Overview. Workshop Major Objective Text Activity

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1 Hi God: Unbinding Your Heart through Prayer 1 st 6 th Grade Workshop Rotation for 6 Sundays During All-Congregation Unbinding Your Heart Experience Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton, Ohio Contact Laurie@westminsterdayton.org for questions. Overview Workshop Rotation Objective: To begin to develop deep life-long habits of prayer in our 1 st 6 th grade children To connect children with our all-congregation Unbinding Your Heart Spiritual Growth Opportunity Workshop Major Objective Text Activity Creation To introduce Prayer Phil. 4:6-7 Make Prayer Beads Station/Art Beads as tool to dev. On ribbon habit of prayer (part 1) Courtyard To learn how to pray Phil. 4:6-7 Pray w/ Beads Quest/Games with Prayer Beads (part 2) Caravan To learn how God is Gen. 28:11-17 Listen to story lying Chronicles/ always with us, esp. at down like Jacob; Storytelling night or when we get Breath/ Bed Prayers scared Parable To introduce practice Matt 5:14-16 Talk/listen using Place/Drama of holy listening as prayer Holy Listening Stones Stargazer To connect eating with Psalm 146 (sel) Make, bless & eat Square/Cooking the habit of praying Rice Krispie Hearts On First Sunday, all children (1 st -6 th ) will be given a Prayer Box to take home. Each of the six Sundays, they will be given a prayer or an object to put in the box to reinforce the prayer they learned and help them practice the prayers at home with their families. (Prayer Card Texts on last page of this document) Across from Toddler Room will be a Prayer Wall for all Children (Birth 6 th ) to place their prayer requests, an extension of the one that will be upstairs for the adults. Each workshop teachers is encouraged to bring their class to the wall either at the beginning or end of their class to add post it prayers, and to pause for a silent prayer. (Toddlers did this too.) On Final Sunday (Week 6) Whole group (Grades 1 6) gather for our GPS Sunday to position ourselves with where we are what we have learned and to hear a faith story from one of our teen or adult members. See final sheet for outline of how we did this. 1

2 Hi God : Unbinding Your Heart through Prayer Workshop: Creation Station/ART Workshop Rotation Objectives: To begin to develop deep life-long habits of prayer in our 1 st 6 th grade children To connect children with our all-congregation Unbinding Your Heart Spiritual Growth Opportunity Goals of Creation Station Workshop: (Note: This is Part 1 of a Two-Part sequenced workshop) To identify tools we use for good habits we have already learned To make a Prayer Bead chain (and leave in classroom for next Sunday s workshop in Courtyard Quest/Games&Puzzles where they learn how to pray with the Prayer Bead chain) Set Up: See Prayer Bead Hand Out (see p.5) for prayer bead materials & design. Prepare envelopes or Ziplocs to identify & store individual Prayer Beads until the following week. Before the children arrive, in center of table, place a toothbrush, a pillow, a washcloth, and a spoon, on a towel. Quick Opening Activity/Hook: (5 minutes max.) As children arrive ask them to notice what s on the table, and then quickly cover it up with another towel or sheet. Ask for hands, Who can remember what they saw? How many objects and what were they? After they respond, uncover the items so they are in everyone s full view again and ask: Can anyone guess what all these items have in common? A:They are all tools we use everyday to help us with good habits we have to help us be healthy. (brush teeth, good night s sleep, wash our faces, eat food). Today you are going to make a tool that is going to help you develop a good habits of prayer. They are called Prayer Beads. You ll get to take them home next Sunday, after you learn how to use them. 2

3 Opening Prayer: We thank you God, that you are always ready to listen to us because you love us so much. Help us to learn how to pray so that we can get closer to you. Amen. Bible Story/Text: Philippians Chapter 4, verses 6-7 the Apostle Paul wrote to a new church while he was in jail. Do not worry about anything; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Claim Activity: Prayer Beads help remind us of whom to pray for and give us a way to move from one prayer to another using our senses of sight and touch. You are going to make a beaded, knotted prayer chain just for you. Next week you ll learn how to pray with it and get to take it home with you. This week you will be given a prayer box to take home and put in a special place in your room. Use the prayers inside it at bedtime or when you wake up. Just seeing the box will help you remember to say Hi God throughout your day. Departing Prayer/Blessing: Everyone repeats one phrase after you : (or after another student with your older groups) May the peace of God May the peace of God Which surpasses understanding Guard your hearts and your minds In Christ Jesus. Amen. Which surpasses understanding Guard your hearts and your minds In Christ Jesus. Amen. Take Prayer Box home with you and put it near your bed or somewhere special in your room. We will add prayers each week for the next few weeks. 3

4 Prayer Beads Materials: Beads (10 Beads total) White: praise & thanks (three beads)for Father, Son, Holy Spirit Purple: sorry please forgive me for ; help me to forgive (two beads) One bead of the following colors: Yellow: family Red: friends Orange: others we don t know who are in need, all over the globe) Green: the earth Blue: self Charm (cross) Thin Ribbon Assembly: See attached picture for assembly steps. Beads should be strung in the same order of colors, with the ribbon twist between each one to cause a moment of pause and reflection in the prayer process. (They will have a chance to practice this next week). 4

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6 Hi God : Unbinding Your Heart through Prayer Workshop: Courtyard Quest/Games & Puzzles Workshop Rotation Objectives: To begin to develop deep life-long habits of prayer in our 1 st 6 th grade children To connect children with our all-congregation Unbinding Your Heart Spiritual Growth Opportunity Goals of Courtyard Quest Workshop: (Note: This is Part 2 of a Two-Part sequenced workshop) To play the Don t Forget Game (Prayer Beads help us remember what/who to pray about/for) To learn how and to practice praying using their color-coded Prayer Beads Set Up: Have ready to distribute Prayer Beads children made the prior week. Extra Prayer Bead sets (5) will be available for children who did not attend the prior session. Quick Opening Activity/Hook: (5 minutes max) Play Don t Forget game: As children enter the room, have them form a circle, and ask them to think of something they always hope their mom (or whoever does the food shopping in their family) will remember to buy at the grocery store. Go around the circle have each child say the item they thought of (don t encourage or make comments on choices just help them each think of something different.) Now randomly pick someone to start the game: 1 st child says, Don t forget the ice cream 2 nd child says, Don t forget the ice cream or the watermelon. 3 rd child says, Don t forget the ice cream, watermelon, or the butter, etc. until you get all the way around the circle helping kids if they get stuck. 6

7 Have everyone sit down and offer this connection: It s so easy to forget to pray at all. And even easier to forget about the people and things we need to talk to God about that are a lot more important than our grocery list. The Prayer Beads you made last week, are a kind of a list: but more fun and colorful than a grocery list, to help you remember what to pray about. We re going to learn how to use our Prayer Beads (we have extras if you weren t here last week) today. Opening Prayer: We thank you God, that you never forget about us, and that you are always ready to listen to us--because you love us so much. Help us to learn how to pray so that we can get closer to you. Amen. Bible Story/Text: Philippians Chapter 4, verses 6-7 the Apostle Paul wrote to a new church while he was in jail. Do not worry about anything; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. One thing this scripture tells us about prayer is that just talking, really talking to God (praying) honestly from your heart, will give you peace and guard your heart and mind, regardless of the actual outcome of your prayers. Claim Activity: Prayer Beads help remind us of whom to pray for and give us a way to move from one prayer to another using our senses of sight/eyes and touch/hands. White: praise & thanks (three beads)for Father, Son, Holy Spirit Purple: sorry please forgive me for ; help me to forgive (two beads) Yellow: family Red: friends Orange: others we don t know who are in need, all over the globe) Green: the earth Blue: self As you touch each bead, offer that name, situation in prayer to God for thanks, or help, healing, or peace, lingering wherever you want to, as the beads are moved from one end of the strings to another. 7

8 Have each child (all at once) practice touching the bead, thinking of a prayer, and then moving it, all the way through their Prayer Beads at least once. Give them some ideas to get them started for each color on their chain. Last week (or this for children new to this rotation) you were given a prayer box to take home and put in a special place in your room. Use the prayers inside it at bedtime or when you wake up. Just seeing the box will help you remember to say Hi God throughout your day. Distribute the prayers for them to add to the box this week. You might want to keep your prayer beads in your prayer box. Departing Prayer/Blessing: Everyone repeats one phrase after you : (or after another student with your older groups) May the peace of God May the peace of God Which surpasses understanding Guard your hearts and your minds In Christ Jesus. Amen. Which surpasses understanding Guard your hearts and your minds In Christ Jesus. Amen. 8

9 Hi God : Unbinding Your Heart through Prayer Workshop: Caravan Chronicle/Story Telling Workshop Rotation Objectives: To begin to develop deep life-long habits of prayer in our 1 st 6 th grade children To connect children with our all-congregation Unbinding Your Heart Spiritual Growth Opportunity Goals of Caravan Chronicle Workshop: Hear the story of Jacob s night at Bethel lying down on pillows, imagining what that experience might have been like for Jacob (Gen. 28:11-17) Please note: You will be introducing this scripture. It is not being taught in the other workshops of this rotation. Share the truth in this story that God is always with us, especially at night or when we re scared Practice praying a night time breath prayer Set Up: Make sure pillows are on one side so there is a clear path for the opening running game. Let your shepherd know ahead about turning lights down and lights up during the story. Quick Opening Activity/Hook: (5 minutes max.) Everybody line up on one side of the room. There s no talking in this game. But there is running. I will ask a question, count to three, and on my count when I say 3 -- if your answer is yes, run to the other side of the room. Ready? Have you ever been in trouble with your parents or teacher? (Have everyone else join the people who ran, on the other side of the room before you go to the next question). Have you ever made your brother or sister so mad they threatened to hurt you? (Have everyone else join the people who ran, on the other side of the room before you go to the next question). 9

10 Have you ever thought about running away, even just for an hour or two?1.2.3 (Have everyone else join the people who ran, on the other side of the room before you go to the next question). Have you ever had to sleep without a regular pillow? (Have everyone else join the people who ran, on the other side of the room before you go to the next question). Have you ever wondered where God was when you were alone in the dark? (Have everyone else join the people who ran, on the other side of the room before you go to the next direction). OK, everyone grab a pillow and sit down on my count, , Go. After they are seated continue with this opening/intro to our story Jacob was in trouble. Big trouble. Not just because he didn t do his homework or because forgot to make his bed. Much bigger trouble. He had tricked his dad twice, taking away his big brother Esau s birthright and his blessing. This was much worse than taking his brother s baseball glove or i-pod. His brother, Esau, was so mad at Jacob he wanted to kill him. And Esau was much stronger and more muscular than his geeky brother Jacob. So Jacob decided to run away. He and his mother were sure running away was Jacob s only hope of staying alive! Before we hear what happened to Jacob when he was out in the wilderness all alone in the dark, let s get ready to listen with a prayer: Opening Prayer: We thank you God, that you are always near, not matter how far or fast we run; because you love us so much, no matter what. Help us to learn how to pray so that we can feel your presence and know we are not alone. Amen. 10

11 Bible Story/Experience (10 minutes) This is a night time story, and so I am going to ask our shepherd to turn out the lights and tell you to pretend that you are Jacob and your pillow is a stone. When you hear Jacob take a stone and put it under his head and lie down, this is what you will also do, and then listen to the rest of the story lying down, until you hear Jacob wake up. Here we go Genesis 28:11-17 (NRSV) Jacob came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. (Lights out) Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. (Children put pillow under their head and lie down). And he dreamed that there was a stairway set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and said, I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, (have everyone sit up before you continue) Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it! Have everyone repeat this line together with you: Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it! And he was afraid, and said, How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. Lights up. 11

12 Claim Activity/Conversation What was the first thing Jacob said when he woke up from this dream? Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it! That scary, strange place had become sacred space where Jacob felt God s presence. (If there is time, and you feel inspired, share a place or time when you were scared and felt God s presence calming you). When it gets dark at night, or when it is time for us to go to sleep, this is a good time to say Hi God with a prayer. A Breath Prayer can help you calm down and feel like Jacob did when he woke up that surely God is there with you, even when you didn t know it. Let s finish up today with a breath prayer, and I will give you a card with some breath prayers you can put in your prayer box when you get home and use at night, or anytime. Departing Prayer/Blessing: Become aware of your breath: Inhale, think of breathing in God s spirit, and all that is God for you. Exhale, breath out what is not of God, whatever is standing between you and God. Now let s use these words for your breath prayer you can repeat a few times (as you inhale):holy God, (as you exhale):thank you for loving me. OR (as you inhale):jesus, (as you exhale):stay close to me. 12

13 Hi God : Unbinding Your Heart through Prayer Workshop: Parable Place/Drama Workshop Rotation Objectives: To begin to develop deep life-long habits of prayer in our 1 st 6 th grade children To connect children with our all-congregation Unbinding Your Heart Spiritual Growth Opportunity Goals of Parable Place Workshop: Introduce practice of good listening as central to praying Practice listening to & speaking deeper thoughts out loud using Holy Listening Stones (see symbol sheet at the end of this lesson. They can be drawn onto stones obtained from a river or a craft store) Connect this practice as a way to help one another let our light shine before others (This Matt 5:14-16 text is used only in this workshop). Set Up: Place 25 Holy Listening Stones in a flat basket with a cloth over them so children won t see them until you are ready to present them. Quick Opening Activity/Hook: (5 minutes max.) Who knows how to play Simon Says? If Simon Says, clap your hands you clap you hands. If I just say Clap your hands you don t, right? It s a listening game. Let s see how well you re listening today. Ready? Everyone stand up. If you mess up, sit down. Let s see who s the last one standing. (You lead just one quick round, until all (or most) are sitting.) OK, good game. Everyone sit down now. I have a question I want everyone to raise their hand when they think they know the answer.. What sense did we have use the most to be good at this game? Smell? Taste? Touch? Sight, yes some. EARS, mostly. Why? Because we had to listen and pay attention to what we heard. If we didn t, we had to sit down pretty quickly. Did you know that listening listening to our own hearts, listening when others are speaking from their hearts, listening to hear God speak to us, is a big part of learning how to pray? 13

14 Opening Prayer: We thank you God, that you are always ready to listen to us because you love us so much. Help us to learn how to listen and speak from our hearts as we also listen to others, helping each other s light to shine. Amen. Bible Story/Text: Today we re going to save our Bible verse for the closing of our class. Claim Activity: Right now I want each of you to pick out one holy listening stone from among those you see before you. Choose one with a symbol that you are drawn to for whatever reason. In a moment I will ask you to tell us why you chose that one. For now just pick out one and put it in your palm until the basket has gone around the room. Look at it, think about why you chose it, what the symbol made you think of. (Be sure your shepherds participate in this activity, as well.) The rules are very simple for this activity. One person shares, the others listen making no suggestions, comments, or judgments. Simply listening. Let s try it. I will go first. (Important for you to start to model the length and depth of how you re hoping they will also share offer something concrete, personal, short, about something going on in your life right now) Then go around the room in order, so they won t wonder & you won t waste time figuring out who goes next. Bible Story/Text: Thank you every one for your good sharing and your excellent listening. You may not have realized it, but this kind of listening and speaking helps us to find the light of Christ that is within everyone of us, and to let it shine, Just like Jesus told us to in Matthew 5:14-16, that we will use for our departing prayer and blessing. I will also give you a card to put in your prayer box at home with this verse on it. If you don t already have a prayer box, I can give you one today after we are finished. Departing Prayer/Blessing: Everyone repeats one phrase after you : 14

15 (or after another student with your older groups) You are the light of the world. You are the light of the world. No one after lighting a lamp No one after lighting a lamp Puts it under a bushel basket Puts it under a bushel basket But on the lampstand But on the lampstand And it gives light to all in the house And it gives light to all in the house In the same way let your light shine before others So that they may see your good works Works and give glory To your Father in heaven. Amen. In the same way let your light shine before others So that they may see your good works and give glory To your Father in heaven. Amen. 15

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17 Hi God : Unbinding Your Heart through Prayer Workshop: Stargazer Square/Cooking Workshop Rotation Objectives: To begin to develop deep life-long habits of prayer in our 1 st 6 th grade children To connect children with our all-congregation Unbinding Your Heart Spiritual Growth Opportunity Goals of Stargazer Square Workshop: To connect eating with the habit of praying a table blessing To use the metaphor of making Rice Krispie bar hearts to teach how God grows our faith through the help of friends, family, church family and prayer, especially when we get upset and have a melt down. (This idea adapted from curriculum found on Unbinding Web site). Set Up: 3 Sheets of paper, each with a large B, L, and D, set up in 3 separate places in the front of the room, easily visible. 3 pictures on separate sheets: Plate of Pancakes, Hamburger, Bowl of Ice Cream Ingredients for Rice Krispie Hearts, (Rice Krispies, butter, marshmallows, vanilla) hot plate, large pan, stirring spoon, heart-shaped cookie cutter forms, napkins, wax paper sandwich bags, hand cleaner Quick Opening Activity/Hook: (5 minutes max) Play What s my favorite meal game: As children enter the room, ask them to decide which meal: Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner is their favorite meal, but not to tell anyone and not to sit down, but instead form a line in front of the first row of seats. Then say, On my count of 3, I want each of you (without saying a word to anyone) to walk quickly over to the letter that corresponds to your favorite meal B L or D. Any Questions? Everyone knows what to do? OK: Ready? 1, 2, 3! Good! Now I have 3 different flash cards of 3 foods, this time, when I count to 3, I will flash one up and you decide which meal this food belongs to. Ready? 1, 2, 3! Repeat for the next 2 cards, then have everyone sit down. Introductory bridge (2 minutes) 17

18 We all have meals and foods that we like better than others. But God likes every meal that feeds us: every meal (and snack) is God s gift to us. Remembering that, just before we take our first bite of any meal or snack, helps us get closer to God and fill us with God s kind of love. Let s pray our opening prayer right now: Opening Prayer: (2 minutes) O God of Abundance, you feed us every day. Rise in us now, make us into your bread, so that we may share your gifts with a hungry world, and join in love for all people, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. Claim Activity (10 minutes) Do now so that it can set during your discussion. Invite the class to form a circle (or semi-circle) around your cooking table. Usually, food feeds our bodies. Our food-based lesson today will do more. As I put together these Rice Krispie hearts, you will discover how the ingredients can help us think about how God grows our faith. Make Rice Krispie bars as directed with the following explanation: Place pan on burner and let it warm up. Add butter and say Sometimes things get so bad we have a melt down (melting butter) Add marshmallows and say This represents our family and church family they stick with us (once marshmallows melt turn off heat). Add Rice Krispies and say This represents our friends and others we don t know, they help complete the circle. (do not mix yet) Add a teaspoon of vanilla and say This is our secret ingredient, it represents prayer. Now mix together. Scoop mixture into heart forms to harden. (Enough for each child to have at least one to eat or take home in wax paper bag) say This Rice Krispie heart represents God s love made known through prayer and our faith community, and family. Discussion: (5-7 minutes, adjust to time available ) Let s think for a moment while they are setting up and cooling (you could do the eating and discussing at the same time, once they are cool enough to eat-- ) Be sure to say a blessing just before they dig in to eat them use one from the cards you will pass out at the end of class for their prayer boxes. 18

19 What is our habit when we start eating a meal? What do we usually do? Since we are blessed with the chance to eat 3 meals a day, how often do we forget to thank God for our food? Instead we just grab the spoon, or unwrap the fast food, and dig in. Sometimes we don t even stop to taste it. Or we look at the food and start complaining: Do I have to eat this? (Discuss, if time) What do you suppose God would like us to do? (Field an idea or two) Stopping for a quick, even silent blessing, can Redirect us back to remembering the real truth about the food we are about eat ("Our food is God s gift to us ). Help turn us from complaining and rushing, into being grateful and open to really tasting the goodness of our food and of God. Especially when we re at home with family, or starting a meal or having a snack alone, that s a perfect time just to pause and say thanks. You can do it silently and secretly if you re in a public place or with people who aren t sharing the blessing with you. It s a good way to check back in with God and remember who and whose you are. See if they have one they already know & want to share. Departing Prayer/Blessing: (from Psalm 146 selected verses) Everyone repeats one phrase after you : (or after another student with your older groups) The eyes of all look to you, The eyes of all look to you, And you give them their food in due season. And you give them their food in due season. You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. Every day I will bless you, and praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will bless you, and praise your name for ever and ever. Amen. Amen. Distribute the prayers (table blessings) for them to add to the box this week. 19

20 Prayers for Prayer Cards (to go in Prayer Boxes) & Prayer Bead Decoder Card Breath Prayers: Easy as breathing. Inhale, think of breathing in God s spirit, and all that is God for you. Exhale, breath out whatever is standing between you and God. Words for your breath prayer you can repeat a few times (As you inhale):holy God, (As you exhale):thank you for loving me. OR (As you inhale):jesus, (As you exhale):stay close to me. Side 1 Do not worry about anything; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Side 2: Don t worry about anything. Instead, Talk to God about everything, starting with thanks. And God will guard your heart and your mind, In Christ Jesus. You are the light of the world Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14a,16 Table Blessing: Lord Jesus be our holy guest, Our morning joy, our evening rest. 20

21 And with our daily food impart, Your love and peace to every heart. Amen. Table Blessing: We thank you Lord for happy hearts, For rain and sunny weather. We thank you Lord for this our food, And that we are together. Amen. Table Blessing: Thank you for the food we eat. Thank you for the world so sweet. Thank you for the birds that sing. Thank you God, for everything. Amen. Prayer Bead Decoder: White: Praise & Thanks for Father, Son, Holy Spirit Thank you for Purple: Sorry please forgive me for ; help me to forgive Yellow: family May name be at peace (each one in your family) Red: friends May name be at peace (each of your friends) Orange: Others we don t know who are in need, here & all over the globe Green: The earth Help us to be good stewards of your beautiful earth Blue: You!..God, help me with As you touch each bead, offer that name, situation in prayer to God for thanks, or help, healing, or peace, lingering wherever you want to, as the beads are moved from one end of the strings to another. 21

22 GPS SUNDAY SHEPHERD PROMPT SHEET (Discussion in break-out groups by Sunday School class) GPS Sunday : Rotation: Hi God: Unbinding Your Heart through Prayer Text: Several Speaker: 1. What was one thing you just heard our speaker,, talk about? (Be ready to say one thing YOU heard her say, that might spark their response). 2. When do you like to pray the most? (Start by sharing your answer). 3. OPTIONAL, If time: When is it hardest to pray? 4. Which way of praying that you learned during this unit, do you especially like and why? (Breath Prayers, Prayer Beads, Bedtime prayers, Meal Blessings, Careful listening) Closing Blessing: We ll ask one of our older students to lead this: May the peace of God Which surpasses understanding Guard your hearts and your minds In Christ Jesus. Amen. May the peace of God Which surpasses understanding Guard your hearts and your minds In Christ Jesus. Amen. 22

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