Timothy J. S. Seamans - Common Prayer for Children and Families

Advance praise for Common Prayer
for Children and Families The best gift to little ones is to share what we know of Gods love, trustworthiness, and genius. We first hear of those things in the stories of the Bible and the prayers of the church. This little book of prayers will help keep children and families fastened to God in prayer and praise for generations. The Rt. Rev. Robert C.

Wright,
The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta Easy to use, practical and spiritual, this book will bring those who use it closer to God and each other. The old standards and new prayers will become so familiar to those who read and share them. Pattie Ames, Christian Formation Missioner,
The Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia I could say it is the adorable illustrations that I love about this book, and I could say it is the mealtime prayers and praying throughout the days of the week that add meaningful context to daily family life; however, the real depth of this book is that it will encourage prayer and a prayer life with children. Trevecca Okholm, adjunct professor of practical theology,
Azusa Pacific University, author of Kingdom Family:
Re-Envisioning Gods Plan for Marriage and Family These prayers use language that is easily accessible for children without sacrificing depth of meaning. Sarah Bentley Allred, Director of Children and
Family Ministries, St. The Rev. The Rev.

Michael Sullivan,
President and CEO of Kanuga A much-needed, beautifully written compendium that honors children and celebrates the rich prayer traditions of the Episcopal Church. A wonderful way to enrich prayer life at home, in church, or in school chapel. Ann Mellow, Associate Director,
National Association of Episcopal Schools In its simplicity, it offers the possibility of a rhythm of prayer that will sustain and nurture the spiritual life across the generations. Mary Hawes, National Children and
Youth Adviser for the Church of England Common Prayer for Children and Families offers accessible and theologically sound ways for everyone in the family to worship and wonder together. Amanda Wischkaemper, Director of Childrens Ministry,
St. S. S.

Seamans All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher. Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are taken from the Common English Bible, CEB Copyright 2010, 2011 by Common English Bible.TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. The CEB and Common English Bible trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Common English Bible. Use of either trademark requires the permission of the Common English Bible.

Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress.

All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Scriptures marked as (GNT) are taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked (RSV) are from Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.

All rights reserved worldwide. Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain. Some song verses/refrains come from Wonder, Love, and Praise (New York: Church Pension Fund, 1997) and Lift Every Voice and Sing II (New York: Church Pension Fund, 1993). Psalms 30, 146, 147, and 23 on pages 12, 24, 30, and 48 are based on The Saint Helena Psalter, The Order of Saint Helena (Church Publishing, 2004). Used with permission. Dreaming on page 81 by Marna Franson.

Used with permission. The Iona Communitys Lords Prayer on page 3: King. C, Pathways for Pilgrims (Discovering the spirituality of the Iona Community in 28 days), Prayer, (2012), 2nd ed, Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications, 23. Church Publishing
19 East 34th Street
New York, NY 10016
www.churchpublishing.org Cover art by Perry Hodgkins Jones
Cover design by Jennifer Kopec, 2Pug Design Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Gamber, Jenifer, author. | Seamans, Timothy J. | Jones, Perry Hodgkins, illustrator. | Jones, Perry Hodgkins, illustrator.

Title: Common prayer for children and families / Jenifer Gamber and Timothy J. S. Seamans ; foreword by Wendy Claire Barrie ; illustrations by Perry Hodgkins Jones. Identifiers: LCCN 2019038882 (print) | LCCN 2019038883 (ebook) | ISBN 9781640652644 (paperback) | ISBN 9781640652651 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Children--Prayers and devotions-Juvenile literature. Classification: LCC BV265 .G36 2020 (print) | LCC BV265 (ebook) | DDC 242/.82--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019038882 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019038883 To our children:
Nico
and
Will and EmFOREWORD Dont be too gentle with this lovely book of prayers you hold in your hands. Its meant to be used daily, and even several times a day.

Let it become slightly sticky from letting your child choose a mealtime grace even after theyve had their first mouthful of something delicious. Pages will be dogearedthats okay, toothat will make it easier to turn to certain prayers quickly. Your children may even want to color the charming line drawings: please let them. Use your family Christmas card as a bookmark for the Advent pages, and the palm cross you brought home from church for the Lent and Holy Week prayers. And if you never got around to a family Christmas card and arent sure what a palm cross is, then this book is also for you, because there are prayers for every day and the circle of the church year that will be just enough to help you feel the rhythm of Gods time. Homes are as holy as churches, and our prayers help make them so.

Perhaps prayer comes easily to you and your family, and youll be delighted to add some new ones to those you already treasure. Maybe, praying as a family is new and even a bit awkward; this thoughtful, generous collection will help you get started. In these pages youll find traditional and new prayers with images of God that will be familiar and expansive language to engage our hearts and imaginations. There are psalms and songs, saints and angels, words to comfort and to challenge us, and three different versions of the prayer that Jesus taught us. Wherever we go, God is with us, so there are prayers for sleepovers, school, and camp. Jenifer and Timothy have found or written prayers for every reason and season.

There are prayers for a wiggly tooth and for tragedies, for taking a test and a snow day, for celebrations and disappointment, for those in need or trouble, for friends of other religions, for remembering that in God we are all one.