Every week at the end of our service we pray together something called the Lord’s Prayer. Or the “our Father”

And every week I think, ”I ought to talk about that.” And then I forget. Until this week, when I started to prepare a message on a day known as “Father’s Day” and I thought, “This is the perfect day to talk about the ‘our father.’”

One time Jesus’ followers ask him for a sample of how to pray. Another time, Jesus was in the middle of a long teaching about many things. And Jesus, wanting to offer an example, taught them this simple prayer.

It’s not required. It’s not the only way to pray. Many other people in the Bible pray longer or shorter, with other words and ideas and request. Even Jesus, who is our model, has many other conversations with his Father, who is in heaven.

But as I often say, he gives us training wheels. He offers us a template. When we can’t figure out how to start, this short prayer gives us something to say.

“Our Father in heaven,
your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”