Reverend Merlene Barner
7405 Lookout Road
Niwot, Colorado 80503
(303) 530-0241 office@niwotumc.org
Prayer Beads
Spirtual prayer beading is a way to pray or meditate using beads to remind you of words, phrases, people, a celebration, a community, a ritual, or a story. This is a spiritual exercise, choosing and stringing the beads that are important to you.
You may want to carry your beads in your pocket to remind you of your connection to the Divine, to remember who you belong to, to be able to have a little bit of the Sacred within the touch of your hands. You might find that as you bring small moments of silence into your life, you will recognize the spiritual connections, the tiny moments of awe.
In her book, A String and a Prayer, Eleanor Wiley writes that "Each morning when you wake, reach for your prayer beads, let the texture awake your fingers, and allow this vitality to permeate your entire body...As you move from one place to another during the day use these moments as a time to acknowledge the transition between tasks. Bring your beads into the palm of your hand and as you feel their texture, let that be a reminder to feel your feet on the floor and take a breath."
Prayer Beads Workshop Featured in Longmont Times-Call
Check out the lovely article on the Prayer Bead Workshop that was led by Jennifer Hayes on January 7. Jennifer recommends the book A String and a Prayer: How to Make and Use Prayer Beads. Let Jennifer know if you're interested in participating in a second workshop. Click here for more information on spiritual beading.
Different Types of Spiritual Beads - click here for some examples
Scripture and Prayers - choose a favorite that you would like to remember and pray without having the words in front of you. Examples include the Twenty-third Psalm, the Serenity Prayer, and the St. Francis Prayer. You can also bead hymns, music, poetry, and stories. Here's a prayer bead for the Nativity Story.
Prayers for Healing - there are many stones and colors that have traditionally been used to promote health and healing. Many women have created prayer beads using Healing Stones for Women. Here's an example of key chain strand for healing.
Prayers for People - people in distress during different times in their lives can have prayer beads made for them. Even babies or people in a coma can have beads made and brought to their families for meditation and prayer.
Transitions - making prayer strands for people going through transitions and/or dark and difficult times can be helpful for them. They love to know you cared enough to find the beads and made the strand.
For Yourself - prayer beads for beginning and ending a day, celebrating achievements, honoring your dream, and for walking through your day with grace.
For Others - healing, leaving or changing homes, memorializing a life, weddings, babies, child custody cases, homelessness, and loneliness.
For Communities - caregivers, families, teachers, women and children, world communities, leaders, the environment, peace, remembrance.
Prayers for Contemplation - your own special poem or prayer
Local Resources
JuJu Beads, 820 Main Street, Louisville, CO) has a wonderful inventory of beads and an even more wonderful owner, Denise, who will spend time with you to help you select the beads that work for you and meet your needs.