The I AM Lord s Prayer Sunday Service Children s Story Materials: Online video clip, Prayer Pictures of Jesus praying Picture of Moses and burning bush Copies of I AM Lord s Prayer Preparations: Because online videos often take a few minutes to download, play the related video before the story begins to ensure that it will be ready when needed. Prepare any necessary materials. Invite children up to steps of altar. Reader of story sits in a chair with children sitting on floor in front of her. Include children s story, even if there are no children in your congregation, to welcome families who may come to the service. You can add your own creativity to the stories. You may feel comfortable using puppets, props or presenting them just as they are written. Feel free to adjust the content to fit your time frame. However, for the spiritual development of the child, we encourage keeping as much of the Ascended Master s Teachings as possible. Good morning and welcome. Today our story is about praying, How many of you pray? What kinds of prayers do you give? (Allow children to answer.) Before eating, bedtime prayers, when we need help, etc. Here are some pictures of Jesus praying. (Show pictures.) Why do you think that people often kneel while praying? (Allow children to 1
answer.) It could be for several reasons. We can kneel to express our honor and respect for God. We can kneel before God to implore his aid. Kneeling shows a humbleness of spirit. Right now Christians are recognizing the church season of lent. This is a period of forty days leading up to Easter, where many people fast and pray, asking for forgiveness. But did you know that many people during the time of Jesus did not know how to pray? It s true. Our story today is about a special prayer that Jesus gave to all of us. Do you have any idea of what prayer that is? (Allow children to answer.) How to Pray Many of the people who listened to Jesus teach did not know how to pray. Some of them had never prayed in all their lives. Of course, this was the cause of their sorrows and worries. Jesus knew that and tried to get them to think of God as their friend and to talk to Him as to one who loved them and was interested in their life. Jesus prayed much himself. Sometimes he would spend a whole night in prayer, talking with his heavenly Father and seeking help for the great work he had come to earth to do. Once when Jesus looked up from praying, he found some of his disciples standing by, watching him. They had been listening to his simple, beautiful words as he talked with his Father, and they wished they could pray like that. Lord, teach us to pray, they said. And Jesus was pleased. 2
First of all, he said, do not pray just so other people will think that you are good and pious. Long, loud prayers in public to be seen by men aren t prayers at all. When you pray, he said, go into your room and shut the door. Prayer is something very private, just between you and God. Just talk as you would to a friend. Then he taught them the prayer that has become known to millions upon millions of people all over the world as the Lord s Prayer. In our church we include the name of God, I AM, in the prayer. This is the name that God gave to Moses when He appeared to Moses in the burning bush. Here is a picture of what that might have looked like. (Show picture.) God told Moses, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses said to God, Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, What is his name? Then what shall I tell them? God said to Moses, I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you. This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation. When we add the name of God I AM to our prayer, we are saying that we accept that God lives in our temple and all that we have commanded has come into being. When we say, I AM, we are saying, God in me is. When we are one with God, there is no separation 3
between him and us. Let s hear what our beloved Guru Ma says about the name I AM. (Play online video.) Let s say the I AM Lord s Prayer together. (Hand out prayer and recite together.) I AM Lord s Prayer by Jesus the Christ Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, I AM. I AM thy Kingdom come I AM thy Will being done I AM on earth even as I AM in heaven I AM giving this day daily bread to all I AM forgiving all Life this day even as I AM also all Life forgiving me I AM leading all men away from temptation I AM delivering all men from every evil condition I AM the Kingdom I AM the Power and I AM the Glory of God in eternal, immortal Manifestation All this I AM. This is an important prayer to say often. We are confirming that the I AM in us is doing all the things names. Do you think that angels pray? Well, they do. Here is what the Listening Angel said, Tender hearts, I would share with you my prayer. It is very simple, yet universal. I pray for a sacred fire to burn within every heart of God in the Matter cosmos. 4
And did you know that there are angels who specifically answer prayers of children? There are. Here is a short story from a young girl who used to go to Montessori International, a school that was a part of our church. She gave a different type of prayer called a fiat. A fiat is a short command to an Archangel, master or our I AM Presence, for immediate action. My Guardian Angel Helped Me A True Story It was a sunny day in springtime and I was riding my bike on a hill. I was only four years old and I could not get up the hill. I didn't realize it at first, but I started rolling backwards. Soon I was rolling faster and faster, and I was scared. So I said, Archangel Michael, help me! And soon I felt my bike stop. I looked behind me and I did not see anything at first. And then I saw that it was my guardian angel who had stopped me. My guardian angel was very tall and she had curly hair. She had a pink, yellow and blue shirt and her skirt was white. Her huge wings were also white and she had a very bright yellow halo. I am glad that my guardian angel was there to help me. Have you ever called to Archangel Michael or your guardian angel to help you? (Allow children to answer.) Now, have you ever prayed and felt that your prayers were not answered? (Allow children to answer.) Well, God does answer all our prayers according to God s will and what s best for us. The answer may not be what we want it to be, but it is what we need. Here is a sweet 5
story that shows this point. The father in this story represents our Father in heaven. God Answers Our Prayers It was Saturday morning and father was home. He had brought some work from the office to complete and went into the study to be alone. Soon his little daughter came into the room crying. Daddy, someone broke my new doll. Her father said, Don t worry, honey, I will fix it for you. Thank you, Daddy, she said as she planted a kiss on his cheek. Then she ran happily back to play. Next his young son came in. Dad, could you give me some money to buy a new model boat to take sailing with his friends? Son, the allowance I gave you two days ago is for such things. His son agreed and thanked his dad. His teenage daughter came in next. Oh, daddy, I m going to the school dance and I REALLY need a new dress for it. The father said, Yes, you can buy a dress but you ll have to wait. What I want you to do is save as much as you can yourself and I will supply the remaining amount. The daughter was delighted and left to call and tell her friend. His teenage son interrupted the father next. Dad, I need some help with my math homework. His father gave him some suggestions, but did not work the problem for him. A few minutes later, his son returned to say, Thank you for the idea you gave me. 6
It worked! Finally, the youngest child came in. His father looked down at the boy and asked kindly, What do you want, son? I don t want anything, the little boy answered as he reached up and put his arms around his father s neck and kissed him. I just wanted to be with you. Did the father take time to listen to all his children? Were all the children s requests answered? (Allow children to answer.) Yes, and in different ways, depending on the child s need. This is how God answers our prayers, according to our needs. What did the youngest child ask for? (Allow children to answer.) Right, nothing. He just wanted to give his father a hug. Can we pray just to show God our gratitude and love for Him? Yes, it s actually an important prayer and one that we should give often. CONCLUSION: Let s remember to say our prayers each day for ourselves, for others and for our country. You can put this copy of the I AM Lord s Prayer on your altar to remind you to say it and your other prayers. Thank you for sharing in our story. Have a wonderful day. 7
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I AM Lord s Prayer by Jesus the Christ Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, I AM. I AM thy Kingdom come I AM thy Will being done I AM on earth even as I AM in heaven I AM giving this day daily bread to all I AM forgiving all Life this day even as I AM also all Life forgiving me I AM leading all men away from temptation I AM delivering all men from every evil condition I AM the Kingdom I AM the Power and I AM the Glory of God in eternal, immortal Manifestation All this I AM. 12