Prayer Kids
Prayer Kids Club Newsletter
PRAYER KIDS CLUB NEWSLETTER
September/October 2010
Hi Kids,
It is great to be posting this newsletter to keep you up to date with some notes and prayers for you to use over the next two months. Rosemary and Peter are travelling in October to Sydney, Australia, to catch up with folk there and we hope to bring back some prayers from young people to post on the next newsletter. Last year we were in Melbourne and met a neat group of kids. For this newsletter let’s think about when we might say some prayers.
Here is a ‘Note on Daily Prayer’ from our book Cool Prayers: Everyday prayers for young people.
Followers of Jesus Christ pray each day to remember God’s presence and power in their lives. Prayer on waking, and prayer before sleep, are always ways of framing the day as belonging to God, and of showing how close God is to us. During the day we offer prayers at significant moments – in a crisis situation; when we make mistakes; when we need strength to sieze opportunities; and when we want to thank God for all the good we receive. From the earliest times people have given thanks to God when they shared food together. Do you say ‘Grace’ when you sit down as a family to eat together? It is a great time for kids and young people to lead the family in prayer. Here are a couple of prayers from our popular book Family Prayers: Prayers for Younger Children and their Parents..
Grace at Mealtime
For food, and fun, and family; for breakfast, lunch and tea;
thank you, God, for all the gifts that you give to me. Or for a longer prayer:
Loving God, thank you for our food, and all your good gifts to us,
especially for ………………………………………
Help us to share with others who have only a little, so we can all give thanks to you, and praise your name.
Amen.
(c) Rosemary and Peter Atkins 2002
Of course some foods are not very good for us if we take them too often. Here is a good prayer to use.
I like Fizz
I like Fizz – and biscuits – and takeaways too. Grown-ups tell me that I will be unhealthy if I have too much of them.
Dear God, help me to listen to what they say, and to eat the right foods, so that I will keep well and strong and care for the body you have given me.
(c) Rosemary and Peter Atkins : from Prayers Kids 2007
When we have food on the table we often want to ask God to help those who are hungry and desperate for something to eat or drink. They may have nothing much because of a famine, drought or flood in their land. Here is a new prayer you might like to use to ask God to help them and to stir people’s conscience to bring them relief aid.
For the hungry
Creator God, as we eat our dinner we remember those who have little food today.
Let them know of your care for them, and your plan in creation that there should be enough for all.
Stir the conscience of us all so that we work for their relief in whatever way we can.
Strengthen the Aid Agencies who organize food supplies, and give courage to all who try to help.
Lord God, we remember the hungry for your love’s sake.
Amen.
This newsletter is posted on the parish website www.staidans.co.nz. We thank the webmaster for his regular work for us. We do like his new website and thank him for giving us a place of our own on the site. If you want to order books you can do so by email (for New Zealand) to office@staidans.co.nz; or in Australia on the web to www.mosaicresources.com.au ; or in Ireland/UK on the web to www.veritas.ie
With our blessing, Peter and Rosemary Atkins – peter.rosemary@xtra.co.nz
Prayer Books Available
| There are a series of Prayer Books which can be used by families, Church Groups, or individuals, that are targetted for young children through to parents, shown below here. You can order any of these books by email to office@staidans.co.nz or in Australia from www.mosaicresources.com.au; and in Ireland/UK from www.veritas.ie These are the three books in our series: | Prayer Kids 
Everyday prayers for today’s children. |
 Family Prayers: Prayers for younger children and their parents. |
 Cool Prayers: Everyday prayers for young people . |
Every blessing,
Peter and Rosemary Atkins.
Prayer Book authors, Auckland NZ.