Prayer Service: Closing of School Year

This post was contributed by Annette Jones, Assistant Director of Leadership Development.

Leader

O God of all beginnings and endings,

We praise and thank you for the gift of this school year.

It has been a time filled with grace and blessings,

With challenges and opportunities, joys and sorrows.

All

The days have passed quickly, O Lord.

The weeks, the months, the seasons, the holidays, and holy days.

The exams, vacations, breaks, and assemblies,

All have come forth from your hand.

Leader

Reflection: Please take a moment and in light of God’s word and your experience this year, reflect on something that you are grateful for having received or been a part of in your school community.

Reading (Mark 6:30-34)

The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught.  He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.”  People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.  People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.  They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.

All

Prayer: Gracious and loving God, watch over us in these final days of school.  Guide each day as you have done this past year.  Let our efforts of this past year bear fruit.  Bring all of our plans to a joyful conclusion and bless us all.

Leader

Petitions: Please respond, Renew your people, Lord.

(Share intentions aloud.)

Leader

Closing: Lord, we lift our hearts to You, trusting in Your love and guidance.  You always know what is best for us.  With confidence, we pray together in the words that Jesus taught us, “Our Father…”

Leader

May we continue to grow in age, wisdom, knowledge and grace all the days of our lives.  Amen.