PrayerPrayer

For me prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy… St Therese of Lisieux

So what is Prayer ?

Discuss/write down your ideas

PrayePrayer isr is

An expression of our relationship with a loving God.An expression of our relationship with a loving God.

A struggleA struggle

ThanksgivingThanksgiving

Sorrow for our failuresSorrow for our failures

Begging for God’s assistanceBegging for God’s assistance

Listening to the SpiritListening to the Spirit

Allowing God to transform our heartsAllowing God to transform our hearts

Deepening a communion between God, us, others and Deepening a communion between God, us, others and earthearth

Leading us to justiceLeading us to justice

Praising God Being with GodPraising God Being with God

Encountering the mystery of GodEncountering the mystery of GodAligning ourselves with God’s work Aligning ourselves with God’s work Kevin TrestonKevin Treston

Why do we prayWe pray to see life as it is, to understand it, and to make it better than it was. We pray so that reality can break into our

souls and give us back our awareness of God in our lives. We pray to understand things as they are, not to ignore and

avoid and deny them.Joan Chittister – Benedictine Sister – which one best suits you – share and discuss

Creating the AtmosphereLiturgical - those special seasons in our

ChurchSeasons – change for eachThemes – strands, modules Ignition into a new themeCultural – Waitangi DayNaturePart of Inquiry

Lets make aSacred Prayer space…

Prayer table ideasPrayer table ideas

Basic Prayer FormatHow do you organise your prayers –

work with someone in another year level

Opening PrayerScriptural ReadingReflection: What did you hear/ see

/feel/think( Praying with colour, Lectio Divino , Journaling)

Prayers – imaginative, petitions, thanksgiving

Closing prayer – blessing, traditional prayers,

Music/song to begin or endResource: Daily Prayer under the Southern Cross

How do you plan for prayer each term?

Prayer timetable examples.. What are you

usingTerm 1Prayer routinesCharismIntroduction to prayer

Term 2Traditional prayerHoly SpiritGod

Term 3Imaginative prayerChurchSacraments

Term 4The RosaryCommunion Of SaintsAdvent

Routines, ExpectationsBlessing/Class Treaty

Blessing Blessing Rosary – consolidate traditional prayers

Traditional PrayersScriptureGospel of the weekSongs – 5 new ones a term

Newspaper articlesTinfoil Holy Spirit

Litany of Saints

5 Finger Prayer Colour Prayer/Jellibean prayer

Praying with colour Journaling

Bubble prayerCaritasLentEaster

Prayer card focus eg: jobs, nature

Meditation Blessing

Ensure variety how many types of prayer can you name – Last

man standing• Spontaneous prayers• Formal – traditional• Personal and Communal

prayer• Imaginative meditation• Prayer with Movement• Song• Praying with art• Journaling • Litanies• Silent prayer• Blessings

• Pray often and remember to pray yourself

NOW LETS PRACTISE NOW LETS PRACTISE SOME PRAYERS FOR SOME PRAYERS FOR

USE IN THE USE IN THE CLASSROOMCLASSROOM

Plastacene praying Plastacene praying

Bubbles prayingBubbles praying

Thankful BookThankful Book

Pass it on prayerPass it on prayer

Prayer Reminder pyramidsPrayer Reminder pyramids

Bubble prayer

We can pray with bubbles in several ways:· Blow bubbles after they have said a short prayer. With older children this can be a sentence or two. With little ones each person could take it in turns to say a ‘thank you’ to God, or a ‘sorry’ or a ‘please’ before they blow their bubbles. (Sorry prayers may be said quietly to themselves!)· Alternatively the bubbles could be blown first and a one word prayer could be said for each bubble - e.g. a thank you or a word that describes God (prayers of praise and adoration). · For older children the bubbles could be blown and they could pray for someone or about something until all the bubbles have disappeared.

The Holy Spirit is God’s The Holy Spirit is God’s breath in Me!breath in Me!

Vary the ways of praying

• Pray in unison• Alternate sides of the class for different parts of the prayer• Alternate girls / boys• Pray one phrase with children echoing the line• Appoint a leader with others responding

Tinfoil prayers

With quiet background music make a tin foil personReflect on the person you are

making• Someone you love• Someone who is sick / worried • Someone you play with…In a ritual – place person on

prayer table and say a prayer for them

PHOTO/ Image PRAYERSSit the children around the prayer mat/table upon

which you have a display of photos.Invite children to choose one of the photos for

reflection and prayer. (the photos may have a theme)

Allow the children to share something about the photo/image

Ask the children to close their eyes and spend a few quiet moments talking with Jesus

Conclude the prayer with music, song, class prayer.

Guided Meditation RELAX – Listen, breathe, close your eyes,

pause,

FOCUS – children focus their attention on something – collected, from home, nature…

PONDER - When you think about… Does your… remind you of someone, Does your object remind you of God…

PRAY – This is the main part of the meditation

Enter into your heart a special place where you can talk to Jesus

Share your thoughts and feelings, and LISTEN

NOW LETS PRACTISE NOW LETS PRACTISE SOME PRAYERS FOR SOME PRAYERS FOR USE IN THE USE IN THE CLASSROOM PART 2CLASSROOM PART 2

Mandala prayingMandala praying

Writing prayerWriting prayer

Love is patient and kindLove is patient and kind

Prayer peoplePrayer people

Prayer labyrinthPrayer labyrinth

Prayer LabyrinthThe labyrinth is not a maze, it is carefully planned meandering. When you walk the path of the labyrinth you can't get lost, the spiral leads you to the centre and union with God. God then leads you back to the outside where you continue your journey with God in your community.Below is a labyrinth for you to trace with your finger.

Notes or letters to God• Explain that God is always interested in everything

that is important to them.• Begin by writing post its• A prayer journal• Make a post box for your prayer table

•Doodle prayer• This prayer form allows children to use paper and

crayons, etc to doodle or scribble and then see if their drawing has meaning for them.

• Play some quiet music – children have 10-15 minutes• Hare and explain what they have drawn with a buddy• Write a prayer on the back of their picture

A prayer programme

Monday Love Today we will shoe our love by

Tuesday Thanks We give thanks for…

Wednesday Pray We pray for others in need..

Thursday ThinkFriday Peace We pray for peace in out world

Monday – Introduce scripture/Gospel for the weekTuesday - Lectio Divino, SOAPWednesday – Pray with artThursday – Write, be one in the story, dramaFriday – Spontaneous prayers

Have you tried Journaling• Write (or think about) an event

• Write a sentence telling Jesus how you feel about it• Write Jesus’ reply to you• Keep the dialogue going – give Jesus the

last word• Place journal on the prayer table with prayer

The Jellibean Prayer

The Five Fingered Prayer

Ending the day• Litany of thanks for the day, class prayer• Reflection on anything• Blessing of one another – teacher to

students – students to teacher