[ Up ] [ About First Christian ] [ Disciples of Christ ] [ Location ] [ Staff ] [ Contact ] [ Weddings ] [ Library ] [ Children's Ministries ] [ Youth ] [ College ] [ Mission ] [ The Sermon File ] [ Bright Spots ] [ Paraments ] [ Computer Lab ]

 

Computer Lab

 

First Christian Church has had a Computer Lab since 1994 - one of the first in the denomination. It has evolved significantly over the years, expanding its reach from educational resources for children and youth to workshops and tutorials for every age. Below is an actual lesson used recently in the Computer Lab with our Sunday School program.

If you would like to know more about the Lab itself, click here for further information.

The Lord's Prayer/A Lesson in the Computer Lab

 Prayer is a vehicle through which humans experience the presence of God.  Jesus was asked by his disciples, "How should we pray?"  In just a few words, Jesus taught us how to humbly call on God's presence.

 Scripture:  Matthew 6:9-13

 Objectives:  Learn that the Lord's Prayer is said by people all over the world.  It is one of the ways Christians everywhere witness the presence of God in their lives.

 Overview:

·         View The Lord's Prayer animated story.

·         Use interactive map to study Galilee and Judea in the time of Jesus.

·         Observe the way some artists depict the concept of prayer.

·         Compare ancient and modern versions of the Lord's Prayer.

·         Learn about the Convent of the Pater Noster.

·         Recreate the look of a page from a medieval prayer book or Bible using special fonts and border graphics.

 Supplies:

Class set of Bibles.

Software:  QuickVerse or similar software Bible.

PrintShop or other graphic software.

 Lesson:

 Find the Lord's Prayer in the Bible:  Begin by having the participants locate the scripture in a printed version of the Bible.

 View the animated story:  Select The Lord's Prayer from the Lesson Links page.  Take turns reading a page of text.

 Discussion:

In the opening scene, we see Jesus praying.  Can you remember other times that Jesus prayed? (at his Baptism, at the grave of Lazarus, in the Garden of Gethsamene ) Use the keywords "Prayer" or "Praying" in a concordance Bible to find other examples.

 Do you think that Jesus also had to learn to pray?  Who taught Jesus to pray?  Do you think Mary and Joseph would have taught Jesus to pray when he was a little boy?

 In the Gospel of Matthew, we read that Jesus taught about many things such as charity, forgiveness, judging others and many other subjects.  Jesus was asked by one of his disciples, "How do we pray?"

Do you think there might be a wrong way to pray?

 Jesus told his followers not to make a big braggy show when praying.  He said, "Pray when you are alone in your room for God will hear you."

 Map Search:

Select "Map Search" from the Lesson Links page. Click on the rectangle for a close-up view of Palestine in the Time of Jesus.  Pop-up text will appear when the cursor pauses over the following: Bethsaida , Bethlehem , Cana, Capernaum , Galilee, Jerusalem and Nazareth .  Using the clues provided on the map, ask the participants to determine where Jesus taught the Lord's Prayer.  

- Near which city is the Mount of Olives located?

- Estimate the square mileage of Galilee .  How does that size compare to your city or county?

- Ask the participants to imagine Jesus and the disciples traveling from town to town.  Where do you think they ate and slept?

 Works of Art: Select "Works of Art" from the Lesson Links page.  View the following:

 v     "Prayer for Rain" (1938) by James E. Allen from the Smithsonian American Art Museum

v     "The Sauk, in the Act of Praying" (1830) by George Catlin from the Smithsonian American Art Museum .

v     "Thy Kingdom Come" by Jyoti Sahi from Asian Christian Art Association.

 Discussion:

            Artist James E. Allen completed this painting in 1938.  Ask the participants if they know anything about the Great Depression of the 1930's.  Besides the family, what else do you see in the painting (plow, barn, barbed-wire fence, bones of a large animal perhaps a cow).  Do you see crops growing?  What time of the year do you think it is?  If you didn't know the title of the painting, would you be able to tell why the family was praying?  How does the lack of color affect your impression?

            George Catlin is famous for his images of 19th Century western America . The subject obviously posed for this painting. Describe the expression on his face.  Does he look worried, sad, deep in thought or wondering why this artist is interested in painting his picture? Does the man look like he is praying?  Why not? What do you think the subject is holding in his hand? (Some Native Americans use a wooden object called a prayer stick in prayer ritual.) 

Describe the look on the face of the petitioner (anguished). Notice the empty bowl in the lower left of the painting.  What does it signify?  Whose hands are reaching from heaven? (Jesus with the wounds from the nails.) What else do you see in the image that tells you about the person's homeland?

 What do those strange words mean? - Select "Who art?" from the Lesson Links page. This is a light-hearted interactive page to help clarify some of the more difficult words found in the Lord's Prayer.  Use the mouse to highlight the green-colored words, which are linked to a pop-up illustration.

 Say it another way -  Use QuickVerse to look up Luke 11:1-4 to read another version of the Lord's Prayer.  Is it easier to understand?  Why?

 English - Languages constantly evolve.  Select "An Ancient Prayer" from the Lesson Links page.  Click on each of the following versions: 1) Aramaic 2) Latin and 3) English, 1559.

             Jesus probably used Aramaic when he first taught his disciples to pray.  Explain that Aramaic is over 2,000 years old and a language that is no longer spoken today.

            Latin has been used in the Roman Catholic church since the earliest times.  Do some of the Latin words look familiar?  Point out a few and see if the participants can find others: e.g., sanctificeturàsanctified or holy;  debitaàdebt;  terraàearth;  tentationemàtemptation.

            In 1541, Henry the Eighth ordered the standardization and exclusive use in England of one agreed upon form of the Lord's Prayer.  The version shown here is from the Common Book of Prayer dated 1549 with modern spelling.  It is very similar to the modern English version.  Which words or phrases are different?

 The Convent of the Pater Noster:  Select "Convent of the Pater Noster" from the Lessons Links page. The early Christians often built churches to commemorate the important places of Jesus' ministry.  A church was built over what is believed to be the site where Jesus taught his disciples to pray.  The church was eventually destroyed. However, next to the remains stands the Convent of the Pater Noster.

 Discussion:

What do the Latin words "Pater Noster" mean?  (Noster=Our; Pater =Father).

            What makes this site especially significant to people from all over the world?

            Would you like to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to see where Jesus lived?

            Would the Convent of the Pater Noster be one of the places you would visit?

The Convent of the Pater Noster is a quiet place that lends itself to prayer and meditation.  If you were to design a church or shrine to commemorate the site where Jesus taught us how to pray, what would it look like?  (i.e. would it be a large building or small one? many windows or dimly lit?  brightly colored or subdued?)

Shrines to commemorate the Lord's Prayer have been built, destroyed and later rebuilt. 

What does that say about the importance of this site?

Do you think there will always be a shrine to mark this place?  Why?

 Fill in the Blank:

Select "Puzzle" from the Lesson Links page.  Instruct participants to type the missing words to the Lord's Prayer in each empty box.

  Text Box: Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen Activity:

Before the invention of the printing press, the words of the Bible had to be copied by hand. Sometimes the pages were embellished with beautiful graphics.  Create a bookmark or prayer card with PrintShop or other graphic software application.  Choose a font such as Old English to type the words of the Lord's Prayer.  Add a border or other designs. Try to use buff or ivory-colored paper for this project.

 Note to the teacher:  This activity could also be accomplished using Microsoft Word as shown in the example here.  From the menu bar choose: Insert ð Text Box.  The cursor will change into a plus sign: Æ. Drag to desired size. Place cursor inside box and begin typing. (Font shown is Old English Text.) With text box still selected, chose Format ðText Box to add background and border.

 Closing:  Close by saying the Lord's Prayer all together.

On-line activity:

 If you are connected to the Internet, use the following sites*  to extend the lesson.

 URL: http://www.interviewwithgod.com/lordsprayer2.htm

DESCRIPTION:  Beautiful flash movie.

HOW TO USE IN CLASS:  Discuss the way in which the Lord's Prayer is daily inspiration for people all over the world.

 URL: http://www.lillyofthevalleyva.com/music-lordsprayer.html

DESCRIPTION: Instrumental version of the Lord's Prayer in a traditional arrangement.

HOW TO USE IN CLASS:  Some children may never have heard this music before.  Compare with Caribbean Lord's Prayer at site below.

 URL: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/mlehr/reflec/cariblp/cariblp.htm

DESCRIPTION:  The Lord's Prayer set to Caribbean music.

HOW TO USE IN CLASS:  Compare this musical arrangement with the more traditional Lord's Prayer, which the participants may be familiar with.  How does the Caribbean melody make you feel?

 URL: http://www.christusrex.org/www1/pater/

DESCRIPTION: The Lord's Prayer in over 1,200 languages and dialects. This site has been on the Internet since December 8, 1994 and new languages are added each year.

HOW TO USE IN CLASS:  Jesus probably used Aramaic when he first taught his followers to pray.  Explain that since that day, Christianity has spread all over the world.  The Lord's Prayer is spoken in just about every language.  Ask if anyone knows a second language. Encourage the participants to choose other languages from the list.  This has proven to be a popular site so allow ample time for this activity.

 *Always preview before class as web site content changes frequently.