Small Church February 15, 2026

Light a candle, take some deep breaths, or sing a song, to draw your attention to God’s presence. Say this prayer together or read it to yourself.

Share with one another:

What rhythms and rituals are carrying you through these days?

Option 1

Guided Contemplative Prayer

Use this Pray as you Go imaginative contemplative exercise for John 6: 1-13, the Feeding of the 5000.

This audio recording begins with a person reading the scripture. Then there are prompts to guide you through a contemplative exercise, with soft music in the background. 

The recording is 18 minutes in total. 

When the exercise has completed, share the following with one another:

1. What was your experience with doing this contemplative exercise?
2. If you are comfortable, share an insight you had during this time of prayer.
3. Is there an invitation from the Holy Spirit emerging from the scripture today?

Option 2

Imaginative Play: Have a picnic

Set up a picnic outside or on a blanket in your home. You can use play food or real food.

Listen together: Read the story of the Feeding of the 5000 from a Bible or Children’s Bible.

Share together: Wonder Questions

1. I wonder how long Jesus and the disciples talked about the problem of hungry people?
2. I wonder if you can think of another story with bread in it from the Bible?
3. I wonder what the people thought and felt as they returned home the night Jesus fed them?
4. Every Bible story tells us at least one thing about who God is or what God is like. What did you notice this time?

Pray together using the following all-ages prayer format, or use a style that works best for your group.

At a different time, Jesus taught people to pray and included the sentence “Give us today our daily bread,” meaning, ask God for what you need for the day. And in this story when Jesus says he is bread, he means he can give us what we need.

Let’s start by making a quick two lists: needs and wants. Think about needs we can see, taste, touch and invisible needs we cannot see, feel or touch.

Now, we’re going to pray a simple prayer.

First, we’ll open our hands into a bowl or basket shape.

Next, we’ll pray: God, help us name what we need to you, because you love us.

Please give us what we need, both seen and invisible.

I’m going to give you 15 quiet seconds to tell God what you need.

When we have more than we need, make us generous to others.

Now, I’m going to give you 15 quiet seconds to pray for people who don’t have enough of what they need.

Amen.

Close this time of worship by reading this blessing (written by Andrea Perrett).