Prayer for First Staff Meeting of the School Year

Reflection and Opening Prayer for Staff Meeting at the beginning of the School Year

Here below, to live is to change

And to be perfect

Is to have changed often

                                                (Cardinal John Henry Newman)

When they came to the house Jesus asked them: “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. He sat down called the twelve and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. “ Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” (Mark  9:33-37)

God of all life and longing

As we gather for the beginning of a new school year

We give thanks for this day and everything that has brought us here.

We ask your blessing on our new students and members of staff,

May they feel welcomed and invited to share their gifts and talents with us.

We ask your blessing on all who are returning

May they feel renewed and ready for what this year will bring.

Share with our whole school community the Holy Spirit that breathes your life into us

And leaves us open to the ways of your wisdom so that we may become the people you want us to be.

May Jesus your Son be the teacher who guides our searching and the bread that nourishes our hunger.

We make this prayer in his name. Amen