Prayers for Back-to-School
Pray for kids, teachers, and parents as they head back to school with these prayers from Prayers for Holy Days, available with a subscription to the Ministry Matters Premium Library.
Pastoral Prayer
OUR LIVES ARE MARKED, O God, by the changing of the seasons. We take unusual delight in these times, for they are periods of heightened expectancy and new growth. It has been a long and busy summer. We have exulted in our various activities. And now it is time to prepare for the fall and winter, and many are going back to school, some here at home and others at a distance. We thank you for all the good events of the summer months—for work and play and relaxation, for fun and friendships and frivolity, for trips to the lake or the beach or the mountains, for a chance to unwind and experience more leisure time. Now we thank you for all the good events that lie ahead—for exciting classes and new friends and ball games and plays and concerts and a raft of holidays. We pray for all our students at every level, and ask that this may be a good year for them. Let their learning be rewarding as well as challenging, and let them enjoy the growth that comes from new experiences. Give them spirits of joy and confidence, and help them to live gratefully at all times, aware of the gift of life and its incredible richness. Bless their teachers and coaches and counselors, and all others who are involved in their educational process. And grant that all of us may share the excitement of the season, whether we are in school or not. For you have made our world extraordinarily beautiful and fascinating, and we are happy to praise you for everything through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Responsive Prayer
Leader: There is always something wonderful about returning to school, O God. Even those of us who no longer go to school remember it fondly at this time of the year.
People: Seeing old friends again, meeting new ones, having good teachers, going to ball games, exploring new subjects—it is always exciting and promising because it opens new vistas in our lives.
Leader: We thank you for the opportunity of pursuing our education. Learning is one of the great privileges of life.
People: We are grateful for chances to grow all of our lives, and to develop constantly into wiser and better persons.
Leader: We pray that you will help us to seek renewal of our selves in this new season.
People: Let your Holy Spirit challenge us to new goals and achievements in our spiritual lives, so that we may become the persons you have intended us to be.
Leader: Teach us the things Jesus knew about love and service and sacrifice.
People: And show us how to share our wonderful lives with other people who have been less fortunate than we, so that together we may attain your kingdom,
All: And rejoice in your power and your glory, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.