Preparation

Before the lesson photocopy necessary number of Recipe sheets. Write Lord's Prayer on board or large sheet of paper. Keep concealed from children until later in lesson. Read Revelation 21:9-27

Lesson

Revise with children Jesus' practice of and teaching about prayer. Yet despite his example and teaching, the disciples still asked him, "Teach us how to pray." Do any of the children know how Jesus responded to this request. He gave them a prayer. Can any of the children recite it? It begins "Our Father, who art in Heaven..."

Once prayer has been recited, display on board. Ask children to tell you the meaning of certain sections such as 'Thy will be done...'. In all likelihood, they will not know. Inform them therefore that the Lord's Prayer isn't just a prayer to be recited. It is also a recipe for composing prayers of their own.

Use recipe to compose a class version of the Lord's Prayer. Encourage the children to be respectful and to use as few words as possible as these were two more of Jesus' teaching about prayer.

Following this exercise the children could do either or both of the following tasks.

1. Write personal version using recipe
2. Copy class version into RE books / files.

Once volunteers have shared their versions of the prayer with the rest of the class begin the process of relating the recipe to the original.

Saying hello / Our Father

Remind children that the actual word Jesus used was Abba which means Dada. Christians try to think of God as their Heavenly Daddy.

Praise / Hallowed by thy Name

Christians believe that God doesn't need praise but like little children they can't help telling their Daddy (and everyone else) how wonderful He is.

Future of the world / Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.

What do the children believe are the worst problems in the world today? List them. What are the children's wishes for the future of the world? What do they think of the following as a description of the world in the future?

A place where there is no death or mourning or crying or pain.

This is a description of God's Kingdom as it appeared in a dream to John the Evangelist. It is the place to which Christians believe they are going when either they die or when Jesus returns.

In the book of Revelation, John describes the Kingdom of God as a city.

Take children on a guided tour of the New Jerusalem. Read Revelation 21:9-27.

Jesus said that in life there will never be an end to all suffering. However, ask children either in groups or as individuals to think of ways in which they could help end some of the deaths, mourning, crying and pain in the world today.

They could start with the pain they cause and think outwards.

Notes

John's description of the New Jerusalem has been the inspiration for some astonishing works of art. Perhaps the children in your class could try producing some of their own, using appropriate materials.