Christian child's prayer

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Jesus teaching the children, outside Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, Draper, Utah Statue of Jesus teaching the children at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Draper Utah.jpg
Jesus teaching the children, outside Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, Draper, Utah

A Christian child's prayer is Christian prayer recited primarily by children that is typically short, rhyming, or has a memorable tune. It is usually said before bedtime, to give thanks for a meal, or as a nursery rhyme. Many of these prayers are either quotes from the Bible, or set traditional texts.

Contents

While termed "Christian child's prayer", the examples here are almost exclusively used and promoted by Protestants. Catholic and Orthodox Christians have their own set of children's prayers, often invoking Mary, Mother of Jesus, angels, or the saints, and including a remembrance of the dead. Some adult prayers are equally popular with children, such as the Golden Rule (Luke 6:31, Matthew 7:12), the Doxology, the Serenity Prayer, John 3:16, Psalm 145:15–16 , Psalm 136:1 , and for older children, The Lord's Prayer and Psalm 23.

Bedtime prayer

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Luther's Evening Prayer

The New England Primer

Evening Prayer from the 1777 New England Primer [1]

Sleep my Child and Peace Attend Thee

Lullabies in German

Der Mond ist aufgegangen
Weißt du, wie viel Sternlein stehen
Brahms' Lullaby

Lullabies in Latin

The Virgin's Cradle Hymn

Lullabies in Scots

Baloo Baleerie

Lullabies in Welsh

Suo Gân

Lullabies in Armenian

Koon yeghir, pahlahs, atchkert khoop ahra

Lullabies in Swedish

Vaggsång till Jesus

Morning Prayer

Luther's Morning Prayer

I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray Thee to keep me this day also from sin and all evil, that all my doings and life may please Thee. For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the Wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen. [2]

White Paternoster

The New England Primer

Morning Prayer from the 1777 New England Primer: [1]

Almighty God the Maker of every thing in Heaven and Earth; the Darkness goes away, and the Day light comes at thy Command. Thou art good and doest good continually. I thank thee that thou has taken such Care of me this Night, and that I am alive and well this Morning. Save me, O God, from Evil, all this Day long, and let me love and serve thee forever, for the Sake of Jesus Christ thy Son. Amen.

Morning Songs

Morning Has Broken

Morning Songs in Swedish

Din klara sol går åter opp

Giving thanks

Come Lord Jesus

The Lord is Good to Me

All Good Gifts

The chorus to We Plough the Fields and Scatter may be used as a table grace: [3]

For this Food

For this food and joy renewed, we praise your name, O Lord! [4] [5]

Organized prayer

Jesus Blesses Children, from an 1888 altarpiece by Elin Danielson-Gambogi in Ahlainen, Finland. Danielson-Gambogi, Jeesus siunaa lapsia.jpg
Jesus Blesses Children, from an 1888 altarpiece by Elin Danielson-Gambogi in Ahlainen, Finland.

Philmont grace

Spirituals

He's got the Whole World in his hands

Michael Row The Boat Ashore

Kumbaya

Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen

Go Down Moses

We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder

Children, Go Where I Send Thee

Every Time I Feel the Spirit

I Shall Not Be Moved

I'm So Glad, Jesus Lifted Me

Dem Bones

Ezekiel Saw the Wheel

Lord, I Want to Be a Christian

When the Saints Go Marching In

We Shall Overcome

Other songs

Historical songbooks

Related Research Articles

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An Act of Contrition is a Christian prayer genre that expresses sorrow for sins. It may be used in a liturgical service or be used privately, especially in connection with an examination of conscience. Special formulae for acts of contrition are in use in the Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed Churches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epiclesis</span> Christian Eucharistic prayer

The epiclesis refers to the invocation of one or several gods. In ancient Greek religion, the epiclesis was the epithet used as the surname given to a deity in religious contexts. The term was borrowed into the Christian tradition, where it designates the part of the Anaphora by which the priest invokes the Holy Spirit upon the Eucharistic bread and wine in some Christian churches. In most Eastern Christian traditions, the Epiclesis comes after the Anamnesis ; in the Western Rite it usually precedes. In the historic practice of the Western Christian Churches, the consecration is effected at the Words of Institution though during the rise of the Liturgical Movement, many denominations introduced an explicit epiclesis in their liturgies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Be Thou My Vision</span> Christian hymn

"Be Thou My Vision" is a traditional Christian hymn of Irish origin. The words are based on a Middle Irish poem that has traditionally been attributed to Dallán Forgaill.

The Covenant Renewal Service, or simply called the Covenant Service, was adapted by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, for the purpose of the renewal of the Christian believer's covenant with God. Wesley's Directions for Renewing Our Covenant with God, first published in 1780, contains his instructions for a covenant service adapted from the writings of Richard Alleine and intended for use in Methodist worship as "a means of increasing serious religion." The first such service was held on 11 August 1755, in London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep</span> Childrens bedtime prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep is a Christian children's bedtime prayer from the 18th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grace (meals)</span> Type of short prayer

A grace is a short prayer or thankful phrase said before or after eating. The term most commonly refers to Christian traditions. Some traditions hold that grace and thanksgiving imparts a blessing which sanctifies the meal. In English, reciting such a prayer is sometimes referred to as "saying grace". The term comes from the Ecclesiastical Latin phrase gratiarum actio, "act of thanks." Theologically, the act of saying grace is derived from the Bible, in which Jesus and Saint Paul pray before meals. The practice reflects the belief that humans should thank God who is believed to be the origin of everything.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thanksgiving after Communion</span> Christian spiritual practice

Thanksgiving after Communion is a spiritual practice among Christians who believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Communion bread, maintaining themselves in prayer for some time to thank God and especially listening in their hearts for guidance from their Divine guest. This practice was and is highly recommended by saints, theologians, and Doctors of the Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 108</span> Sacred song in the Hebrew Bible

Psalm 108 is the 108th psalm in the Book of Psalms. It is a hymn psalm, beginning in English in the King James Version: "O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 107. In Latin, it is known as "Paratum cor meum Deus". It is attributed to David.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 30</span> Biblical psalm

Psalm 30 is the 30th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible and in the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 29. In Latin, it is known as "Exaltabo te Domine". It is a psalm of thanksgiving, traditionally ascribed to David upon the building of his own royal palace.

The usual beginning is the series of prayers with which most divine services begin in the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 25</span> Biblical psalm

Psalm 25 is the 25th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 24. In Latin, it is known as "Ad te Domine levavi animam meam". The psalm, attributed to David, has the form of an acrostic Hebrew poem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 40</span> Biblical psalm

Psalm 40 is the 40th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I waited patiently for the LORD". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 39. In Latin, it is known by the incipit, "Expectans expectavi Dominum". It is described by the Jerusalem Bible as a "song of praise and prayer for help".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 138</span>

Psalm 138 is the 138th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I will praise thee with my whole heart". In Latin, it is known as "Confitebor tibi Domine in toto corde meo". The psalm is a hymn psalm.

Psalm 86 is the 86th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 85. In Latin, it is known as "Inclina Domine". It is attributed to David.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spiritual communion</span> Christian practice related to Holy Communion

Spiritual communion is a Christian practice of desiring union with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. It is used as a preparation for Mass and by individuals who cannot receive Holy Communion.

The Compline Choir is a nationally acclaimed choral group that chants the Office of Compline every Sunday night, 9:30 P.M. Pacific time, at St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle, Washington, US. The Office of Compline is made up of sacred music including plainsong and polyphonic compositions, and chanted recitations of the Apostles' Creed and the Lord’s Prayer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr</span> Hymn composed by Nikolaus Decius

"Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr" is an early Lutheran hymn, with text and melody attributed to Nikolaus Decius. With the reformers intending church service in German, it was intended as a German version of the Gloria part of the Latin mass, used in almost every service. Decius wrote three stanzas, probably in 1523, while a fourth was added, probably by Joachim Slüter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macht hoch die Tür</span> German Advent hymn, 1623

"Macht hoch die Tür" is a popular German Advent hymn, written in 17th century Ducal Prussia. The lyrics were written by Georg Weissel in 1623 for the inauguration of the Altroßgärter Kirche in Königsberg. The melody that is now associated with the text appeared first in 1704 in the hymnal by Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen.

References

  1. 1 2 New England Primer, page 16, Google Books, 1777
  2. 1921 Triglott Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine translation
  3. O'Neal, page 12
  4. The Power to Comprehend with All the Saints: The Formation and Practice of a Pastor-Theologian, edited by Wallace M. Alston Jr., Cynthia A. Jarvis, page 50, from the chapter entitled "Raising Pastor-Theologians" by Brant S. Copeland
  5. O'Neal, page 21
  6. Hymns for Little Children (Google Books) by Cecil Frances Alexander, London: Joseph Masters, 5th edition, 1852