This is an extension of the bubble prayers created by Roly Bain.* I introduce them with a change bag routine using individual scarves for prayer concerns and the 15-foot rainbow scarf to signify how God puts everything together. I give the rainbow scarf to two volunteers from the congregation who gently wave the scarf up and down during the prayer time.
I stand behind the scarf blowing the bubbles over it while leading the litany prayers. Sometimes the scarf catches the bubbles; sometimes the air from the scarf makes the bubbles go higher. I play a CD of Jesu Joy of Man's Desire in the background. I like having music that doesn't have words to it as the background. I prefer a CD to someone playing the piano or organ since I know when the music will end and can match the prayer to it. Here's what I say:
How many of you know people who don't know God? And what do they think of prayer? They think it's foolish.
But prayer is precious to God. In a moment I'm going to invite you to join in a visual, open-eyed prayer.
We know the Bible says God takes the foolish things of this world to shame the wise. There's a clown named Roly Bain who says let's take a symbol of something foolish--let's take bubbles--to represent our prayers.
Roly notes that bubbles hold our breath and reflect the colors of the rainbow. If we could see our prayers as words in the air, let's imagine that each bubble holds a prayer. And let's imagine that when the bubble bursts, that God has heard our prayer.
To prepare for our prayers, we know we come to God in many ways. Sometimes we're anxious (put orange scarf in change bag); or tickled pink; or sad (blue) or in grief (purple.) Sometimes we're full of joy (yellow) or longing for love (red.)
We come to God however we are (hold up all the scarves) and God puts it all together in a promise of His Love and Provision (produce long rainbow scarf.)
Another way to introduce prayers is to have the different scarves represent who or what we are praying for, i.e. "In prayer we remember those who are in grief (purple) and depression (blue). We rejoice with those who rejoice (yellow) and pray for those who need healing (green.) We pray for peace (light blue) and always we pray for love (red.)"
After the long scarf is produced and the music begins, one leads the litany prayers with a short phrase, the blowing of some bubbles and the reassurance, i.e.
Let us pray for the world...
(bubbles blown)...
and know that God hears our prayers
Let us pray for our country...
(bubbles blown)...
and know that God hears our prayers.
Let us pray for... (and you choose different categories including the church, the children, those needing healing in body, mind and spirit, families and the homeless, ourselves, those who don't know God etc.)
At the end wind up by saying "we offer You these prayers, foolish in the world's sight but precious to You, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
* From Roly Bain's book Clowning Glory:
Full of the colors of the rainbow, bubbles remind us of the covenant and promises of God... so let some foolish bubbles be vehicles of our prayers. Our prayers are so foolish in the world's terms, so fleeting, soon forgotten--by us, though not by God. They're precious to God. So as each bubble bursts, may we know that our prayers are heard.
Other Clown Routines
Below are links to several clown routines and class presentations that Toot did at Clown Camp, University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse.
For those seeking a Christian clown in the northern Indiana, south Chicago area, please contact Janet "Jelly Bean" Tucker.
