tteaechinagnocteshingnotes
Thenext twosessions are inspiredbythe work
ofRachel Turner.ThelanguageofChat andCatch is taken withher permissionandappliedinthese sessions.Tofiteverything weneedtointothe session,wehave notrecommended Biblestoriesto accompany these twosessions.
Chat andcatch – prayer
Yourchildren are powerful and effectivecommunicators. They have already learnt tocommunicate with the world around them and form deep relationships.They are able toapply the same communication techniques in their relationship with God,in prayer.TrustGod,He knows your children, He knows their minds: He made their minds and has equipped them tointeract with Him. Our role is tobe a guide as they meet with God,not toput ourselves in the middle oftheir relationship with God.If wearen’tcareful, asleaders,wecan takeoverprayer and, in doing so,our children lose their voice.
Weuse theword‘chat’todescribe prayer asthisiseasily
understood by the children. Itremoves any idea ofusing aspecificmodeltoprayandintroducesprayer ona relational level. Ittakes something they do intuitively and applies it torelationship with God.Weencourage parents and the church touse the same phrases when talking about prayer.
Use informallanguage
Ouraim is forthe children touse their own language to talk toGod in a natural way,in the same way they would talk tofamily or friends. For example,
HiFather God!Ihad so much fun today,especially when I got todo girly things with Mummy when the boys were playingfootball.Idon’tknowwhyyoumadefootball, anyway.It’ssilly.Ihadabadpartofthedaywhen Tommypushedme andIgotreallycross andsmackedhim.He makesme sad when hepushesme allthetime.Canyou makehimstopbeing meantome? Idon’twanttobe meaneither,butit’shardwhen hemakesme cross. I’m going tosleep now.Will you please be in the room with me, cosIgetscaredsometimes. Oh,andpleasetake care ofUncle David andAuntie Sue and Mummy and Daddy;Ilikethem alot.Loveyou!1
Wehelp them todo this by modelling simple prayer that uses language thatthey comprehend. For example,
‘Blessthisfooduntoourbodies,’becomes;‘ThanksGod forgiving us the money tobuy this food and thanks for thisfamily.Ilovethemsomuch;pleasecome andjoinus asweeat. WeloveyouGod.’
Don’tviewthissessionasaoneoff;seeitassomething
thatyou will introduce and then consistently reinforce
each week.Askthe whole team topractise changing their language as they pray on their own, so thatthis becomes a natural foreveryone. Istarted before bed one night, telling God the mostsimple things - my favouritecolour, why Iliked a book so much etc.Ifound myself giggling and laughing and realising Icould get so much closer to God when we spoke as friends.2When you pray in your session,don’ttalkabout prayer talk.Instead, talkabout chatting toGodandthen use simplifiedlanguage.This
will ensure relationship is modelled tothe children as we equip them.
1RachelTurner,Parenting children fora life ofFaith.
2John 15:15,ESV;NolongerdoIcallyouservants,fortheservantdoes notknowwhathismasterisdoing;butIhave calledyoufriends, forall thatI have heard from my Father I have made known toyou.