A Prayer for the Beginning of School

Let us thank God for bringing us together in the life of this school. 

Dear God, at the beginning of things we turn to you, the beginning and end of everything. We pray for this school and the life we will lead together. Help us to live in openness and respect for each other, with care for the heritage we share. Lead us to such love for each other that as knowledge grows, so may wisdom. Grant that we may begin to see the signs of justice in our common life. Help us to welcome new people to our school. Give us more hope for ourselves and our friends than we would ever dare to hope. Help us to make this the best school it can be and to make ourselves the best teachers and students we can be, so that we might make this the best world it can be. We pray in the name of the One who stands at the beginning and in the end, God. Amen. – National Association of Episcopal Schools [NAES]