Skip to main content

Reply to "COMPLETE LESSON SET: Prayer and the Lord's Prayer from State Street UMC, Bristol VA"

The Lord's Prayer

Movement Workshop 

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Children will experience the Lord’s Prayer through creative movement and music.They will explore different prayer “positions” that can be used for the different types of prayers. 

 

Scripture References, Memory Verse, Theme and Objectives: 

Refer to first post in this lesson set.

 


 

Preparation and Room Set Up: 

  • Review the Background Information, Behavioral Covenant, Teaching Tips and Lesson plan.
  • Gather materials.
  • Copy the Handout with the Lord’s Prayer Dance choreography. Practice several times so you feel comfortable leading the movements.
  • Review the Music CD of the Lord’s Prayer
  • Copy the Handout of the Finger Labyrinth – one per child

 

 

Time Guidelines:

 

Welcome and Introductions5 minutes
Bible Study15 minutes
Creative Movement25 minutes
Closing5 minutes

 

 



 

Presentation

 

Opening-Welcome/Introduction

Welcome the children and introduce yourself. Make sure everyone is wearing a name tag.Please include the shepherd in introductions. Explain that prayer can be expressed in different ways using your body. In this session children will practice praying with their bodies.

 

 

Opening Prayer  

Loving God, thank you for this day and for everyone who is here today. Help us learn different ways to pray using our bodies, so that we might grow closer to you. Amen.

 

 

Important Teacher Notes:

 

Each workshop includes the Bible story. One of our primary goals is to improve the children’s Bible literacy!If children did not bring their Bibles from home, use the classroom Bibles. Shepherds should help the children locate the stories. Use the Background Information to help you introduce the story.

 

Remember that as the rotation progresses; the children will become more familiar with the story.  When this happens, allow the children to tell you what they know. The children should still locate the story in their Bibles every week. Use the bold headings in their Bibles to guide your discussion.  You may want to review some of the Bible notes as well.Be sure to fill in any missing information and add additional details using the Background Information to help you. One of the greatest advantages of this model is that children who come regularly learn the story in great depth.

 

Each lesson contains more Background Information and discussion questions than can be used in one session. Remember, children are studying this story for four weeks! Be sure to follow the time guidelines and leave ample time for the activity.

 

 

Dig-Main Content and Reflection:

 

Introduce the Story

The disciples spent lots of time with Jesus.They must have realized that Jesus had a special relationship with God, the Father. One day they asked him to teach them to pray. What is prayer? (communicating with God) How did Jesus respond? (he taught them a prayer we know as the Lord's Prayer)

 

Bible Study: Grades K-2

The Picture Bible

Where would we find a story about Jesus and the disciples? (New Testament, gospels)

Help the children locate the story “The Lord's Prayer" on page 621 of The Picture Bible. Read as the children follow along.

 

Review some key words from the prayer:

Thy- Your

Hallowed- Holy

Trespasses- sins or things that we say or do that hurts someone as well as makes God sad

Thine- Yours

Temptation- makes you want to do bad things or make bad choices

 

What is prayer?  (talking and listening to God)

Why do we pray?  (to get closer to God, to share our feelings with God)

What are the five types of prayer?  (praise, thanksgiving, forgiveness or confession, intercession (for others), petition (for ourselves) and listening)

When do you pray?

 

Bible Study - Grades 3-5

What we know as the Lord’s Prayer is found in two of the gospels -- the more familiar version is found in Matthew. 

 

Help children locate Matthew 6:5-15. Read or have the children take turns reading.

Review any unfamiliar words with the children as you recite the verse line, by line.

 

Use the above line by line discussion with this age group as well.

 

Memory Verse

Each rotation we encourage the children to memorize the Rotation Memory Verse. Help the children locate the memory verse in their Bibles. Review it with the children at this time. 

 

The Lord's Prayer

 

Our Father, who art in heaven

Hallowed (holy) be Your name

First, He wanted us to recognize that God was our heavenly father and holy.

 

Thy kingdom come;Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven

He wanted us to recognize that God was here with us on earth. God wants what is best for us, so we should want that too.

 

Give us this day, our daily bread

He wanted us to be dependent on God for all of our daily needs and recognize that God feeds our spirits with the “Bread of Eternal Life,” just as we fill ourselves with food. 

        

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

He wanted us to realize that we will make mistakes and hurt others.We need to ask forgiveness from God for our sins, forgive others to hurt us, and trust that God has the power to forgive.

     

And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil

We should ask God to help us not want to make bad choices or do things that will hurt others

 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever

Finally, we should pray that we recognize how powerful God is and that He has the ability to do anything He thinks is best in our life.  We should ask for God to use us as a way to show others His presence here on earth.

 

Introduce the Activity

  • What are ways we can pray? 
  • Where do you pray?
  • Have you ever prayed through dance or creative movement?

One type of prayer is through dance or special movements, sometimes with scarves, streamers or rods.

This is a very ancient form of prayer. It celebrates the amazing ways our bodies have been created to move and worship our Creator.

 

The Lord’s Prayer Dance

(choreographed by Jane Wellford; adapted by Sue Seaman)

 

Our Father, who art in heaven

Lunge forward; hands in prayer position, head bowed

 

Hallowed be Thy name 

Remain in lunge; arms reach upward to “V”, head raised

 

Thy kingdom come 

Push back to standing, facing front; right fist shoots overhead, left arm down by side

 

Thy will be done 

Stand; left arm stretches out forward, then moves smoothly to left

 

On earth, as it is in heaven 

Stand; right arm scoops down to meet left, then both arms swing left to right and up to high right diagonal

 

Give us this day our daily bread

Turn left, kneel on right knee; arms move down and then forward, palms upturned, right hand resting on left

 

And forgive us our trespasses 

Rise; turn sharply to face away from people; reach upward with hands clasped and head raised

 

As we forgive those who trespass against us 

Remain standing turned away from people; separate hands and bring down into “cross” position:  left arm comes down and head turns to left on “those”; right arm comes down and head turns to right on “against”

 

And lead us not into temptation 

Turn to face people, kneel on one knee; cross arms in front of face horizontally, palms outward as if shielding self

 

But deliver us from evil 

Remain kneeling; clasp both hands together and reach forward and upward while leaning slightly backward, head bowed and turned slightly to side

 

For Thine is the kingdom 

Rise to stand; sweep right arm to right side and upward to be level w/shoulder, elbow bent  and palm forward, following with eyes

 

And the power 

Stand; sweep left arm to left side and upward to be level w/shoulder, elbow bent at 90°, following with eyes

 

And the glory 

Stand; arms in wide “V”, hands make small circles, palms facing out

 

Forever 

Turn in place 2 times, end facing front; arms in high parallel with palms facing each other, head raised

 

AMEN

Lunge front; lower arms to prayer position, head bowed

  

Prayer Positions

We’ve learned that the Lord’s Prayer is a model prayer because it includes the different types of prayer. Did you know that you can use your bodies to help you pray? I love this, because sometimes I find it hard to just sit still with my hands folded and my eyes closed. I love that there is no "rule" that this is the way I must pray.

 

Let’s try praying with our bodies now. Review the six types of prayer with the children, using the following movements as a guide.

 

1. Praising – Sometimes you will see people in worship who are singing hymns or praying. They will be standing with their arms up in the air. They are praising God. Let’s try it. Stand up and lift arms in the air.  Let’s praise God now. We praise you God because you are _________… (let the children offer suggestions) 

 

2. Thanksgiving – Now lower your arms so that they are about chest level and outstretched with arms bent at elbows and hands cupped to receive the blessings that God has given to you. Let’s thank God for our blessings now. Thank you God for _____________________ (let the children make suggestions) 

 

3. Forgiveness – There are two ways to position our bodies for forgiveness. First kneel down.  Now fold your hands and bow your head. Sometimes people lean forward and touch their foreheads to the floor. Let’s ask God for forgiveness for something we have done wrong.

Dear God we are sorry for _____________ (let the children make suggestions). Please forgive us and help us to do better next time. 

 

If we have really done something very wrong – or are really sad and needing to feel God’s comfort we can lie face down on the floor. This is called prostrate position. When we are in this position, we are humbling ourselves before God and acknowledging that God is in control and we are totally dependent on God. We can’t take care of things for ourselves without God.  When I was really sick a few years ago, this is how my husband prayed to God for me to get better and for God to help him through that hard time. Let’s lie down and ask God for forgiveness or pray very hard for God to help us.

Dear God, We are REALLY sorry for _______________ (let the children make suggestions).  Please help us Lord.  We cannot do it ourselves.  We need you!

 

4. For others (Intercession) – When we are praying for others, we can cross our arms over our chest, just as if we are holding the person close to our hearts. Let’s pray for someone else right now.

Dear God, Please be with _______________ (let the children make suggestions). He/she really needs you right now.  Please help him/ her.

 

5. For ourselves (Petition)– We can be in any position when we are praying for ourselves.  Sometimes we will pray wherever we are, without doing anything special with our bodies.  Sometimes we will just sit quietly with eyes closed and hands folded. Let’s pray for ourselves right now.

 

Dear God, Please be with us.  We need _____________ (have the children pray silently for their individual needs).

 

6. Listening – Don’t forget! Taking time when we pray to be quiet and listen for God is just as important as talking to God. A good way to position your body for this listening prayer is to sit with legs crossed and hands resting on knees with hands cupped and palms facing upward or resting on your knees. Close your eyes and focus on something quiet. Try breathing in slowly, and breathing out slowly. Remember how we were still last week when we were in the Listening Prayer station?  How did you position yourself last week? Let’s try this prayer now. We will be still and listen for God.

 

Dear God, help us be still and quiet now.  We want to hear you. .…  (wait for about 1 minute in silence and let the children sit quietly and listen)

 

Remember, no matter what position our bodies are in, God hears us and is glad when we are praying.  Praying brings us closer to God.  

 

If time allows, repeat the prayer positions, calling out each type of prayer and have the children follow your lead for body positions while praying silently. 

 

Ask:  Which prayer did you enjoy the most?  

Which prayer was the most difficult for you to do?

Was it easy for you to be quiet and still for the listening prayer?

We’re going to do something now that will help us practice listening prayers.

 

 

Finger Prayer Labyrinth – An Exercise in Silence

Supplies and Preparation:

  • Copy of the Finger Prayer Labyrinth for each child (copies can be found online or in several resource books about prayer labyrinths).
  • Pencils - one for each child.
  • If you or your minister or church have a large labyrinth, ask if you can show it to the children. 

 

Directions:

Show the picture of the prayer labyrinth to the children.  a finger labyrinth

 

Say: This is called a Finger Prayer Labyrinth. A labyrinth is like a maze -- there is a path that takes you to the center and then you follow a path from the center back out to the place where you entered. The Prayer Labyrinth helps us be still inside so we can focus on praying. It also reminds us that our faith is really a journey. We are moving closer to God -- through prayer. There are big labyrinths you can walk in. Some of you may have seen those. As you walk, you focus on being quiet inside and thinking about God leading you through the labyrinth; you think about moving closer and closer to God at the center of the labyrinth.

 

Today we will use a paper Finger Prayer Labyrinth. We won't be able to move our whole body, but we can move through it using a finger. 

 

You will move from the bottom of the page where the opening is all through the labyrinth until you get to the center of the page. Go slowly and carefully. Try to focus on just your finger and having everything else being very quiet and still. When you get to the center – use your pencil to write or draw a picture or write a word about what you are feeling. Then slowly move your finger back to return to the outside of the laybyrinth. Remember to be quiet and still so you will not disturb the listening of others. 

 

Reflection/Journal Time

The last 10 minutes should be reserved for Journal and Reflection time. This is an opportunity for processing and reflection about what the children have learned. Ask the shepherds to pass out the journals and pencils/pens and the journal sticker for the day.

 

Journal Questions:

Grades K-2: Did the Finger Prayer Labyrinth help you listen to God?   

Grades 3-5: When is it easiest for you to listen for God?

 

If you have extra time, review the Prayer FAQs Handout for more questions kids probably have!

 

 


A lesson written by Jaymie Derden from: State Street UMC – G.R.E.A.T. Adventure
Bristol, VA

 

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

 

Last edited by Rotation.org Lesson Forma-teer
Rotation.org Inc. is a volunteer-run, 100% member supported, 501(c)3 non-profit Sunday School lesson ministry. You are welcome to borrow and adapt content for non-commercial teaching purposes --as long as both the site and author are referenced. Rotation.org Inc reserves the right to manage, move, condense, delete, and otherwise improve all content posted to the site. Read our Terms of Service. Get a free Registered Membership or become a Supporting Member for full access to all site resources.
Rotation.org is rated 5 stars on Google based on 51 reviews. Serving a global community including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, S. Africa, and more!
×
×
×
×
×