Reflect
Prayer
Prayer Follow the steps to guide young people through the prayer on page 16.
Young People’s Page Prepare Pray the prayer in advance to become familiar with it. Pray Ask a volunteer to read aloud the paragraphs on the left. Discuss our opportunity to meet God in new ways every time we read the Bible. Point out that the Bible is like a library filled with stories, poems, and letters. We see how God works in the world, mostly through the everyday experiences of his people. Invite young people to prepare for prayer. Say: Let’s ask God to open our hearts and minds to hear his Word. Read aloud John 1:1–5. Allow time for reflection. Ask three volunteers to take the Reader parts. Point out the places labeled All where everyone responds. Say: Quiet your minds, relax, and prepare for prayer. Play reflective music quietly [CD 1, Track 7]. Invite young people to join in a procession to show respect and reverence for God’s Word in the Bible. Have a volunteer carry the Bible, leading a procession and ending at the prayer space where the Bible is enthroned. Read aloud the Leader part and pause. Have Reader 1 pray, and invite everyone to pray aloud the All part. Continue the same way with the remaining parts and pray aloud the Lord’s Prayer as indicated. Conclude by reading the part of the Leader and pause for a moment to meditate. Pray together the Sign of the Cross. Say: As you go through life and hear so many conflicting messages, remember to pray with Scripture and ask God to keep you close to his truth.
16 www.findinggod.com
Praying the Gospel Reflecting on Scripture is a form of prayer. Each time we open the Bible, we have an opportunity to meet God in a new way. When we read or listen attentively to the Gospel, we become open to receiving the Word of God and allowing it to form us. Just as the Apostles preached the Good News of God’s mercy and love, we learn religious truths by experiencing the stories of Jesus’ life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension through the Gospels.
A nd the Word W as God
Leader: The Word
of God is like a ligh t that shines in the darkness. It shows us the way to God by teaching us to followers of his Son live as , Jesus. Aware of Go d’s presence with we gather in Jesus’ us as name, let’s pause to prepare oursel offer our prayers ves to to God in thanksgiv ing for this gift of light. Reader 1: God of all creation, throug h you all things cam be. Through our stu e to dy of Scripture, hel p us grow closer to your Word. Let us Jesus, pray to the Lord. All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader 2: God of love, in Scripture you reveal how clo are to us. Throug se you h our study of Scr ipture, open our hea accept your friends rts to hip with us. Let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader
3: God of all truth, in Scripture you tea need to know for ch us all we our Salvation. Thr ough our study of guide us along you Scripture, r path of truth. Let us pray to the Lor d. All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: And now Together pray the
let us pray in the
Lord’s Prayer.
words that Jesus
taught us.
Leader: Your Wo rd, O God, becam e flesh and made dwelling among his us. We thank you for the gift of you Help us recognize r Word. your presence in the Scripture we We ask this throug study. h Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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Un it 1 • O ne Tr ue F a it h
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Active Listening Emphasize that the first PDF Signoff: Production _______ step in understanding God’s Word is to listen attentively. Lead a simple exercise to promote active listening. Choose a Bible passage to read aloud while young people listen. Then tell them you are going to read the same passage a second time. Ask them to notice any words or ideas that they missed while listening to the reading the first time. Invite volunteers to share their thoughts with the group. Encourage young people to make it a habit to listen to God’s Word actively so they can take it to heart.
FYI
LoyolaPress.
Coaching Young to Pray PeopleEditorial Design _______ _______ Before praying, emphasize to young people that Jesus, the Word of God, speaks to us through Scripture. Say: God is our greatest teacher. When you read or listen to his Word, open your heart and mind to hear what he is telling you. Pray for understanding.
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