Prayers of the People/Intercession on Going Back to School

Blessing of Students

Loving God,
Bless our students.

Help them learn and grow this year.
Grant them curiosity
for the wonders of your world.

Fill them with confidence
and encouragement.
Remind them they are deeply loved
and gifted for great good,
now and always. Amen.

Blessing of Educators

Loving God,
Bless the educators among us.

Fill them with inspiration, wisdom,
and encouragement for this
school year.

Strengthen them in body, mind
and spirit.
Keep them safe.
Provide needed funding
staffing, support, and resources.

Remind them they are deeply loved,
deeply valued, and especially gifted
by you for this life-giving work,
now and always. Amen.

Back to School

This prayer may be offered with or without the congregational response. It may be voiced by one or more people.

Holy God, Wisdom of the Ages, thank you for the great gift of education. Thank you for making us a thinking people and for the blessings of curiosity and discovery. Draw us to you as we study the wonders of your world. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Comforting One, bring peace to all who are feeling anxious about the first days of school. Fill them with confidence and encouragement. Ease their concerns with your presence and rest. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Loving God, your joy is our strength. Fill classrooms and administrative offices with delight and hope. Help educators, students, and parents to see you at work and welcome you. Replace fatigue, frustration, and fear with joy and excitement. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Generous One, every good and perfect gift comes from you. Open the windows of heaven for every school in our community. For every school in the world. Supply every need for resources, personnel, and meeting space. Provide strength and grace for physical needs and emotional needs. Show us how we can help. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Prince of Peace, cover every school campus with your shalom. Make them safe sanctuaries of learning and growth. Guard hearts, minds, and bodies against every type of evil. Break down every dividing wall. Bring an end to bullying, abuse, discrimination, prejudice, and violence. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Glorious One, receive our thanks for the chance to learn and help others learn. Extend your blessing in the name of Jesus, who saves us and leads us and teaches us to pray…

Finish with all praying The Lord’s Prayer

Prayer for Schools and Colleges

O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities [and especially ___________], that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church (1979)

Prayer for those who Influence Public Opinion

Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church (1979)

Blessing Students as They Return to School

Consider offering this blessing during worship the Sunday before the start of the school year. This prayer could also be used during another type of gathering or home visit.

For use in worship: The students are invited to stand where they are seated. (Option: If the congregation is small enough, introduce the students and/or give them a gift.) The rest of the congregation is then invited to stand and lay a hand of support and blessing on the student closest to them.

Consider beginning the blessing with an invitation for the congregation to offer their own prayers for the students silently or aloud. Conclude with the following prayer.

Welcoming One, we welcome you and we welcome another school year. Thank you for the blessings of learning and growing, thinking and creating, reasoning and discovering. Fulfill these blessings in every student.

Bless and protect NAME THE STUDENTS (or use “these students”) as they return to school. Fill them with wonder and hope. Remind them again and again of their belovedness, their promise, and their sacred worth.

Grant them good friends and a sense of belonging. Defend them from teasing, isolation, bullying, discrimination, and despair. Grant them trustworthy teachers and mentors to challenge them, support them, and encourage them.

Provide for their needs. Grow in them a healthy relationship with competition and achievement. Reveal their gifts, their talents, and their beautiful, true selves.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, who teaches us the ways of light and life, who teaches us to pray…

Finish with all praying The Lord’s Prayer

Blessing College Students as They Leave for School

Consider offering this blessing during worship the second Sunday in August. This is often the last Sunday college students are in worship before they return to school. This prayer could also be used during another type of gathering (youth group meeting) or home visit.

Consider beginning the blessing with an invitation for the congregation to offer their own prayers for the students silently or aloud. Conclude with the following prayer.

Holy One,

Bless and protect NAME THE STUDENTS (or use “these college students”)

as they leave us to begin another school year.

Keep them encouraged and full of hope.

Surround them with godly influences and opportunities.

Fill them with discernment,

so they remain focused, disciplined, and far from foolishness.

Grant these students the mind of Christ-

so they grow in your wisdom and truth

so they lead with both power and compassion

so they carry your light throughout their campuses

Thank you for each of them

and for providing the resources for them to continue their education.

Thank you for family members, friends, teachers, and coaches

who have mentored and supported them so this day could be possible.

Thank you for creating us with the capacity to think, speak, discover, and reason.

We rejoice in these good gifts from you and give you the honor and glory for them.

Receive our thanks and extend your blessing in the name of Jesus,

who saves us and leads us and teaches us to pray…

Finish with all praying The Lord’s Prayer

Blessing Educators and Support Staff at the Start of the School Year

Consider offering this blessing during worship the Sunday before or after the start of the school year. This prayer could also be used during another type of gathering or home visit.

For use in worship: All school professionals are invited to stand where they are seated. Be sure to include professionals in all settings – preschools, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, universities, professional schools, etc. Be sure to include all kinds of professionals – teachers, administrators, counselors, coaches, custodians, bus drivers, etc.

Option: If the congregation is small enough, have them introduce themselves and where they serve. Give them a gift.) The rest of the congregation is then invited to stand and lay a hand of support and blessing on the person standing closest to them.

Consider beginning the blessing with an invitation for the congregation to offer their own prayers for them silently or aloud. Conclude with the following prayer.

Eternal God, Maker of all that is seen and unseen, thank you for the great gifts of learning, growing, and discovering. Thank you for all who are standing here today, and for the millions more who’ve answered your call to teaching, administration, counseling, and support.

Bless them and protect them as they begin another school year. Fill them, and fill their schools, with peace and light.

Encourage them and inspire them as they encourage and inspire others. Defend them from frustration and despair.

Provide needed funding, resources, personnel, and meeting space. Supply every need, body and soul. Confirm and empower our commitment to helping them.

Grant them wisdom, strength, and discernment so they may serve with power and compassion, effectiveness and kindness. Bless them with joy in seeing their students blossom and grow. May they see good and lasting fruit from their labor.

Receive our thanks and extend your blessing in the name of Jesus, who saves us and leads us and teaches us to pray…

Finish with all praying The Lord’s Prayer

Prayers of the People/Intercession on Going Back to School

Blessing of Students

Blessing of Educators

Back to School

Prayer for Schools and Colleges

Prayer for those who Influence Public Opinion

Blessing Students as They Return to School

Blessing College Students as They Leave for School

Blessing Educators and Support Staff at the Start of the School Year

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