Prayer for the beginning of school year

Overview

This prayer is suitable to be adapted by school communities at the start of a school year.

We Gather

Opening prayer

Leader: God of our belonging,

All: As we gather here for the start of this year, in Your name,

We recognise Your presence on our journey together,

Open our minds to know Your voice.

Open our hands to do Your work.

And open our hearts to hold Your Spirit.

Amen

We Listen

All: Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25:40).

Reader:

When the song of the angels is stilled,

when the star in the sky is gone,

when the kings and princes are home,

when the shepherds are back with their flock,

the work of Christmas begins:

to find the lost,

to heal the broken,

to feed the hungry,

to release the prisoner,

to rebuild the nations,

to bring peace ...

to make music in the heart.

Howard Thurman, author, civil rights leader, and theologian (1899-1981)

All: Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25:40)

We Respond

I Light a Candle (spoken or sung - use Andrew Chinn’s arrangement)

All: I light a candle

I say a prayer

I light a candle in Your Name.

For the tender moments of teaching

For the energy for deep new learning

For the fire of vocation’s calling

All: I light a candle in Your Name. (first candle is lit)

Against the chill of the world’s dark troubles

In the face of sadness here among us

For my heart’s longing in the night

All: I light a candle in Your Name. (second candle is lit)

To signal hope for all that might be

To whisper thanks for all that is

To reflect the Love I’ll carry with me

All: I light a candle in Your Name. (third candle is lit)

All: I light a candle

I say a prayer

I light a candle in Your Name.

We Go Forth

Leader: May God, Who loves and holds us all,

let the Spirit guide all our days

in the ways of compassion and justice,

All: Amen

Leader: May we reflect the heart of God,

sure in faith, strong in hope, built on love

All: Amen

Leader: May we become all that we are called to be.

All: Amen

Leader: May God’s grace, mercy and peace,

Hold and enfold us.

All: Amen

Leader: And may our journey lead us into God’s gentle and almighty Presence,

Our God whom we will one day see face to face.

All: Amen