The 4 Minute Prayer How it can transform lives!

Lets do the Math… 4 min/day X 7 Classes/day = – 28 minutes of prayer with students per day 28 min/day X 5 Days/Wk = – 2hrs 20min of prayer with students per week 2:20min/wk X 4 Wks/Mnth = – 560 min. of prayer or (9hrs 20min) of prayer with students per month 9:20min/mnth X 8 mnths/yr = – 4,480 min of prayer or 74 hours of teachers praying with our students per school year

Lets Look at it from the viewpoint of a Student If we asked a student: – “Do you think you could grow significantly closer to Jesus if St. Thomas More High School devoted 7 faithful adults who together would give you 74 hours to guide you in prayer over the course of your sophomore year?” Looking at it this way makes me wonder…How could anyone NOT grow closer to Jesus with that number of loving people giving that much time?

So What Are We Doing With ‘Class Prayer’? The feedback from the students: Some class prayer is so fast that we barely finish standing for the prayer before we’re sitting back down ‘One teacher pulled out a One Dollar Bill and asked us how much it’s worth. She then crumpled up the bill and asked us how much it’s worth.’ She pointed out that even though sometimes life beats us up, our worth to God never changes.

Analyzing the Feedback Speed Prayer Took maybe one minute The students became aware at how fast the prayer was Impression – Prayer is an obligatory routine ‘One Dollar’ Prayer Took maybe two minutes The students became aware of their unchanging worth in God Impression – Prayer is transformative & uplifting

The Challenges for the Teacher ‘The Rush’ – It’s a challenge to teach everything we have to cover in our subject matter using 50 minutes per class Preparation time: Lesson Planning and Grading take a significant amount of time outside of class, leaving no time to plan class prayer Personal Uneasiness with different methods of prayer Doubt: Not convinced that 4 minutes of prayer to start class can make that big of a difference Usage: It’s tempting to use Class Prayer strictly as a method of bringing the class to order and quieting the students before Subject Matter Lessons

Scripture and Prayer All things whatsoever you ask when you pray, believe that you shall receive, and they shall come to you. (Mark 11:2) Every one that asks receives. (Luke 11:10) Amen, amen, I say unto you, if you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it you. (John 16:23) Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you (Mat 7:7) Pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:17)

A SIMPLE DEFINITION OF ‘PRAYER’ GROWING CLOSER TO GOD Communicate, Love, Be

Options for Class Prayer Memorized Vocal Communal Prayer – Our Father, Glory Be, Hail Mary Scripture Reading – Share Today’s Gospel (iMissal App is great) Spiritual Reading Daily Mass Readings (iMissal App is great) Guided Meditation

Options for Class Prayer Image Reflection p-content/uploads/2012/01/Excuse.jpg zLY/Tya8OVknE2I/AAAAAAAAMvc/1MYRE9ZWWSU/I%2Bsalute%2Bher %2Bdetermination.jpg

More Options for Class Prayer Catechism Petitions/Intentions Silence Interactive Questions (Come up to the board…) Journaling Active Love…God is Love (Write a Letter, Send a Text Msg, Write an , Affirm a Classmate and be affirmed) Video: ture=g-vrec ture=g-vrec

More Options for Class Prayer Survey Prayers Modern Parables Object Reflections Spiritual Quotes Music/Song Phone-A-Friend Skype Guest Spontaneous Vocal Prayer Invite a Campus Minister to open in Class Prayer

A Great Foundation for Developing the Classroom Prayer 1 John 4:7-8 – …GOD IS LOVE… So then, how might I best communicate Love to my students to share God with them? Lets consider the 5 Love Languages…

5 Love Languages Service: We serve them everyday as Teacher Gift Giving: What small gift might we be able to surprise them with (This does not have to be something purchased) Affirmation: Consciously choose 2 or 3 students per day to personally affirm Touch: Mother Teresa rarely encountered a person whose hand she did not shake or whose head she did not pat, or whose neck she did not hug, or whose shoulder she did not touch. Safe Environment rightfully warns us against inappropriate touching, but Love teaches us appropriate touching. Quality Time: Most of our lives are dedicated to these young people already

The ‘On The Fly’ Prayer Guide If you’re too busy to include in your lesson planning a variety of enriching 4 Minute Class Prayers, but you still want a powerful opening prayer, here is a suggestion: – Recognize the emotion/disposition/posture/conversation/body language/eyes of your class and tailor a spontaneous prayer to what you see. As you greet, look them in the eyes and listen and then trust your intuition.