Reflect Reflect
Prayer to Our Father
3 Lead the Prayer Review any unfamiliar words in the prayer so that children are able to pray with ease. Show children how they will pray using the response to the prayer. Invite children to pray the Sign of the Cross with you. Then lead the prayer, indicating to children when to pray aloud their response. After a moment of silence, continue with the rest of the prayer. When you have finished the prayer, close by praying the Sign of the Cross with the group.
LEADER: Let us quiet ourselves as we prepare to pray the
words that Jesus taught his first disciples and us, his disciples today. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come. ALL: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. LEADER: Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us
our trespasses. ALL: As we forgive those who trespass against us. LEADER: And lead us not into temptation.
4 Bridge to Closure
ALL: But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Pause for a few moments after the prayer, allowing children to reflect in silence. Invite children to calmly return to their places. Play “Saints Point the Way,” Track 4 of the CD, while the children leave the prayer center.
LEADER: Let us, the disciples of Jesus today, close
our prayer by praying the Sign of the Cross. ALL: In the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We Are the Church Chapter 1
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Background for Prayer Prayer is our connection with God. In some cases, it is also our connection with one another. The prayers of our faith that we took to heart as children enable us to pray together. They provide us with the words to express our beliefs, hopes, and needs as a community of believers. Our personal prayer is different. It can include learned prayers, but, as it is our own conversation with God, it has no special rules. It can be an expression of love, fear, contentment, frustration, anger, or praise. God knows what is in our hearts, but he wants to hear it from us. God wants a loving connection with us, and we need a loving, personal connection with God.
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We Are the Church Chapter 1
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