Page 10 - Lessons and Activities on Prayer

2
the our Father (the lord’S Prayer)
Catechist background
e our Father is commonly referred to as the “lord’s Prayer,” not because Jesus prayed it but because he taught it to the disciples. we pray this prayer at every Mass.
e our Father is found in the bible in two dif- ferent places. saint luke (luke 11:2–4) has one version of the prayer, and saint Matthew (Mat- thew 6:9–13) has another. Perhaps this is because Jesus actually taught it more than once and, as the prayer was passed down orally, it was remembered somewhat di erently. e recitation of the our Fa- ther is part of the baptism ritual as well as part of the liturgy of the hours (the o cial daily prayer of the church). e our Father is also included when we pray the rosary.
as you teach this basic prayer, have the students imagine that they are listening to Jesus teach them how to pray just as he did the disciples.
Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
oUr fAther LeSSon PLan 1
Objectives
□ To practice saying the our Father by using a prayer ball (see phrases to write on the ball)
□ To learn important words from the our Father by solving a crossword puzzle
materials
□ Large beach ball or rubber ball □ Crossword Puzzle handout
lesson
▪ Gather the students and point out the words of the our Father on the board or chart paper.
▪ Talk about what each phrase of the our Father means.
▪ read the our Father together two or three times prayerfully.
▪ use the prayer ball.
▪ explain the crossword puzzle; then give
time for students to complete it.
▪ Gather in your prayer space, and conclude the
lesson by praying the our Father together.
Prayer ball activity
1 using a permanent marker, put a large dot on the ball and a phrase of the our Father (see phrase list below). continue placing dots and phrases un- til the entire prayer is on the ball. Gather the chil- dren in a large circle. row the ball back and forth. when the person catches the ball, he or she must begin reciting the our Father, beginning with the phrase closest to the person’s right thumb. if the student cannot continue saying the our Father from the point where his or her thumb lands, al- low the student to read it from the display.
Phrases for ball:
▪ our Father, who art in heaven
▪ hallowed be your name
▪ your kingdom come
▪ your will be done
▪ on earth as it is in heaven
▪ Give us this day
▪ our daily bread
▪ and forgive us our trespasses
▪ as we forgive those who trespass against us ▪ and lead us not into temptation
▪ but deliver us from evil. amen.
10
Twenty-Third Publications Sample