08-19-19

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS

August 19, 2019

Prayer for the Week: Such a wide range of emotions right now — among students and parents and educators — excitement, uncertainty, apprehension, anticipation, exhaustion. Some enter this moment with confidence generated by past success. Others find unwanted trepidation building on some negative experience from the past. We pray, Merciful God, for young people who are beginning a new school year. Let us see them, not simply as our future, but our present as well. If we do not value them today, we can begin to push their worth as human beings into some undetermined future that may never be revealed. We celebrate every child no matter their place of birth, their economic status, the color of their skin, their gender, their orientation, their family status or even their grades in the classroom. They are precious, and it is only as we claim their immeasurable value that we will see them as you see them, O Lord. For parents who are doing this parenting-thing to best of their ability. May each of them be filled with your gifts of encouragement, wisdom and patience. Make real your unconditional love as a way of preparing parents to instill within their children a sense of belovedness. And for educators and support staff who do what they do, not for the money or the fame, but with a deeply held conviction of divine calling, we pray they find support and respect from the community. May they receive your affirmation in the little classroom successes that come amidst all the challenges. And may those who assist in uplifting children be considered among the most honored in our community. We offer our words today in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.

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