Teaching Prayer

I do not think that the Our Father is some type of magical incantation, but I do believe that it has become a traditional way to pray. Even 2000 years ago people wondered at how one communicates with something that is invisible. In the Our Father, or Lord's prayer, Jesus offers more than words to help us engage with the Invisible, but also a structure in which to do this. 

This is my extrapolation of the Our Father that I shared with my congregation a couple weeks ago.

Teacher, please teach us how to pray…

 Our Father in heaven, O Creator God, Guider of the Cosmos, Mover of the Universe, a God who calls humanity; God’s own, the people of God, the children of God.

Hallowed be your name, Reveal who you are, we come here trusting in your ways of justice and compassion, you alone are God, always creating, always loving.

Your kingdom come, Set the world right, help us to be apart of the solutions to the problems here in this world, help us to show others the possibility of truly living in joyful, creative peace.

Your will be done, Do what’s best— We trust in something bigger than ourselves allowing us to continue to live a life of positive thinking and right action, through the good times and the hard times.
On earth as it is in heaven, help us to bring your way of hope and joy through love to this world, for peace is true paradise.

Give us today our daily bread. Keep us alive with three square meals, help us to make good choices, in how we care for our physical bodies.

Forgive us our sins We know that we are not perfect, help us to do better everyday, help us to be kind even when its hard, and patient even when it is difficult, Keep us forgiven with you.

As we forgive those who sin against us. Remind us to be kind to others, not everyone has learnt the same lessons in the same ways. Help us to let go when someone truly demonstrates the desire to make amends. And help us to know when we must ask for forgiveness too.

Save us from the time of trial, Keep us safe from ourselves, give us the support we need to face any adversary that might come our way.

And deliver us from evil We face difficulties that hold us down, help us to better understand what it is that we are facing so we can better react and finding solutions to the problems, both in our own lives and for people all around the world.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, You can do anything, our hope is in you, You are our creator, we are Your people, You are that which is too great to be named.
Now and for ever. Amen. Yes. Yes. Yes.