Schools across North Carolina are opening in the face of substantial budget cuts. All those touched by public education are affected; in particular, children and families who have the least also have the most to lose.
Even those not being served directly by the state’s public education system are touched by the young people who progress through it. Whether the mechanic working on my airplane tire or the surgeon working on your heart, all of our lives are impacted by our schools, and we have a responsibility to support them.
While volunteerism and advocacy are critical to successful schools, people of faith and faith communities can also remember them in prayer. As this school year begins, let us bless our children and those who teach and serve them, and let us reaffirm our commitment to strong, healthy public schools. Where our prayers end, may our action begin.
Some suggested prayers follow:
For the Spirit of Truth
From the cowardice that dares not face new truth,
From the laziness that is content with half-truth,
From the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth,
Good Lord, Deliver me. Amen
Prayer from Kenya
Prayer of Ignatius of Loyola
Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve; to give and not count the cost;
to fight and not heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not ask for
any reward, except that knowing that we do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Ignatius of Loyola, Spain, 16th cent.
Come, Divine Interpreter
Come, divine Interpreter, bring me eyes thy book to read, ears thy mystic words
to hear, words which from thee proceed, words that endless bliss impart, kept in an
obedient heart.
All who read, or hear, are blessed, if thy plain command we do; of thy kingdom
here possessed, thee we shall in glory view when thou comest on earth to abide, reign
triumphant at thy side.
Charles Wesley, 1762
For the Care of Children
Almighty God, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm
strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love
whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Book of Common Prayer
Congregational Prayer for Children
Loving Parent, we praise You for Your watchful eye of Mercy that protects Your
children from the evil one. We thank You that You have blessed us to be loved by You,
even when we fail to be obedient. Please, we pray, continue to keep Your children of all
ages, in the Hollow of Your Holy Hand. This we ask in the name of Jesus, Our
Redeemer. Amen
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Book of Worship
For Patience and Discernment
Dear Lord, in the midst of everyday joy and pain, struggles and opportunities, grant us
the patience to learn discernment. Teach us to listen with the “third ear” to You and Your
Word. Amen
African-American Devotional Bible, p. 649
For Guidance
Direct us, O God, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with
your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may
glorify your holy Name, and finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life. Amen.
Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer
A Responsive Prayer for Public Education in North Carolina
Leader: We give you thanks, O God:
For the splendor of your creation and the amazing beauty of our world.
Response: We thank you, Lord.
L: For the wonder of life; for minds to think and hearts to love and hands to serve.
R: We thank you, Lord.
L: For our parents and grandparents, for teachers, for friends, for all who have
helped us to grow and learn to love whatever is just and true and good.
R: We thank you, Lord.
L: For the gift of all children today in our family and in our community and the
blessing and joy of caring for them and bringing them up.
R: We thank you, Lord.
L: Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings:
R: Guide us and help us, O Lord.
L: In our homes that we may have calm strength and patient wisdom to bring up
our children,
R: Guide us and help us, O Lord.
L: In our communities of North Carolina as we “offer all children the quality and
varieties of education and other services they need to participate fully in the creation of
a just and peaceful society.” *
R: Guide us and help us, O Lord.
L: In giving our ideas, talents. and support to our public schools, to local and state school
boards and legislative bodies which are responsible for educating 90% of the children
of North Carolina, so that we may ensure quality education for all
R: Guide us and help us, O Lord.
L: In finding ways to assist teachers and staff and administrators of our public schools so
that they may be renewed continually in their chosen vocation to help all your children
to develop their gifts fully – “physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual” *
R: Guide us and help us, O Lord.
L: That our children and young people may be inspired and mentored and grow in their
will and the vision to learn.
R: Guide us and help us, O Lord.
All: Loving God, we are beginning a new school year. We will learn more about your creation and what we can do to make it a good place for all. We will make new friends and be with old friends. We do not expect it to be easy. Still we know you will be with us every step of the way, to guide us, to give us understanding and strength, to pick us up if we fall, and help us to make new beginnings. We promise we will do all we can to find ways to serve you and all whom you have made and love. Amen.
* These quotations are taken from Final Report of the Joint Public Education Task Force of the American Missionary Association and the Commission for Racial Justice of the United Church of Christ, 2001.
–Aleta Payne, Development and Communications
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