In Ezekiel 37, the Lord brought Ezekiel into a valley filled with dry bones, and told Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones. The bones came together into skeletons; then sinew, flesh, and skin covered them. Again Ezekiel was told to prophesy to them, and they were given breath and life. The Lord then told Ezekiel the meaning of this vision:
"Son of Man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.' Therefore, prophesy and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you home into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord.... And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live...." Revised Standard Version

This 50-bead paternoster is made of 6mm opaque white and tan Czech druk beads, separated into decades with dividers of 11mm opaque white and tan Czech pressed glass bumpy round beads. Each decade represents a skeleton of bones, with a divider bead as the skull. The paternoster is strung on silk thread, hand-knotted between each bead like a strand of fine pearls. This represents the sinew holding the skeletons together. The crosses are antique-dyed bone.

The Church is the "new Israel". We, too, sometimes feel that our bones are dried up and our hope is lost. But like with the people in Ezekiel's time, God promises his Spirit to us. Continued prayer, even during those times of dryness, brings us to the promised resurrection.