"Talk to Me" —God
Children's sermon
Object:
multiple gestures of prayer, a rosary
“Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” (v. 1b)
Good morning children,
It's really wonderful to see you children. You appear happy and eager to be here.
I'm happy to be here too, and to share thoughts with you about prayer.
Can you tell me what you know about prayer? (children respond, don't be surprised at their answers) What else can you tell me about prayer? (children respond)
If I go like this (show a prayer gesture – hands empty and uplifted to heaven) what does that mean? That is the way our Jewish friends sometimes pray. They desire that God fills their empty hands with goodness and love.
Sometimes we pray like this: (fold hands and bow one's head) This means we are humble before a most high holy God and ask for forgiveness and give thanks.
Our Muslim friends pray like this: (demonstrate their prayer postures)
Christians like us, sometimes pray by handing hands with one another like this:
(join hands and say a sentence prayer)
Our Catholic friends sometimes use a rosary like this to help them pray. (show rosary)
One day the disciples came to Jesus and they said, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”Jesus then said pray like this, and he taught the disciples the Lord's prayer. Who knows the Lord's prayer from memory? (children respond)
Let's join hands (adults in congregation too) and pray the Lord's prayer. (Either the traditional words or other words the congregation is familiar and comfortable with,)
“Our Father….”
Prayer is both talking and listening to God. Being very quiet in silence is a way to listen to God. Singing, chanting, complaining, rejoicing are all verbal ways to talk to God.
What is your favorite way of prayer? (children respond) When is a good time to pray? (children respond) Do you have a favorite prayer? (children respond)
Prayer: Let's do a “Count your Blessings” prayer. It goes like this: I will say “Thank you Lord for...” and you say a word that completes the prayer, like “Thank you Lord for my church family” and so on. Amen.
Good morning children,
It's really wonderful to see you children. You appear happy and eager to be here.
I'm happy to be here too, and to share thoughts with you about prayer.
Can you tell me what you know about prayer? (children respond, don't be surprised at their answers) What else can you tell me about prayer? (children respond)
If I go like this (show a prayer gesture – hands empty and uplifted to heaven) what does that mean? That is the way our Jewish friends sometimes pray. They desire that God fills their empty hands with goodness and love.
Sometimes we pray like this: (fold hands and bow one's head) This means we are humble before a most high holy God and ask for forgiveness and give thanks.
Our Muslim friends pray like this: (demonstrate their prayer postures)
Christians like us, sometimes pray by handing hands with one another like this:
(join hands and say a sentence prayer)
Our Catholic friends sometimes use a rosary like this to help them pray. (show rosary)
One day the disciples came to Jesus and they said, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”Jesus then said pray like this, and he taught the disciples the Lord's prayer. Who knows the Lord's prayer from memory? (children respond)
Let's join hands (adults in congregation too) and pray the Lord's prayer. (Either the traditional words or other words the congregation is familiar and comfortable with,)
“Our Father….”
Prayer is both talking and listening to God. Being very quiet in silence is a way to listen to God. Singing, chanting, complaining, rejoicing are all verbal ways to talk to God.
What is your favorite way of prayer? (children respond) When is a good time to pray? (children respond) Do you have a favorite prayer? (children respond)
Prayer: Let's do a “Count your Blessings” prayer. It goes like this: I will say “Thank you Lord for...” and you say a word that completes the prayer, like “Thank you Lord for my church family” and so on. Amen.
