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“Sometimes, the smallest things take up the most room in your heart”
― A. A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh
peace beads
Peace Beads is a listening tool that helps us to notice God's presence in the midst of the ordinary life.
Peace Beads introduces a prayer called "My Day in Beads". It is a reflective listening prayer that has been designed to accompany your prayer with beads. It is inspired by Ignatian Prayer of the Examen, and helps us to listen deeply to our souls and notice God’s loving presence in the ordinary moments of our lives.
All ages* will enjoy exploring the possibilities that the beads offer for nurturing their lives with God and others.
Peace Beads e-book includes:
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A listening prayer practice for all ages and a mentor’s guide for leading groups.
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Tools to facilitate exploration of prayer, emotions, and experiences of God, including printable worksheets.
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Many other tips for using beads as a prayer, communication and reflection tool.
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Illustrated craft guides for making prayer beads.
Peace Bead Kit includes:
- 2 custom designed art print prayer cards (5" x 7") with a guided prayer on the backside.
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20 unique beads, including crosses, lava diffuser beads, and naturally plant-dyed wooden beads.
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Handmade drawstring pouch made of soft, breathable Japanese cotton.
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Beading cord.
* Small beads are NOT suitable for children under 3 years as they present a choking hazard. Children should be always supervised by an adult when praying and playing with small beads.
The tool is ideal for personal prayer, small groups, families, camps, retreats, and intergenerational worship gatherings.
Buy Peace Beads
explore more
Below you can find blog posts that explore different ways of using the beads, the origin of the prayer practice that I designed (My Day in Beads), and other related resources that can enrich your use of the guide.
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PEACE BEADS EBOOK
Why I wrote Peace Beads eBook
In this article I will talk about the vision and heart behind writing Peace Beads: A Listening Tool for All Ages. My prayer is that this resource will help children and adults alike on their journey of becoming better present to themselves, others and to God in all things.
MY DAY IN BEADS
Praying with Beads and Intro to Examen Prayer
Here you will be introduced to the Prayer of Examen which My Day in Beads prayer guide was inspired by. I encourage you to be playful and creative in your use of the beads. If you use the Peace Bead Kit with children, this is a helpful article to get your imagination going on the many uses of the beads and the prayer guide.
PRACTICING PRESENCE
A Deeper Look at the Prayer of Examen
This article will explore how praying with Peace Beads can help you cultivate a keener awareness of God's loving presence with you throughout the day. I will expand on how to make most out of using your My Day in Beads prayer guide.
TOOLS FOR CONNECTION
Tools for Connecting with Children's Inner Lives
Learn how you can use beads, and other creative tools for creating a deeper connection with yourself, God, and others. In this article you will find ten tactile tools that help us to express our soul when mere words seem to fall short.
PRAYER BEADS: A MEDITATION OF THE HAND AND EYE
An Introduction to Protestant Prayer Beads
Unlike many other people of faith (the Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, etc.), as a Protestant, prayer beads haven't been part of my prayer practice until quite recently. In this article I share a little about how my interest to prayer beads started.
Loop Beading Tutorial
In this video I show you how to string your beads so that they form loops that hold each bead separate from each other. You can move the beads one by one along the cord and "track" your beads, and the prayers and thoughts that they represent.
The prayer guide on the table is called My Day in Beads prayer which is introduced in Peace Beads ebook.
External Resources
The Examen Prayer: Ignatian Wisdom for Our Lives Today by Timothy Gallagher
The Examen Journal : Finding God Everyday by Mary Williams
Reimagining the Ignatian Examen: Fresh Ways to Pray from Your Day by Mark E. Thibodeaux
A Simple, Life-Changing Prayer: Discovering the Power of St. Ignatius Loyola's Examen by Jim Manney
A Bead and a Prayer: A Beginner's Guide to Protestant Prayer Beads by Kristen E. Vincent
Another Bead Another Prayer: Devotions to Use with Protestant Prayer Beads by Kristen E. Vincent and Max O. Vincent
Bead One, Pray Too : a Guide to Making and Using Prayer Beads by Kimberly Winston
Pearls of Life: For the Personal Spiritual Journey by Martin Lönnebo
Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God by Sybil MacBeth
Botanical Dyes on Wood by Rebecca Desnos (ebook)
Picture Books
Maybe God Is Like That Too by Jennifer Grant and Benjamin Schipper
Making Heart-bread by Dennis Linn, Matthew Linn, and Sheila Fabricant Linn
Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Gives You Life by Matthew Linn and Sheila Fabricant Linn
Because Nothing Looks Like God by Lawrence Kushner, Karen Kushner and Dawn Majewski
The Boy with Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee and Jacob Souva
I Feel Teal by Lauren Rille
Today I Feel... An Alphabet of Feelings by Madalena Moniz
Niko Draws a Feeling by Robert Raczka
Peace Is an Offering by Annette LeBox and Stephanie Graegin
Online
Guided Audio Examen Prayer for all ages by Pray-as-you-go
Reimagining the Examen Mobile App
Instagram: Cobble Works / Jen Wilhoite. Illustrated examen meditations