A Back to School Prayer

Gracious God,

We love the joy of a new beginning and so ask your blessing on the children who return to the hallowed halls of learning.

We pray for the students who are starting fresh, we pray that they might find a classmate who introduces themselves with, “Do you want to be my friend?” instead of, “Nice to meet you.” We give thanks for the kids who put themselves out there, making a place of learning function more like a home.

We pray for the students who are excited about learning. How wonderful is it to learn about your world? How amazing is it to gain a sliver of insight into how your creation breathes? We give thanks for the naturally-curious children, and ask that this may spread throughout the classroom.

We pray for the students who are entering their last year of school. This is an inflection point in their lives, though they may still be too young to know what to do with it. We pray that they may have lives filled with compassionate guides who help to nurture passions and explore possibilities.

We pray for students who struggle with school. We ask that you might remove the barriers to their flourishing. Every human is made in your image and has the potential to thrive. Sadly, their environments may keep them from that thriving. We pray that those children may find teachers to instill a sense of dignity and purpose.

I don’t want them to be murdered, God. Make it stop.

We pray for students who play sports. We ask that the spirit of competition might encourage these kids to be their best selves. Let them not be discouraged by their failures, but rather enlivened to try again. We give thanks for the bodies that you give us that allow us to do amazing things.

We pray for the students who have a passion for art. Creation is a gift that you have given us and we are richly blessed when your children create alongside you. We give thanks for the drawings that improve with every passing year. We give thanks for the screeching violins that eventually become beautiful symphonies. Your children can do incredible things, thank you for giving them that passion.

For all of these children, we pray. We pray for success and happiness. We pray they may find community and fulfillment. We pray that every day might be a revelation to them. We pray that while they learn about your world they also learn about who they are becoming. We pray for the incredible opportunities that they find at the beginning of the year. Help them to reach their potential and to learn to love themselves.

But most of all,

We pray that someone doesn’t walk into the building with an AR-15 and shoots them.

Amen.

Peace,

Rev. Jeff Fox-Kline

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As we lift these prayers for our children, may we also commit ourselves to creating communities where they can learn, grow, and thrive in safety and love. If you’re seeking a place where prayer meets action, where faith is lived out in care for one another, we invite you to join us at Twelve Corners Presbyterian Church. Come be part of a community that prays, hopes, and works together for a more compassionate world.