Introduction

Contents

1. Prayer in RE
2. What is Prayer
3. Prayer Diagram
4. Prayer 1
5. Prayer 2
6. The Right Way to Pray (Sketch)
7. Prayer in Different Faiths

 

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Prayer in RE

Teaching about prayer is certainly not easy as it is such a complex subject, but it is vital to an understanding of religious faith and practice and thus to good RE for a variety of reasons:

• It is central to worship (Cambridgeshire: SWO2, JWO2, IWO1&2, HWO2, BWO2, CWO1 &4, Norfolk: Organising Concept - "Practices")
• It reflects the believer's understanding of God
• It expresses common human emotions and needs

 

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What is prayer?

The concept of prayer will not be totally alien to most children. It will be a part of their vocabulary, but usually it will be understood in a secular sense in that the implications about the nature of God have not been considered, and it is often only understood in the limited sense of 'asking'.

Obviously, a consideration of the numerous answers to this question are not appropriate in the classroom. ( I have included the definitions over the page for you rather than them!) But it is very important that pupils should be aware of the main features of prayer if they are to understand its significance to a believer and if they are to develop a more sophisticated view of God than simply as a Mr Fix-it.

• Prayer is a way of communication between man and a reality beyond man.
• It can take many forms (eg adoration, thanksgiving, confession, meditation)
• It can cover the whole range of human emotions. (eg anger, despair, hope, peace)
• It can reflect the whole range of human relationships in a person's relationship to that reality. (eg love, fear, submission)
• It can be personal or corporate
• It can be liturgical or spontaneous

In the classroom, as ever, it is important to start where the children are, so a brainstorming session is a good place to begin. The question, 'What is prayer?' is too difficult, but answers to the question, "When do people pray?' is much easier and will actually, if discussed thoughtfully, yield various definitions of prayer. For example, if the children say that people pray when they are ill, then it would be appropriate to discuss whether they believe that they will be made better (so is prayer a request that expects an answer?) or whether they are simply seeking comfort (so is prayer just a way of feeling close to God?)

A dramatic sketch like the one over the page can be a very good way to broaden pupils' understanding of the nature of prayer and to dispel some of their likely preconceptions. Prayer is obviously experiential and drama allows pupils to appreciate this in a non-confessional way. It also emphasises the possible gulf between words and inner feelings, which is central to an understanding of prayer. Any drama obviously needs to be followed up with careful discussion to draw out its significance.

A discussion about the varying ways in which we communicate with each other would also be a good starting-point and would give valuable opportunities for PSHE. [eg - What kind of relationship is it if one person is always giving and one always taking? Is there anyone with whom you would feel comfortable just sitting in silence? Do words sometimes get in the way of a relationship? How important is listening?]

 

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Prayer diagram

Prayer opens up channels between people's minds in order to let new hope and strength flow through		Prayer is the place where we are madewhole again. Through prayer we become centred in God, and are restored to the meaning, simpliticty and coherence of our own being.
Prayer is to be with God		Prayer is an expression of anger, hope, despair, desire penitence
Prayer is yearning, beseeching, beholding
Prayer sets in motion some action which gives us answers to our problems from our subconcious mind		Prayer is the way that enables us to communicate with the unseen reality which is the ground of the universe

 

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Prayer is like watching for the Kingfisher.

All you can do is
Be where he is likely to appear, and
Wait.
Often, nothing much happens:
There is space, silence and
Expectancy.
No visible sign, only the
Knowledge that he's been there
And may come again.
Seeing or not seeing cease to matter.
You have been prepared.
But when you've almost stopped
Expecting it, a flash of brightness
Gives encouragement.
Ann Lewin

 

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Grant, O Lord,

that when I come to you in prayer,
it may be in stillness of mind,
with my attention fixed on you alone,
opening my inmost self to your incoming,
finding you in the depths of my being,
where symbols and images,
thoughts and words,
are no longer needed,
in loving communion with you,
my creator,
my saviour,
my ever welcome Lord.
George Appleton

 

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The Right Way to Pray

This short but telling sketch by Annette Lowe should enliven any teaching
on prayer. For an all-age service or event, it would be best if the child-like person is actually played by a child

A desk and chair are seen at the front on the left at an angle to those watching .The Lord sits at the desk and the petitioners come from the right side, and leave by the left.

Characters: The Lord Housewife Formal Person Humble Person List Person Child-like Person	Props: Table Chair Telephone

Introduction:
This is the office of the Lord of the universe. As you may imagine, it is a busy place - always things to do, decisions to make. But the Lord always has time to see anyone who wants to talk with him. Sounds great. But there are several problems. Watch...
(The Lord picks up the phone on the desk.)

Lord:
Send in the first one, please.
(Enter a housewife pushing a push-chair. She sits on a chair.)

Housewife:
Thank you for the world so sweet, thank you for the food we eat; thank you for the birds that sing, thank you sir for everything.
(She gets up and walks out ignoring the Lord.)

Lord:
Err... oh dear! Next, please.
(A very serious and formal person who remains standing.)

Formal person:
O thou mighty and omnipotent, incline thine ear to thy most humble citizen, and grant that thy many entities may be manifoldly endowed upon the fruitful plain...

Lord:
Excuse me, but what...

Formal person:
And may thou dost harkeneth whatly didst shalt ever more twain asunder...

Lord:
I don't understand!

Formal person:
Aaaaaamen.
(He or she leaves.)

Lord:
(Sighing.) Next.
(A very timorous person enters bowing. and crawling.)

Lord:
Please, get up...

Humble person:
I am but a disgusting piece of filth in Your sight. No! Not even that. I shouldn't even be here. Any minute now you might want to bast me from the earth.

Lord:
I want to talk to you ...

Humble person:
Forgive me. I'm so sorry, so sorry, so very sorry.
(He or she leaves, abjectly)

Lord:
Please stay and talk ... oh! (Sighing) Next!
(A person enters with a list from which they never look up.)

Lord:
Hello...

List person:
I want a car, and not one that breaks down all the time, but a reliable one.

Lord:
You know, there's something I wanted you to do for me. Your neighbour is really lonely ...

List person:
Oh yes! And I've lost my best pair of shoes - can't find them anywhere and I need them for that interview. I know you can do all this. Goodbye.

Lord:
Is there anyone else?

Child-like person:
(Stands at the door.) Are you really the Lord of the universe?

Lord:
(Smiling.) I really am.
(They shake hands and the child-like person sits smiling.)

(There is quite a long pause.)

Lord:
Don't you want to ask, or recite anything?

Child-like person:
Well, there is something I'd like to say...

Lord:
Yes?

Child-like person:
Thank you for inviting me... that's all.
(The Lord smiles, then stands and invites the child-like person to go off with him. They, move off, talking).

This sketch is based on the story "Hailing the Chief" by John Duckworth.. "Joan 'n' the whale" Mo~~~~ Publications 1987

 

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Prayer in Different Faiths

There are many excellent books which give information about how and when and where the members of a faith community pray. The following table is therefore intended to serve as a simple overview which may indicate some possible thematic material. It inevitably involves generalisations!

	Christ-ianity
Time		Any Services Festivals
Place		Anywhere Church Home
Position		Kneel, bowed head, hands together or raised, facing Altar
Artefacts		Candles rosary beads statues of saints and Virgin Mary crucifix incense
Corporate		Sunday services The Eucharist is the central service and is eaten in fellowship
Personal		Grace bedtime prayers
Liturgical		Both set and spontaneous Depending on denomination Prayer Book
	Juda-ism
Time		Any 3 times a day
Place		Anywhere Synagogue Home
Position		Standing or sitting on chairs facing the Ark
Artefacts		Tallit Tefillin mezuzah kippah
Corporate		Shabbat services Presence of Torah and preserves Jewish identity
Personal		Shabbat Festivals Mezuzah Blessings
Liturgical		Mostly set prayers to preserve traditions Siddur-prayer book
	Islam
Time		Any Five times a day (salah)
Place		Any clean place facing Mecca Mosque Home
Position		Set prayer positions (rakah) facing Mecca
Artefacts		Prayer mat qiblah compass Subha (prayer beads)
Corporate		Friday services Importance of the unity of Muslims
Personal		The 'cry of the heart' (du'a) For women, salat is often private devotion
Liturgical		Set prayers to accompany prayer positions Taken from the Qur'an
	Hindu-ism
Time		Any Services Festivals
Place		Anywhere Mandir Home shrine
Position		Sitting on floor Prostration Before murtis Arti
Artefacts		Murtis Incense Mala (prayer beads)
Corporate		Can be any day; in Britain Sunday and weekday evening In presence of sacred fire
Personal		Prayers at home shrines, similar to those in the mandir meditation
Liturgical		Set prayers are part of puja (worship)
	Sikh-ism
Time		Any Morning and evening Services Festivals
Place		Anywhere Gurdwara Home
Position		Sitting on floor Kneeling Prostration Facing the Guru Granth
Artefacts		Mala (prayer beads)
Corporate		In Britain on Sunday and weekday evenings Members of the worldwide Sikh brotherhood, the Panth
Personal		Prayers in morning and evening, meditation using mala
Liturgical		Set prayers are part of puja (worship) There is one set prayer (the Ardas) at the end of the act of worship, which is very informal Gutka-prayer book
	Buddh-ism
Time		Any Services Festivals
Place		Anywhere Temple Home shrine
Position		Sitting in lotus position no movement mudras
Artefacts		Prayer wheel Prayer flags Singing bowl Buddha rupa
Corporate		Not obligatory Some meet for communal prayer at festivals
Personal		Meditation Devotion before the Buddha rupa
Liturgical		This varies but some set prayers In Mahayana Buddhism, seven-fold structure to prayer