Big Idea: We pray for the peace of God to be with His people and the world.

Bible Passage: Psalm 122:6-9

Parent Prep: This week we look at the idea of peace, or more specifically, shalom. "The Hebrew word for peace, shalom (שׁלום), is derived from a root denoting wholeness or completeness, and its frame of reference throughout Jewish literature is bound up with the notion of shelemut, perfection. Along with truth and justice, peace is among the most hallowed Jewish values. In the Bible, the word shalom is most commonly used to refer to a state of affairs, one of well‑being, tranquility, prosperity, and security, circumstances unblemished by any sort of defect. Shalom is a blessing, a manifestation of divine grace."* This is God's ultimate good for us. That we would know His peace – His wholeness in our lives here on earth. Our mission therefore is to demonstrate God's shalom to the world as we are sent together to heal it and make it look 'on earth as it is in heaven'. It is also what we look forward to when at last we are called home to be restored God forever in the New Creation. This week, we are teaching children to ask God for His shalom in the various contexts of their world.

Read Psalm 122:6-9 in a children's Bible, or in this easy-to-read version here. As we did last week, when you read this passage, explain to children that when we read and talk about 'The New Jerusalem', for us it is talking about the Church [Galatians 4:26]. 

Talk 

1) First we read to pray for peace, or shalom, for 'those who love you.' We pray for those who put their trust in Jesus. This includes ourselves, and our church family, and believers across the world. That God would be their strong place, the One who is their 'security'. 

2) Second we read to pray for peace, or shalom for those who are 'within the walls'. For our families in our big church family, we pray that we would be at shalom together. That we would be as one, whole, united together, and not fighting eachother, but supporting and strengthening each other, united in our love for Jesus.

3) Thirdly, we read to pray for peace, or shalom, 'in the great buildings' or 'citadels' or 'palaces'. Traditionally, the leaders or royaly would have lived in these great buildings. We are reading here to pray for those who lead the city of Jerusalem. We pray for shalom – wholeness and peace and togetherness for our church leaders, that they would face the future, and be strong as one in Jesus to lead our big church family together.

We also read to pray for our family and friends, or family and neighbours- we can pray for the world to know the peace and hope of Jesus – that the way we show love and peace to them would show them God's great 'shalom', too. Read together John 14:27 “I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid." Jesus gives us His peace, which isn't just based on feeling safe in the world. We know the world can be scary and changing. But Jesus isn't changing, He is always the same, and He has a special home waiting for us to be with him forever one day. And while we are here on earth, He promises to be with us every day. We can have 'shalom' peace -wholeness and togetherness with Jesus and be safe and rested in Him.

Listen

1) Who are some people that we know who love Jesus? Make a list of the people in your family, or people that you know, that love and trust Jesus. Pray together for those people that God would be their Rock and Strongplace. 

2) Who are other families in our church family that you know and love? Make a list of these families, and others you know from our big church family, and pray together that you would be at peace with them, and that all our church families would have wholeness and togetherness in Jesus.

3) Who are the leaders of our church family? Make a list and pray for these leaders that they would have shalom peace and know God's strength, protection, and have togetherness with Him and each other so that they lead our big church family well. 

What are some of the things you wrote on your Service Notes page? Are there any questions you have or words you wrote down but don't understand? Did you find anything interesting about the message? What was your favourite song to sing this week? Why did you like it?

Do

As a family, do a puzzle together. As you put the pieces together, talk about God's shalom peace – meaning 'wholeness'. God is restoring and piecing together the world the way He wants it to be. One day we will see the full picture, God's perfect creation, when He finally restores all things to Himself. It is our job now to pray and to make the world 'shalom' – at peace and whole. Just like we put these pieces of the puzzle together, when we show God's love, justice and peace to others, we heal the world and make it whole so that people can see God's love and peace.

*https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/shalom/