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Chapter VI provides a high type of worshipful children's songs as well as some of the standard old hymns that every child should know. If this type of songs and hymns is chosen in keeping with the theme of the devotional period a real contribution will be made to the worship program.

2. Scripture.

Even though we have an open Bible from which to select the scripture lessons, much care should be exercised in making the selection of scripture. The Bible is not a child's Bible, hence only such portions should be used as will interest children and meet their developing needs. The following are some suggestive sources for Bible reading for the devotional period: Psalms of the devotional type, Bible incidents from both Old and New Testament that are adapted to child interest, the parables of Jesus, miracles from the Old and New Testaments and selected proverbs. These selections should be short and correlate with the theme. A Bible incident related in terms of child experience makes a good variation from the Bible reading and adds interest to the service.

3. The Story.

The story for the devotional period may be a nature story or any other non-Biblical story that calls for the child's appreciation of God as our Creator and Source of all our blessings. The incidents of the Bible and parables of our Savior furnish the very best source for our stories.

Health and habit stories have a valuable place in the class room but seldom if ever should they be used in the devotional period. No story that carries the child's mind away from worship should ever be used.

IV. ARRANGING THE MATERIAL

After we have made suitable selections for the worship program, the next problem is the proper arrangement so as to make the period most helpful to the children. No fixed order should maintain continuously. Monotony must be avoided. The change should not be so abrupt as to confuse the children. The following suggestive program as to arrangement is given for our study as we contemplate the order and time of each part of the of the program:

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1. Original Prayers as Self-Expression.

Children have a conception of God so simple and

true that prayers to them are not any more difficult than to ask a petition of their earthly parents. They express their own wants in their own simple childlike way. Some of their prayers are amusing to us because of their childlike simplicity. The following are some original prayers' of children coming out of their real needs:

A boy three years old prayed, "Dear Jesus, make all the days Sunday, so that papa will be home."

Calvin, four years old, whose sister, Cathryn, and brother, Harry, children of an India Missionary, had died and had been buried, prayed, "Please, God, take good care of Harry and Cathryn and bring them back when they are done."

After going to bed a four-year-old child said, "Here I am with all my prayers in me."

A child played in the snow and then told his mother, "I prayed the snow prayer, Mama. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow."

Chancy had been taught that what he asked for God would give. One time away from home he dropped his glove down from a roof into a hog lot which he knew he could not enter. He prayed, “Dear Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, help me to get my glove." He leaned over mightily and succeeded in getting it.

Margaret, six years, "Dear Jesus, we thank thee for everything. I thank thee for my little sister. It is cold now but it will soon be warmer and then I can pluck flowers."

1 Secured by Ezra Flory, Elgin, Ill. Used by permission.

Harold, five years: "Help me to be nice when we go visiting."

THE TWO PRAYERS

Last night my little boy confessed to me
Some childish wrong, and, kneeling at my knee
He prayed, with tears: "Dear God, make me a man
Like Daddy, wise and strong: I'm sure you can."

Then, while he slept, I knelt beside his bed,
Confessed my sins, and prayed, with low bowed head:
“O God, make me a child, like my child here—
Pure, guileless, trusting thee with faith sincere."
-Andrew Gillies.

2. Repeated Prayers.

This form of prayer does not represent self-expression but has some value in directing the thought of the children to their daily blessings and needs. The teacher prays a short sentence and the group repeat in concert, "Dear Jesus" ("Dear Jesus"), "We thank thee for this day" ("We thank thee for this day"), "For the food we eat" ("For the food we eat"), “For the clothes we wear" ("For the clothes we wear"), "For the sunshine and the rain" ("For the sunshine and the rain"). "We thank thee for dear parents" ("We thank thee for dear parents"), "For brothers and sisters" ("For brothers and sisters"), "And our kind teachers" ("And our kind teachers"). "Help us to be kind and true" ("Help us to be kind and true”), "Bless us all to-day, for Jesus' sake" ("Bless us all to-day, for Jesus' sake"). "Amen" ("Amen").

3. Memory Prayers.

"Dear Lord, we thank thee for thy care,
The food we eat, the clothes we wear,
Be present with us everywhere. Amen."

"Father, unto thee I pray;

Thou hast guarded me all the day.
Safe I am while in thy sight,

Safely let me sleep to-night."

"Bless my friends, the whole world bless,

Help me to learn helpfulness.

Keep me ever in thy sight,

So to all I say 'Good night.''

-Henry Johnstone.

"Help us to do the things we should,

To be to others kind and good,

In all we do, in work or play,

To grow more loving every day. Amen."

"Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me,

Bless the little lamb to-night,

Through the darkness be thou near me,

Keep me safe till morning light.

"All this day thy hand has led me
And I thank thee for thy care.

Thou hast clothed me, warmed and fed me,
Listen to my evening prayer."

"Dearest Savior, bless our offering,
Though but little it may be,

All we have by Thee is given,

Surely part belongs to Thee, Amen."

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