Responsive Reading

 

We give you thanks, O God:

For the splendor of your creation and the amazing beauty of our world.

We thank you, Lord.

For the wonder of life; for minds to think and hearts to love and hands to serve.

We thank you, Lord.

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.

We thank you, Lord.

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.

We thank you, Lord.

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings:

Guide us and help us, O Lord.

In our homes that we may have calm strength and patient wisdom to bring up our children,

Guide us and help us, O Lord.

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.

Guide us and help us, O Lord.

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,

Guide us and help us, O Lord.

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 – physically, intellectually, socially, and spiritually,

Guide us and help us, O Lord.

That our children and young people may be inspired and mentored and grow in their will and the vision to learn.

Guide us and help us, O Lord.

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.

 

(from the NC Council of Churches’ Committee on Public Education, Celebrating a Public Education Sabbath)

 

You Came as a Child

 

Lord Jesus, we remember you came to us as a baby, and lived among us as a child.  You needed the care and attention of your family and community to grow and to learn according to God’s plan. You understand what this is like.  Today we pray for the children who have the task of growing and learning in our day.  They are both blessed with opportunities and challenged by obstacles. We pray that you open our eyes. In what ways are you calling your people to help? How can we work toward assuring that all children get the chance to “increase in wisdom and stature” and to grow into the persons you would have them be? Guide us individually and as a congregation. In your leading, we place our hope.                          

Amen.

 

(from the NC Council of Churches’ Committee on Public Education, Celebrating a Public Education Sabbath)

 

 

Alternative Responsive Reading

 

Lord, who kept not the children from coming to you,

who welcomed them into your arms, who told us that we must come to you with the faith of a child,

 

We pray for the children in our communities who are receiving their education from public schools.  As many of us were educated in the public school system, we ask your guidance and wisdom in sustaining the school system,

a system that welcomes all children regardless of race, ethnicity, geography, gender, disability, or economic status. 

 

Almighty God, the Benevolent Teacher, we ask special blessings upon the teachers in our public schools who work for a modest income to teach our children to become responsible citizens and seekers of wisdom and knowledge. 

Give them energy and vision for their passion, so that our children may be in good hands.  We ask that you give us strength to work tirelessly to improve the education system for the betterment of the whole community – to work to ensure that all of our children are afforded an equal opportunity to receive a good education. 

 

Amen.

 

(by Jason R. Jenkins, with material from the NC Council of Churches website)