I'm no Sunday School teacher but I did graduate it and have the 5 stars on my wall to prove it. 

Wouldn't it be a perfect opportunity to get the kids questioning... why we honour God, what His Kingdom to come is, how His will and ours got separated, who is responsible for true creation in the world and what of true value we receive of it and feed to others, to understand what forgiveness is, what temptation is, what is evil of this world we need delivering from and why we create it, and of course why God's Kingdom and King are superior to anything mankind comes up with??

Better now for them to ponder these things than to later do so and see the hypocrisy, turning themselves off to religion, rather than understanding the ways of man are not the ways of God and how we need to see both sides.

What is the intent? to help them learn it? to understand why we say it? to question the language and understand other way of saying it.

Grade 2 to 5 in your class?

Yes good idea somegal-when I was in elementary school we said the Lord's Prayer every day and sang either Oh Canada or God Save the Queen.

All my kids did sunday school sessions focused on the Lord's Prayer and  it was said before they left.

Why/ To understand meaning-It's a great start for a unit on how to pray

You can look at the many variations

VST just ran a course-a weeknd plus paper on the Lord's Prayer.

All of the above. I'll be starting with simply understanding the language and why we say the prayer. Eventually I'd like to include other ways to say it - and maybe have the children come up with their own prayer that is based on it.

Yes - my group stretches from Grades 2 - 5. The children in my group are quite an interesting group and like to explore the stories of the Bible in a variety of ways - and love to talk about God.

Any suggestions for activities would be especially welcome! My group is an artistic lot.

I found that saying it with the children and the congregation responsively helped them all because it slowed them down to think about it. You know how most say it Our father, yada,yada,yada. Amen.

That bolded part is hilarious. Yeah, get to them early before they can think for themselves.

Still, if you get a bright kid, you can't adequately answer his or her primary questions about how you know so much about this God, including how you know this God exists. Kids don't live in an information bubble any more, and some of them can sniff out frauds waaay before you expect them to be able to. Now or later, they'll see right through you.

Actually if you weren't so quick to criticize, you would see I said to get them thinking early, not accept without question. I had a Sunday School teacher when I was around age 8-9, who did just that with the class and we for the most part started off on quite an amazing spiritual journey over the years, one that lead to God and not just to blind faith

My advice is that you take it slowly and explain to them thought by thought what the prayer historically meant, and what it means for them living as children in our contemporary society. That can be done simply enough.

Somegal, grade 5's are my favourite age due to their questioning, growing into their own space.

I like the idea of art.  Posters on the Lord's Prayer, either ways of doing it, or scenes from it, or what it calls them to ....or focus on one word...

For the older teach them that the english is a translation and for the younger, maybe play a game of the telelphone game. Between them they will understand that the prayer has changed from the beginning, but it is one that we say together, and give support to each other with.  Maybe  play them the youtube video of it in their original aramaic...

.Through the weeks, take it apart a line at a time and listen to what they think it means, like poetry.  remind them this is our english translation...and maybe you can introduce snippets of the original at the same time...

You have to get to them early. You have to plant this idea of a God before they can question your logic or your motives. You're in a race against time to save to future of your belief system, and your post acknowledged that. That's what made it funny.

Hey, good luck to you. May all the children in your charge be simple and easily led.

What is it about getting them to question which requires thought and not mindless repetition that you don't get?. When a child thinks for themselves they become truly educated and there is no room for brainwashing or being easily lead.

Except for belief in God. You need that in their heads before they learn to question and analyze the answers.

Belief in God, no. The concept of God, of course. But free thinking allows for other concepts also. And finding or rejecting God is a lifetime process.

If explaining the Lord's Prayer means indoctrinating them into believing in the separate, supernatural Zeus type sky god, then I'd say no, we shouldn't do that to children. But telling them that the "father" in the Lord's Prayer is a metaphor for the creative power or force of the universe is okay.

As far as "thy will be done" and "thy kingdom come" is concerned, I would refer to the teachings of Jesus. About Jesus I would say that he was a divinely inspired teacher but otherwise an ordinary man, and that his saying "I and the father are one" alludes to the fact that he felt the creative power of the universe in him, and that this power is omnipresent and also in us, and that accessing the creative power, in prayer and meditation, and using it wisely, for the benefit of all of creation, is fulfilling God's will and creating God's kingdom on Earth.

Many, many people find God all by themselves (or God finds them), whether they have atheist parents, no formal training, well adjusted lives and not so well adjusted lives, etc....

I have even heard you say that would like your children to read the Bible in order to have an informed choice.

You might ask your minister to consider teaching a choral version or other version of the Lord's Prayer so that it is not just new for the youth....encourage conersation amongst adults and children alike.

I think it would be nice to point out that this was a "blueprint" from Jesus on how to pray and a good example of what to say.

This to me would be a very good opportunity to help children develop their own styles by asking what they would like to say to God and how they would say it. How to deal with "unanswered prayers". How to know if God is listening or what prayer is for. How to pray for others and WITH others, etc.....

Somegal : I so admire you. Its like everything you touch turns to gold.
The kids are so very lucky to have you!
Here's some ideas gathered from the net.
Note: I might explain ... "Our
Father who is in heaven and everywhere " ....:) to get away from a man daddy in the sky.

Here's how the Jewish people explain it in part for your interest:
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10112-lord-s-prayer-the

I think I like this one....tying ribbons together....

http://childrensministry.com/articles/ribbon-prayer

props. to use

http://www.freshexpressions.org.uk/guide/worship/prayer-children

http://www.dltk-bible.com/jesus/lords_prayer-index.htm

coloring pages
http://www.coloring.ws/prayer.htm

Ask some questions

Here's some questions you could ask your children in response to the Lords Prayer coloring sheets:-

1. "Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven".

What would you like to ask God to do? For example, do you have a friend who is ill, who we could pray will get better? Depending on the age of the children, you could ask them if they have seen God answer any prayers.

2. "Give us today our daily bread"

Do you thank God for your lunch? Which foods are your favourite ones? Which ones would you most like to thank God for?

3. "Forgive us our sins"

http://www.lords-prayer-words.com/children_lord_teach_child.html

Do we remember to say sorry when we've done something wrong? Did we say sorry to God?

More advanced info. on the prayer for you:

http://www.lords-prayer-words.com/meaning_commentary_matthew_henry_2.html

This is too cute...!

There are a variety of interesting ideas suggested here & I'm sure you'll come up with an amazing learning opportunity for the kids somegal. 

A few years ago, our kids of approx that age learned signs to go with the prayer ... kids like moving around as a means of expression & I still see many of them doing the signs when the prayer is sung during our service.   I think they approached it line by line - with discussion about the words, intent, and actions chosen.

We do include the Lord's prayer at the end of the opening prayer, so the kids are still in the main sanctuary. 

Carolla, signing is a great idea

Carolla, that is a great suggestion. I had a group of kids do Walk With Me (VU) . We talked and then they decided what actions to use.It was great and they really knew what it meant.

Thanks for the great input everyone! I started the program today. Yesterday when I was out shopping, I went into a christian book shop and found a very simple Lord's Prayer poster - basically the words written in calligraphy, with the image of a cross on the page. I photocopied it and then put the original up on our bulletin board. I handed the photocopies to the children. In a mix-up today, due in large part to the fact that one of our ministers was not there, the remaining minister forgot to do the Lord's Prayer before the children left. When I handed the children the papers, I asked if the words looked familiar and what they thought it was. They said, "oh - it's the Jesus prayer!" I had them read it out loud with me. I then went through the first couple of lines with them - picking out words that might be difficult to understand. I was honesty with them about my difficulties with the word "Father," and they came up with some alternate, gender-less words that could be used instead. I then asked them to read the prayer again - silently, this time - and pick out their favourite part. I had them write that on a piece of paper and draw some pictures to go with it. They each picked out the phrase "give us this day our daily bread." One boy said he chose it because, "it reminds me of communion." 

One thing I would love to do is include some alternate versions of the prayer in our conversations, eventually. Do any of you have any favourites? Mine comes from New Zealand:

"Eternal Spirit, Earthmaker, Pain bearer, Life giver, Source of all that shall be.  Father and Mother of us all.  Loving God, in whom is heaven; May the hallowing of your name echo through the Universe!  May the way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!  May your heavenly will be done by all created beings!  May your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and may it come on earth.

With the bread that we need for today, feed us. In the hurts that we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love.  Now and forever, now and forevermore.  Amen. "

ps...i always use creator instead of Father.  It has the same rhythm, sound, doesn't disturb folks, but works for me

Pinga - I also often use that word, and it is one of the ones that the kids came up with today too. They also suggested simply using the word "God."

Hi somegal, thank you helping the children learn, understand and pray the Lord's Prayer.

One part of the prayer that seems to me to be important is that we obligate ourselves to forgive others (trad. "as we forgive those who sin [or trespass] against us”). This could even be read as a precondition for us to receive God's forgiveness. I have difficulty seeing that obligation in the "New Zealand" adaptation of the prayer.

Great ideas folks.....

Wow...I struck the jackpot - lots of our Father here. I like the kitchen prayer... its hilarious.

http://www.orucc.org/wp-content/uploads/Alternative-Lords-prayers.pdf

and more....:)

http://rainbowcathedral.wordpress.com/prayers/

Liberation Theology Version...I like it

http://shewhoseeks.blogspot.ca/2009/03/lords-prayer-liberation-theology....

third Goddess version - its nice too
http://shewhoseeks.blogspot.ca/2009/03/lords-prayer-third-goddess-versio...

Cockney version ...such fun....
http://shewhoseeks.blogspot.ca/2009/03/lords-prayer-cockney-version.html

ceiling cat version.....!!!
http://shewhoseeks.blogspot.ca/2009/03/lords-prayer-ceiling-cat-version....

Hey...I better quit before I get thrown off the bus.....

re versions of Lord's Prayer-check our Voices United as it has several versions in it!

if you don't have statistics, all you can fairly say is sombunall of people find g_d all by themselves...

and then, the concept of g_d is highly individual as what people are really saying is, in place of g_d, "blargle" and it is only when these people interact with others that they choose to recognize aspects of their belief in "blargle" in another's and they may then choose to go "we believe in g_d"...:3

you don't have to worry aboot the UCC in that regards, i guess, due to the falling numbers...kids are too schmart?  :3

(but, as you have written before, the UCC, as a moderate Christian denomination, probably is a good foil against the extremists...)

i wonder if there 'needs' to be a UCC Sunday School teachers union to get a better calibre of teacher?

http://www.rotation.org/displayForumTopic/content/295011598215980590  Is a link for Rotaion Sunday school. The theory behind Rotaion is that kids do each lesson once -teachers teach same lesson multiple time to each age

That said it does adapt well to multi age-it usually has a cooking/drama/arts and craft and maybe more different lessons.

Have fun! and sorry it's a copy and paste link!

also, chansen, consider:

I loved Sunday school as a kid. I sent my daughter I and went to church with her in the 70's. She came home so proud once because she had memorized all the books of the bible in order. There was an xmas concert I had to miss because I was working.  Her little Jewish friend used to go with her and liked it too.

When I was little about age 3 my aunt tells me I gave her a blessing...:). I used to mimic or play minister standing up on the counter in my grandpa's deserted  grocery store back in the 40's.

Long live Sunday School and  all the wonderful children and teachers.

Tabitha 

That's a really cool site. I've been reading it to feel young again while I wait for my surgeon appt. on Thursday.

Here's a bit of the highlights I liked:

Our older kids rewrote the Lord's Prayer last summer. They liked their version so well they actually made a painting to hang in their SS room. They have already requested we keep it and hang it in our Worship Workshop.

I do not remember all of it but it started: Our heavenly Dad we honor and praise your holy name. Help us bring your kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our "Onie" bread. (Onie is an elderly member of our church who makes wonderful bread for the bake sales. Everyone rushes to buy Onie Bread before it is all gone.) I was really struck when the children used Dad. I thought it was awesome. Others actually protested and tried to get the prayer removed from the wall. Anyway just an idea.

A Prayer Sandwich: I used this (in short form) for a children's message during worship to explain the "ingredients" of the perfect prayer (by "chef" Jesus). Go to: http://www.childrensermons.com/sermons/prayer.htm I could see it as a cooking workshop making a "hero" (Jesus, of course) sandwich!

I like the idea of using colors to help the kids remember the Lord's Prayer, especially when you tie it in with prayer beads or other art project but I would like to recommend that people be careful about associating white with God and black with sin. As the White mother of a Black child, I try to be careful not to make those kinds of associations which can unintentionally denigrate people of color. (Please note that I am certain no one intended to do so -- I'm simply suggesting that we be aware of possible negative symbolism.)

Prayer Actions here....its great!

http://www.worship.ca/docs/godkids3.html

g_dkids, makes me think of the Power Pack

Do it Hebrew one day and in Greek the next. I am ever so grateful my family taught me the words vagely remembering something along the line of  Its the most known of all things or all adults know this....so I learned about its meaning bit by bit ...still learning after 80 years ...and SO grateful that theology wasnt discussed...Having your children believe as you do, I feel somehow is wrong. Believing as you do I acknowledge your demur.