Our Prayer Bear ministry is very special to us. At the front of the church is a basket of small bears with tags to be filled out for the recipient. Before the Service starts a bear is selected by someone asking prayers for another. The first name of the person for whom prayers are requested is printed on the tag worn by the bear. An announcement is made of whom the bear is for and is then passed through the congregation. Each person then hugs and says a prayer to send with the small bear, as it makes its journey through the pews. It is held by the last person until the Offertory . It is then placed in the Alms Basin with our offerings and then placed on the Altar for the remainder of the Service. After the Service, the bear, now bearing our prayers, is sent to person for whom we have prayed.
Our Prayer Bears have gone all across the country and to Iraq. They also go to hospitals with those starting chemo treatments and facing surgery, as well as Hospice, for those preparing for their final journey. It is a visual reminder that we are praying for them and holding them close in our thoughts and hearts. One of our first Prayer Bears was requested by a very young member of our parish for a friend who with his family had lost their home to a fire. Our children indeed lead us in God’s work.