Christian child's prayer

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The Christian child's prayer is typically short, rhyming or has a memorable tune. It is said before bedtime, to give thanks for a meal, or as a nursery rhyme. Many of these prayers have a long tradition and obscure origin. Some adult prayers are equally popular with children, such as the Golden Rule (Luke 6:31, Matthew 7:12), the Doxology, the Serenity Prayer, John 3:16 and, for older children, The Lord's Prayer and Psalm 23.

Contents

[edit] Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Now I lay me down to sleep,
 I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep;

May angels watch me through the night
and wake me with the morning light.

Guard me while I sleep tonight,
And wake me safe at dawn's first light.

Guide and guard me through the night,
And give me rest till morning's light.

Thy love guard me through the night
And wake me with the morning light.

[edit] Giving thanks

[edit] God is Great

God is great and God is good.
And we thank him for our food.

By his hands we all are fed.
Thank you, Lord, for our daily bread.
God is great and God is good,
And we thank him for our food.

[edit] Thank You Lord

Thank you for the world so sweet,
Thank you for the food we eat,
Thank you for the birds that sing,
Thank you, God, for everything.

[edit] Come Lord Jesus

Come Lord Jesus, be our guest,
and let these gifts to us be blessed.

[edit] Organized prayer

[edit] Regent's prayer

Almighty God,
we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee,
and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents,
our teachers and our country.

  • Published in the 1950's in the New York State Board of Regents "Statement on Moral and Spiritual Training in the Schools" and afterwards known as the Regent's Prayer.
  • This school prayer was the one in question in the landmark 1962 Supreme Court case Engle v. Vitale

[edit] Philmont grace

For food, for raiment,
for life, for opportunity,
for friendship and fellowship,
we thank you, O Lord.

  • Boy Scout prayer called the Philmont Grace, named for the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico

[edit] S Bar F grace

For the gifts of food and freedom,
And the hills to roam.
For the crimson sunsets
And the Earth, our home
For the stars at night
And the gentle winds in the trees
We thank you, Great Spirit, for all of these

  • Boy Scout prayer called the S Bar F Grace, named for the S Bar F Scout Ranch in Knob Lick, Missouri

[edit] Nursery rhymes

[edit] Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me - this I know,
For the Bible tells me so,
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.

[edit] Jesus Loves the Little Children

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in his sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

  • Words written by preacher Clare Herbert Woolston (1856-1927)
  • Sung to the 1864 Civil War tune "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp" by George Fredrick Root
  • Inspired by Matthew 19:14: Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
  • Some have sought to improve on Woolston's original words by inserting the color "brown" between "red" and "yellow."
  • Some more politically correct modern versions read 'Every color, every race, all are covered by His grace' instead of 'Red and yellow, black, and white, all are precious in His sight.'
  • Alternate lyrics: Jesus loves the little children,

All the children of the world.
Fat and skinny, short and tall,
Jesus loves them one and all,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

[edit] He's got the Whole World in his hands

He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got you and me, brother, in his hands.
He's got you and me, sister in his hands.
He's got the little bitty baby in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.

[edit] Michael Row The Boat Ashore

Main article: Michael Row the Boat Ashore

Michael, row the boat ashore, Alleluia!
Michael, row the boat ashore, Alleluia!

Sister help to trim the sails, Alleluia!
Sister help to trim the sails, Alleluia!

The river is deep and the river is wide, Alleluia!
Milk and honey on the other side, Alleluia!

Jordan's river is chilly and cold, Alleluia!
Chills the body, but not the soul, Alleluia!

If you get there before I do. Alleluia!
Tell my people I'm coming too. Alleluia!

[edit] Away In A Manger

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay

  • First published in a Lutheran Sunday school book in 1885 in Philadelphia

[edit] Frère Jacques

Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines, Sonnez les matines
Ding Ding Dong, Ding Ding Dong

  • The tune served as the basis of Gustav Mahler's "Symphony No. 1, 3rd Movement"
  • The first line is sung as background vocals on "Paperback Writer" by the Beatles