Prayer
Week Beginning 24th September 2012
Bible Reading linked to the Church Lectionary
James 5: 13-18 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
13 If
you are having trouble, you should pray. And if you are feeling good,
you should sing praises. 14 If you are sick, ask the church leaders[a] to come
and pray for you. Ask them to put olive oil[b] on you in the name of the Lord.
15 If you have faith when you pray for sick people, they will get well. The
Lord will heal them, and if they have sinned, he will forgive them.
16 If
you have sinned, you should tell each other what you have done. Then
you can pray for one another and be healed. The prayer of an innocent
person is powerful, and it can help a lot. 17 Elijah was just as human as we
are, and for three and a half years his prayers kept the rain from falling.
18 But when he did pray for rain, it fell from the skies and made the crops
grow.
a. James 5:14 church leaders: Or “elders” or “presbyters” or “priests.”
b. James 5:14 olive oil: The Jewish people used olive oil for healing.
Some thoughts linking the Bible reading to the theme
In these words from James’ book we see that he is passionate about prayer
as being part of faith. He tells the people when to pray, how to pray and
why they should pray. He asks them to pray in times of trouble. In certain
difficult circumstances we might think that God is uncaring or unknowing or
unable to help, and so we pray less. James tells us the opposite. Trouble is
the very time to pray. He asks them to pray in times of happiness. We
might allow times of happiness to make us complacent, and so might pray
less. James tells us the opposite. Happiness is the very time to sing songs of
praise. In times of sickness we can easily feel defeated. Weakness can
make us feel hopeless, as if we can do nothing. James tells us the opposite.
Weakness is the very time to pray, it is something very significant we can
do.
Encourage the children to think of those needing prayer and to explore the
idea that prayer is more then just asking God for things.
Engaging three ways this week with the theme See Themes, links and
resources sheet
1. Helping Hands: Praying Hands
2. Look who’s talking
3. Making Mistakes
Gathering
Sing a joyful action song and say:
Leader: this is the day that the Lord has made
Response: we will rejoice and be glad in it!
Sending
Pray the Grace:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen