His Eminence, Job has blessed the following prayer service for use in beginning the Church School Year in the parishes of the Diocese. Please click here to download the text.
Commissioning of the Parish for beginning the Church School Year
Students
Priest: You are children of God, made in God’s own image and likeness. You are made to know God and to love Him. God loves you and desires that you should become like His Son, Jesus Christ.
Will you pray each day, praising and thanking God, and taking time to be alone with Him?
Children: I will, with God’s help.
Priest: Will you spend time during the week to review what you have learned in the Church, and to share this knowledge with your friends and family?
Children: I will, with God’s help.
Priest: Will you live as a true Christian in school, with your friends, and at home?
Children: I will, with God’s help.
Priest: Into Your hands, O God, we place these Your children; support them in their successes and failures, their joys and sorrows. As they grow in age, help them to grow in faith, in love, and in knowledge of You, their God and Savior.
All: Amen.
Parents, Grandparents & Godparents
Priest: God has given into Your keeping the souls of your children fashioned in His own image and likeness. You are but sojourners on this earth and our souls are incomplete until they are found in God. Your children are given into your care, but belong to God. The vocation of parents is impossible without the constant help of God.
Therefore, will you be responsible for seeing that the children at our parish are brought up in the Orthodox Faith?
Parents: I will, with God’s help.
Priest: Will you, by your prayers and example, help these children to grow into the full stature of Christ?
Parents: I will, with God’s help.
Priest: Will you bring your children—and yourselves—regularly to the Church Services, Holy Sacraments, and our Educational programs; along with sharing in worship, study, and prayer with your children?
Parents: I will, with God’s help.
Priest: May God our Father, who by Baptism adopts us as His children, grant you the wisdom, humility, and love to fulfill your task. May the Lord Jesus Christ, who brought salvation to the home of Zacchaeus, fill you and your home with His sanctification? May the Holy Spirit, who has made the Church to be one, keep you in His peace.
All: Amen.
Church School Teachers
Priest: Today, we recognize the men and women of our parish who have responded to the Lord’s invitation to share with others the Gospel Message and to make disciples of all people. Their witness makes us aware of our call in Christ to be of service to others. God bestows on His Church gifts, like that of teaching, to strengthen and build up His Church.
Will you continue to grow as disciples of the Lord by listening to the Word of God, living by His teachings, and sharing His commands with others.
Teachers: I will, with God’s help.
Priest: Will you prepare yourselves to fulfill all of the responsibilities that this teaching ministry requires, in fostering the faith to those entrusted to your care and faithfully teach the True Faith to your students?
Teacher: I will, with God’s help.
Priest: Then, we, the community of _______ accept with thanks your willingness to respond to God’s call.
O God, Author and Creator of all things, bless the good intentions of our teachers, your servants, as they offer themselves in this teaching ministry. Assist them in all things, guide the work of their hands. Graciously grant them to begin this work and to complete it to the glory of You—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Priest: Brothers and sisters, you realize that we all share in the ministry of teaching. Will you pledge your support for the Parents, Grandparents, Godparents, and Teachers of our children as they carry out their teaching ministry?
All: I will, with God’s help.
Priest: O Master, Lord our God, You commanded that everything be done for Your glory. By Your blessing, stretch forth Your helping hand to us Your servants as we begin this Church School year. Grant these children a heart that is open to Your teachings and protect them from the Evil One. Bless the good intentions of Your people. Protect us from worldly wisdom and deceit.
For You are a good God who loves mankind, and to You we give glory, honor, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
All: Amen.