The “back to school” section of Target is overflowing. Walmart’s end caps are full of notebooks in every color. Amazon ads are popping up right and left for lunchboxes, uniforms, and the trendiest water bottle (with accessories) on sale. Marketing folks have us figured out. It’s time to go back to school.
In this second blog that helps us bridge the summer and fall weeks with an eye towards the fall launch, we’re going to focus specifically on teachers and professors. So much of our attention goes to the students at this time of year. They are the ones whose backpacks we bless, and who are invited to the front to receive a prayer and blessing for the school year. Sometimes we remember to invite teachers up front as well, but our attention largely falls on the students.
We miss a pivotal moment to bless a profession that likely includes at least a few in your congregation. We routinely ask groups of church leaders what their top professions are in the church, and almost all say teachers. Don’t forget this includes daycare providers, preschool teachers, homeschoolers, paraeducators, special educators, professors, adjuncts, student advisers, school administrators, school nurses, and the list goes on and on. Their back to school charge and blessing should be distinct – honoring the fact that their calling is distinct from the students they serve. Whether it’s their first or fifteenth year, they need a reminder of the holiness and seriousness of their work. They need the support of their church community, and a moment to remember they do not labor alone. Consider blessing the teachers and educators the week before the students. Engage the students and have them help lead and participate in this blessing. Below are some ideas to get you started.
A Blessing For School Staff
Do you have school staff in your church you’d like to bless? Using a template prayer like the one below is an easy way to include these workers in a back to school prayer.
God of new beginnings
Bless our ____________
Thank you for the ways they __________, __________, and ________.
In this school year, bless them with _________, ________, and ________.
When they encounter challenges like ________, fill them with your _________.
Bless O Lord, your dear children called to the work of _______.
We commit them to your care in this school year and in every year to come. May they feel the support of their community and the loving care of their Heavenly Father who equips them, and sends them now with the Holy Spirit’s power. Amen.
Example Prayer for School Librarians
God of new beginnings
Bless our school librarians. Thank you for the ways they open our imaginations, fill us with wonder, and point us to facts and truth about your world. In this school year, bless them with the joy of new discoveries, satisfaction in their ability to serve, and strength when they are discouraged or weary. When they encounter challenges like diverse student needs, and questions of integrity with technological advances, fill them with your wisdom and compassion. Bless, O Lord, your dear children called to the work of the library. We commit them to your care in this school year and in every year to come. May they feel the support of their community and the loving care of their Heavenly Father who equips them, and sends them now with the Holy Spirit’s power. Amen.
A Prayer for Elementary and Secondary School Teachers
Lord, we thank you that all knowledge comes from you. We ask you for guidance for the teachers and educators in our city. May those who have the privilege of teaching children understand the great responsibility you have given teachers to shepherd them through a particular year in their students’ lives.
We pray for our children to be loved well through these men and women who are teaching them. We ask that you grant these teachers patience, wisdom, and grace as they model for their students what it means to be a learner, but also what it means to be a friend to others and a member of a community. We pray the minds of these students would be developed as well as their character and spirituality. May they grow in their intellect and in their emotional intelligence to be compassionate and empathetic children and young adults with noble, responsible, and generous hearts. May the arts, sports, and technology be an important part of their education so they will become well-rounded adults. And above all, Lord, may these children come to know and love you.
We pray for each educator to understand the significance of their work. May they see each child’s beautiful possibility and work to cultivate that for their futures. May you sustain them through long, tiring days and help them to pour their hearts into their students.
We pray the educational standards for our cities will be crafted in a way that forms children into adults dedicated to influence their societies for good. We pray for the influence these educators have on others and pray you will be the first influence on their lives.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This prayer has been curated from our partners at the Global Faith and Work Initiative, a ministry of Redeemer City to City. We encourage you to check out their vast resources for workers and church leaders.
A Prayer for School Nurses
God, today we thank you for nurses and techs that serve in schools of all levels. Some parents experience few interactions with them during the school year. Some parents have them on speed dial and rely on them daily.
Whether they are known or unknown to parents, they bring healing to young bodies and young minds each day. They bandage real wounds and pretend ones. They hug arms that receive many at home and ones that don’t get enough. They listen to precious stories. They diagnose ailments and heartaches alike. They are always prepared. They know their students by name and give them safe spaces to be known.
We pray that they will have the energy to finish this school year well. Give them strength and patience. Give them wisdom and joy in their tasks. Heal them where healing is needed. Be a faithful presence when a listening companion is needed. Bless the work of their hands, O God and use them as agents of healing and comfort in your world today. Equip them in their calling and remind them how much their work matters to you. We pray all these things in the name of Jesus the Healer. Amen.
A Prayer for Higher Education Teachers
Our Father in heaven, you are humanity’s great teacher. You taught Adam in the Garden of Eden to take care of creation. You taught Moses your commandments. Through your son Jesus, you showed us how to live, how to respond to injustice, and how to find salvation.
You are our greatest teacher. Even when we have not learned our lessons well, patiently you have taught us the truth. Bless those dedicated to teaching and research. May they study and learn about your creation in all its splendor and apply that knowledge to the improvement of our communities through the arts, sciences, and humanities. May they develop knowledge which uplifts the human spirit and allows people to live healthy and fulfilled lives in service of neighbors, cities, nations, and the world. Help them to follow your example by finding new and creative ways to teach and inspire students to want to learn and develop their minds. May their students be filled with passion and love to dedicate their lives to the service of others in the glory of your name.
We pray that college communities would be open to listening and learning. That different ideas would be treated with respect and dignity and that people would be eager to look outside of themselves for wisdom. We pray that those with differing ideas would not be antagonistic towards each other but love and respect one another. And we pray that our students would be able to learn new ideas and then hold them up to the light of truth in Christ to examine them. We pray for their professors, that you would help them see the broken places in their students’ lives and shine light into those areas to love their students well.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This prayer has been curated from our partners at the Global Faith and Work Initiative, a ministry of Redeemer City to City. We encourage you to check out their vast resources for workers and church leaders.
A Commissioning for Professors
Professors, educators, and scholars—
you have been entrusted with the calling to teach, mentor, and inspire.
Will you commit to pursuing truth with humility,
to guiding students with compassion,
and to modeling integrity in both your scholarship and your life?
Professors:
We will, God helping us.
Leader:
Will you honor the dignity of each student,
cultivate curiosity and courage,
and remain faithful to your vocation even when it is difficult or unseen?
Professors:
We will, God helping us.
Leader:
We your community, bless and commission you:
May you teach with wisdom and listen with patience.
May your labor bear fruit in generations to come.
May the Holy Spirit fill your mind and heart,
so that your words bring life, your actions reflect justice,
and your presence bear witness to God’s truth and love.
All:
Go now, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
to teach, to serve, and to bless.
Amen.
Pastoral Practices
As you think beyond the “one Sunday” blessing for these educators and staff, here are a few ideas to extend this blessing throughout the year.
- Do a pastoral visit to the classroom/office/school before students are back and say a prayer over the space. Walk with your parishoner through the mission field where God is sending them and pray over the spaces with them. Remind them that the blessings they received on Sunday have a very clear destination. God blesses them that in this particular and unique space, they might bless others.
- Mark down a few significant dates in the academic calendar and remember to pray for educators on the closest Sundays. Remember them when they are grading, teacher’s appreciation week, when they are preparing for parent- teacher conferences. These small mentions and remembrances have big impact. Do it now while you’re thinking about it!
