltzer tablets and think about some of the major worries in your life. If you want, take the
permanent marker and write one of those worries on the tablet. When you are ready, drop the tablet into the bucket of
water. As it dissolves and bubbles away, know that when we release our worries to God, he takes care of us and
provides for us, not matter how big our concerns may seem.
STATION #5: EMBRACING HOPE (CANDLES)
“Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us
new life and a hope that lives on. God has something stored up for you in heaven, where it will never decay or be
ruined or disappear.” - 1 Peter 1:3-4
We all have hopes and expectations for our futures. However, it can be easy at times to let ourselves get so caught
up in the routine of school, work, family life, church, etc, that we let go of our hopes and dreams. It can be even easier
to lose sight of our ultimate hope of spending eternity with God.
Candles have been used as a tool of Christian worship since ancient times. Now, think about a hope you have for
your life. You may hope that you get good grades this semester, you may hope that you stay close to your friends,
you may hope that you learn more about God and grow closer to him. Now light a candle as a symbol of hope that
God will provide for you. As you watch the candle burn, know that God understands our hopes and dreams and will
never abandon us.
STATION #6: GIVING THANKS (PAPER AND MARKERS)
“Always be joyful and never stop praying. Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is
what God wants you to do.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
At the first station, you wrote a private prayer to God on your own. In this last station, we will create a community
expression of thanks together.
We have much to be thankful for, both as individuals and as a church. We have homes, we have families, we have
food, and we have each other. It is easy to take these things for granted, but tonight we will give thanks to God for
these blessings.
There is a large roll of paper spread out with many different markers. Draw a picture or write some words expressing
thanks to God for the ways he has blessed you. Be creative! Once everyone has contributed, we will have a portrait
by the Youth Group of how God has blessed all of us, and it will remind us to be thankful in our daily lives.
Now please return downstairs for a time of musical worship!