This prayer activity will help students learn that God wants us to love one another as He has loved us, and it will help them get into the mindset of loving their neighbours—especially those children sitting right there in class!
Resources
Heart shape template for each student
Pens or pencils
Introduction
Watch the video clip: The History of Valentine’s Day
On St Valentine’s Day, we are more sensitive to celebrating our love for one another. For one day, we try to not be so short-tempered with each other and we are more accepting of one another’s flaws.
However, we should keep in mind what God does for us each day. That is loving us no matter what. God forgives all the bad we do when we are sorry. Let’s try to apply that type of love to each other during this activity.
Instructions
1. Have students sit in a circle or side by side.
2. Give each student a heart love template and a writing utensil.
3. Have them write their name on the top of their love heart template.
4. Have them pass their love heart template to the person sitting on the right side of them.
5. When you say go, each student will write down one thing they love about the person whose love heart template they are holding.
6. When everyone has written down one thing, they will pass the paper to the right.
7. Repeat step 5.
8. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until the papers are with their rightful owners.
9. Let everyone enjoy what others have said about them!
Bible verses
Read the Bible verses about love. Choose your favourite verse and write it on your love heart.
“Love is patient, love is kind.” 1 Corinthians 13:4
“Love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12
“Love the Lord your God with your heart, your soul your mind and strength.” Mark 12:30
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven…” Luke 6:37
“Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34
“There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbour?” James 4:12
“By this, we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” 1 John 3:16
“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbouras yourself.” Galatians 5:14
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also much forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:12-15
Conclusion
Share and read your favourite love verse.
Now, each of you has a love heart prayer from your friends. Take it home and enjoy thinking all week about how special you are.
During this prayer space inspired by 1 John 4:18, one reflects on the fears, especially induced by sickness, and thinks how love is greater than them all.