Power of Prayer

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this lesson is for kindergartners to connect prayer to times of fear, insecurity, and fear, as well as joy. Also to realize that through prayer, God can do impossible things for us.

INTRODUCTION - 10 Minutes

Start by singing "To Whom shall I Go?" and discuss what the song means to them. Can we pray when we are in trouble? When we are happy? Another name for happy prayers is Praises.

Another option is to sing select verses from the Saturday Psali to emphasize the repetition of our Lord Jesus' name as a source of blessings and peace.

Saturday Psali

Remembering Your holy name, brings joy to souls, O my Lord Jesus Christ, my good Savior.
Everyone blesses You, the heavenly and the earthly, O my Lord Jesus Christ, my good Savior.
Seven times everyday, I will praise Your holy name, O my Lord Jesus Christ, my good Savior.
With delight we praise You, all of us Your people, O my Lord Jesus Christ, my good Savior.
Your name is blessed and sweet, in the mouths of Your saints, O my Lord Jesus Christ, my good Savior.
My mouth praises You, and my tongue glorifies You, O my Lord Jesus Christ, my good Savior.
Receive our prayers, we who are sinners, O my Lord Jesus Christ, my good Savior.
Grant us Your true peace, and forgive us our sins, O my Lord Jesus Christ, my good Savior.

To Whom Shall I Go?

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Memory Verse
"I will praise God with my words all day long; In God I hope; I will not be afraid." Psalm 55:4

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 15 Minutes

"But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed." Acts 16:25-26

These verses illustrate to the kindergarteners that even though Saint Paul and Saint Silas were in a bad situation they were still praying to our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord answered their prayers in an amazing way and rescued them from the prison and their chains. Guide them to make connections of troubles in their own lives where they can reach out to God in prayer.

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." James 5:13-16

Prayer is powerful The Holy Bible tells us that the prayer of the righteous are both powerful and effective. Effective means it can cause change. So if we pray when we are sad, our prayers will reach God and He will lift us up. If we pray when we are in trouble or sick, our prayers will reach God and He will bring everything that is right for us.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes

Ask the kids their thoughts and reflections based on what they just read from the Bible. Ask them if they remember any Saints that went through trouble and prayer changed things for them. Daniel and the Lions Den would be a great example to get the discussion going.

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Option One: Create Prayer Wreath together as a class

Materials:

Safety scissors
Construction paper
Crayons
Paper plates
Glue

Allow each child to trace their hand and cut it out. On each cut-out, guide the children to write down a time when God has answered a prayer. These examples could be from the Bible, Saint stories, or personal, as long as they're thinking about the power available to us when we pray.

Cut out the center of the paper plates and glue the hands in a circle around the perimeter, about six or seven per plate depending on how well they fit. The completed group crafts should express the power of prayer and can be hung up in the classroom.

Option Two: Coloring page of Saint Paul and Saint Silas

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Continue to set up prayer routines during your child's day and pray with them. Remember to pray with them when they get hurt or scared. Remind your child how much the Lord loves them and waits to hear their beautiful voices all day. If you have holy oil that you've received as a blessing. Keep the oil in an accessible place, when your child complains of any aches or pain or sickness, show them a picture of the saint that the oil has been blessed by. If there is more than one vial, ask the child to choose one and stand before the icon of the saint and ask them for their prayers and help in healing your child. Then anoint the affected area on your child. You can also place a hand cross in each bed of your children and if they have a hard time sleeping or if they are ever scared, teach them to hold the cross and pray and God will protect them, like He did St. Anthony and all His saints.