Dear Hyde Park Family,
This week, schools are beginning a new year all across our area. It is a time mixed with anticipation, apprehension and the welcome return of routine. It is also an opportunity for us to pray God’s blessings on our students, teachers, families, staff and administrators, along with our children and youth ministries and Small Blessings preschool. I invite you to join in offering this prayer for the year ahead.
A PRAYER FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR
Gracious and Eternal God,
At this start of a new year of education and ministry, we give thanks for the many ways that you are a loving teacher of us all. Your love reminds us that we are all your children, and students under your tutelage. You guide us toward a life of wholeness and decency, instruct us with the principles of holy living, and correct our missteps with grace and forgiveness. We are grateful for the lessons you teach us, which in turn guide the children who learn from our example.
We pray for our area schools and all our teachers, who have the noble task of educating the most impressionable among us. Grant them patience in the classroom, wisdom in their counsel and endurance for the year ahead. May they receive from us the affirmation they richly deserve but rarely receive.
We pray for school administrators and staff. Lead them through the challenges of underfunding, understaffing, and rapidly changing technology. We pray for the current election of school board members. Guide our leaders in providing the courage, wisdom, and resources our schools need.
We pray for the families of our community. Call them to a deeper level of involvement in the education of their kids and in support of their schools. Help them find a balance between busyness and family time. We pray for those facing financial hardship during these unsteady economic times, especially those experiencing poverty. Guide this church in ministering to them.
We pray that all our school campuses will be secure and healthy. Stem the tide of gun violence and reduce the presence of bullying. Surround our children with role models that encourage decent behavior and healthy choices. May our children flourish in an environment that is safe, fun, and intellectually energizing.
We pray for the ministries to children and youth in our church. Thank you for the faithful work of our ministry staff and volunteers, and grant them the wisdom and love that will make a deep and lasting impact. We pray for all our children and youth, including the preschoolers of Small Blessings, that they would each find their truest identity in the grand, ongoing story of your love.
God, you have placed a sense of eternity in our hearts, that we cannot fully see all that you have done from the beginning to the end. Help us rise to the great responsibility of being faithful stewards of our children. May they forge ahead into the bright future you have envisioned for them.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Rabbi, teacher, and Lord,
Amen.
Grace and Peace,
Magrey
THIS SUNDAY: THE MEANING OF METHODIST – ONE WHO PRACTICES DAILY
Join us this Sunday as we continue our worship series on the beauty and joy of being United Methodist. We will focus on how even the word Methodist calls us to put our faith into practice, especially during times of doubt and disbelief. If you know of someone who would love to learn more about our Methodist heritage, belief, and practice, invite them to join us in person or online, or share our past sermons and worship services on our YouTube page.
SIGN UP FOR A SMALL GROUP THIS FALL
One of the best ways for us to grow in our faith is to join a group of fellow Christians on the journey. Sign-ups are happening right now for a number of exciting groups to choose from, including those studying a book titled “Called” as part of our fall worship series. Register on campus this Sunday or on our website.