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

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He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
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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

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
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