I helped with children’s Sunday school last Sunday.  Since worship and education run concurrently, that meant skipping out of the worship service itself.  Being an associate with only minimal responsibilities in morning worship, I can easily do this.  I understand parents who want to worship while their children are in church school — there are advantages to this way of doing things, but one of the drawbacks of the arrangement is that the children see the pastor less often.  I think they need to, so I show up from time to time to assist the teachers.

Lately the children have been learning about the Lord’s Prayer.  Twenty of them sat in rows of blue chairs, singing a song about the Fruit of the Spirit.  They walked over to the sanctuary and performed the song and returned to class.  Then it was my turn.  I brought a newspaper with me and asked the children if they knew the 5 Ws — reporter questions journalists use when they write stories.  Who, what, where, when and why.  Two children on the left knew the answer.  So we used those five question words to talk about the who, what, where, when and why of praying.

Who can pray?  (Anyone, not just ministers or parents.)  What do we pray?  (Thanks, help, the Lord’s prayer.)  Where do we pray?  (Anywhere, in a secret place.)  When do we pray?  (Anytime, morning and evening, when someone we know is sick.)  Why do we pray?  (God loves us and wants us to bring our needs to him.)

With their teacher’s direction, the children showed me hand motions they’ve been learning as they memorize the Lord’s prayer:  Our Father (hands together in prayer), who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name (finger pointing to the sky), thy kingdom come, thy will be done (hands over head making a castle), on earth (point down) as it is in heaven (point up).  Give us this day our daily bread (pretend you are feeding yourself).  Forgive us our trespasses (fighting motions) as we forgive those who trespass against us (shake hands or hug).  Lead us not into temptation (finger on forehead, thinking) but deliver us from evil (make protective circle with other children).  For thine is the kingdom (castle again) and the power (hold up bodybuilder arms) and the glory forever (thumbs and index fingers together in heart shape).  Amen.

I shared with them my own version of the Lord’s prayer, the way I pray it when I’m just myself… not the minister.  I say, “Loving Father, may your name be praised, and may your kingdom come.  Take care of my needs today.  Forgive my failings, as I forgive those who fail me.  Save me from trials and temptations.  Free me from evil.  And fill me with your Spirit.  Amen.” I end with a request for the Spirit because Jesus ends his teaching on prayer in Luke by saying God will give the Spirit to those who ask (11.13).  So I ask.

At the end of the class, the teacher led the children in a game.  They had to ask for forgiveness and then hop, step or twirl forward.  It reminded them about “forgive us our trespasses” and gave them a chance to move.  Children need to wiggle a lot.  I played the game with them and left the class with a smile on my face.  I’m one of God’s kids.