How to Use a Chime for Silent Prayer for a Family or Group of Children

The diminishing reverberations of a lovely chime lead children into deeper and deeper listening until they "hear" the silence created by the group. Here are some steps to take to help a group prepare for and enjoy this silence:

• Explain that stillness is part of silence, and should be achieved before the chime is struck.
  
• Invite the children to prepare their bodies by straightening their backs and sitting with their arms and legs comfortably positioned. Feet are flat on the floor if seated in a chair, or legs are folded if seated on the floor. The first few times, help the children achieve stillness by leading them through a few deep, quiet breaths, and choosing a focus for the eyes -- perhaps a lit candle, a prayer table, or sacred object.
  
• When the children are still, tell them they will hear the chime, and remain silent for 30 seconds. When 30 seconds are up, they will hear the chime again, to mark the end of the silence.
  
• Strike the chime, wait 30 seconds, then strike the chime again.

At the beginning, you may note with the children sounds heard outside the room that may have distracted them. However, after a group has learned to create silence together, such sounds are rarely an intrusion.

The length of time for silence can be lengthened by 30 seconds up to three minutes or more. The leader can use a (silent) timer, such as a 3 minute egg timer, to measure the silence. Children can take turns leading the silence by striking the chime, timing the silence, and striking the chime again.

Silence can be incorporated into family prayer or communal prayer in an atrium or classroom. The experience of silence is rare for children and quickly becomes a treasured addition to their "repertoire" of prayer.

-Catherine Maresca