Foreword Praying Together With Children 2025 is a daily prayer resource designed to help teachers, parents and catechists to lead prayer with a class or family. The electronic flipbook version of this book, which is designed to be viewed on screens or electronic whiteboards can be accessed here: https://www.liturgybrisbane.net.au/liturgybrisbane/PrayingTogether/PTWC2025KtPwl4MRk The structure of the prayer for each weekday is the same, so that prayer time may become a familiar routine with a predictable flow. Friday scripture readings are taken from the gospel for the following Sunday. Each page also features a cross aligned with the colour of the liturgical season or day. You may choose to begin each daily prayer session with the lighting of a candle and/or the sounding of a bell or chime to signal the start of prayer. Over time, young people begin to associate the sound of the bell or chime with a quietness of mind and heart and are able to enter into the prayer experience more readily. Similarly, at the conclusion of the prayer, the bell or chime might again be sounded and the candle extinguished. Following the opening prayer and short Scripture reading, there is a response to the reading that takes a variety of forms including short video clip, guided meditation, drama experience, short class discussion or action song. Many of these reflection activities draw on areas of social/emotional wellbeing, friendship, mission and justice, and compassion. These help to deepen the children’s engagement with the scripture reading and may provoke further discussion. The electronic flipbook version of Praying Together is designed to be projected onto a screen for children to follow along with the texts, and even lead the prayer liturgy. Clicking on the relevant hyperlink allows easy viewing of the multimedia reflection activities. The section of the prayer which includes a multimedia component is signalled with a video camera symbol. Praying Together with Children aligns with many areas of religious education curriculum, including liturgy, prayer and spirituality, religious knowing, sacred texts, mission and justice, profession of faith, and moral formation. You are welcome to use the daily liturgies in part or in full, depending on available time and logistics within your space. Teachers may choose to use the reflection activities separately to the prayer liturgy, as many of them could be integrated into curriculum content and other teachable moments. Tips for Praying with Children Set up a simple prayer table with a candle, bible, this prayer book, and perhaps some items from nature to suit the liturgical season. For example, during Easter, some yellow flowers might be placed on the table. Treat items on the prayer table with reverence and encourage children to do the same. Spend time teaching young people to observe sacred silence. Also spend some time talking with children about prayer as a conversation with God. Teach children that there are many ways and places to pray. Some people pray when they are in the garden, some people pray when they sing, some might say a prayer like the ‘Our Father’, while some people prefer to sit in silence to pray. As part of classroom prayer, children may wish to say thank you to God, ask for help with something, praise God for creation, or ask God’s blessing on someone they know who is sick. Children might like to pray these prayers aloud, or in their hearts.
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