Sometimes the easiest thing to do is plan a one-off event to introduce and experience a new concept.
This can work in any intergenerational ministry setting, such as family ministry, small groups, youth group, etc.
On the next two pages is a suggested schedule for a two-hour gathering that includes a meal or snack. The event is centered around The Lord’s Prayer, and covers all three central actions of prayer: praise, listen, and ask.

Gather, Eat, and Discuss (40 minutes)

As people arrive, have them sit at tables. If it’s an intergenerational group, make sure there are multiple generations at each table. In my experience, people naturally gravitate toward their peers or friends, so you may assign people to tables as they enter, or have different colored nametags for different age groups (eg. 0-22, 23-49, 50+) and ask that each table have people from all three groups.

Serve a meal or snack, and display or print copies of the “Table Conversations” and/or our “Lord’s Prayer Treasure Hunt” for them to read and discuss together as they eat.

Read and Wonder: Matthew 6:9-13 (20 minutes)

Read the story of Jesus teaching His disciples to pray, and use the following wondering questions to imagine and process together. Depending on the group, you may read the story straight from the Bible, or have someone tell a narrative version. If you have younger children present (I hope you do!), I suggest using our Word & Wonder story.

Wondering Questions:

• I wonder how the followers of Jesus felt when Jesus taught them how to pray.
• Do you think it matters that this model prayer begins with praising God? I wonder if we should always begin our prayers with praise to God.
• I wonder why Jesus taught his followers to ask for God’s Kingdom to come. What do you think it means when people pray for God’s Kingdom to come to earth as it is in heaven?
• Read verse 11 again: what does it say about the food we eat everyday? I wonder if that makes you feel different about food if you always try to remember to thank God before you eat it?
• Read verse 12 again and say: Be careful with verse 12! It asks for God to forgive us just as much as we forgive others! Yikes! Are you really ready to pray that?
• I wonder why temptation is such a big deal that Jesus included it in his prayer model. What do you think?

Free Response (30 minutes)

Give everyone time to respond to the story in different ways. Set up stations with supplies and instructions for the practices listed below. You may also put out paper, pencils, and coloring supplies for those who just want to process the story by drawing or writing. Instructions and required materials for all of these practices are available to download by following the links.

Response Station Suggestions

• Individual Art Practice: Illustrating the Lord’s Prayer
• Community Art Practice: Prayer Wall (link coming soon!)
• Kinetic Prayer: Lord’s Prayer in ASL (link coming soon!) or Lord’s Prayer Body Prayer (external link)
• Poetry: Group Poetry, Prayer For the World, My Life As a Prayer, or The Nearness of God
• Prayer Writing Based on the Lord’s Prayer (link coming soon!)

Regather (15 minutes)

Regather at tables, and give people the opportunity to share what they did as a response and how they experienced prayer. If you had a meal earlier, this is a great time to serve dessert.

Closing Worship (15 minutes)

End with prayer and singing. Check out the suggested song list here. For prayer, follow the ACTS model (instructions in our Table Conversations resource), praying together at your tables.

Encourage people to “lean in” as they pray and worship, using the posture prompts here.