PRAYER SERVICE

TEACHERS ’ DAY

THEME: “Teachers, You are a Blessing!”

For this prayer service, a banner could be prepared and put on the wall - “Teachers, You
are a Blessing”

For the intercessory prayers, have students come up with the following items: Flower
petals, model of a bird, an umbrella, picture of a person gazing upwards, and a diya or a
candle.

1. INTRODUCTION
Student Prayer Leader: Teachers’, you are a blessing! We recognize in you dear teachers
a blessing of God on us. We are happy and delighted to have you with us and celebrate
your day. You are precious and we love you. We join you in thanking God for having
entrusted you with this very delicate and precious mission of nurturing our minds, bodies,
hearts, and souls. As we begin this prayer service, we would like to call on God our Guru,
or inspiration and model to guide us through the teachers to whose care He has entrusted
us.

2. HYMN: Tumhi to mata, Pita tumhi ho…

3. TEACHERS’ INTROSPECTION
Teacher 1: 5th September is commemorated as Teachers’ Day. It is the birthday of Dr.
Radha Krishnan who willed that this day be celebrated as Teachers’ Day. In doing so he
has not only dedicated his great day to the Nation but his person as a whole. So it is a right
day to re-evaluate and re-dedicate our lives to our noble task of teaching. Let us pause for a
while and ask ourselves - Am I really a blessing to my students; to the Institute and the
Management where I am serving? (Pause)

4. SCRIPTURE READING
Teacher 2: We have our model Teacher in God who can be imagined in the metaphor of a
Good Shepherd. As we listen to this reading, let us reflect on the qualities of an ideal
teacher.

Reading: Jn.l0:11-14 (Could be read by a teacher)

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. The hired
man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep
as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and runs away, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the
sheep; he runs away because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep. I am
the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me.
5. REFLECTION
Teacher 3: A shepherd is completely dedicated to the flock which he tends. The sheep
entrusted to his care becomes for the shepherd the single pre-occupation of his days and
nights. There is never a time when he is not with them; never a time when they are without
his close attention, guidance and leadership. When they are hungry, he feeds them; when
they are in danger, he protects them; when they are lost he seeks them out. He is in reality
the main stay and support of their very life. God is our faithful Shepherd. He is a caring
leader. He knows His sheep by name. He gives life to His sheep and He died for His sheep.

6. SONG ON DISC
Student Prayer Leader: Let us listen to this psalm as it is played for us on disc, placing
all our trust and confidence in the Lord our Faithful Shepherd.

SONG: Shepherd me Oh Lord

7. INTERCESSORY PRAYERS
Student Prayer Leader: We want to look up to God our Father to praise and thank Him
and pray for His blessings on each of you dear teachers - for you are a blessing to each of
us. Our response will be: Response: “Father may they always be a blessing”

(Have 5 students to read the prayers, and 5 to carry the symbols. As each prayer is read
out, the student carrying the symbols comes in front)

a. Showers of Flower Petals: (Flower petals to be thrown) Father, we acknowledge your

blessings that come down on us every day. Showers are the fruit of our teachers’ labors.
These showers soothe us, enrich us, gladden us…. so we pray that you fill all our teaching
and non-teaching staff members with power, strength, knowledge, understanding so that
they may continue to be a blessing in all that they do. R/-

b. Glow of Light: (lamp) Father, we enjoy a blessing because of the warmth that
envelopes one’s heart and the glow of radiance it leaves behind. It brings hope in the midst
of darkness and gloom. As the lamp burns with a glow, so may the lives of our teachers
radiate warmth and brightness to all around us. R/-

c. Bird: (model or picture of a bird) Father, blessings take one’s spirit soaring high, with a
spirit of freedom like the bird that scales the heights. With our arms lifted high, spreading
our wings of joy we rejoice at your blessings that come to us through our teachers who
help us believe in ourselves and help us to grow. With gratitude we say. R/-

d. Gaze upwards: (A person or picture of a person gazing upwards) Father, our blessings
multiply when we gaze upwards and count them and marvel at the great things You have
in store for us. An encouraging hand leads us towards greater aspirations. We pray for our
teachers who have taught and are still teaching in this school, bless them and all the
teachers in our country. R/-
e. Comforting Shelter: (Umbrella) Heavenly Father, the power of blessing is the comfort
and security it brings. Blessings protect us from the sweltering heat of drudgery and the
monotony of study. Like the open umbrella that shelters us from the rain, our dear
principal and teachers understand the stress and strain of our studies. Thanking them for
their encouraging approach, we say. R/-

(Students wish each of the staff-members with flowers and a card. A song could be sung-
wishing the teachers on this their day)

8. CONCLUDING PRAYER
Student Prayer Leader: Father we pray that You accept this homage of our love and
praise. Accept our teachers who are a blessing to us. May your blessing be their light, may
your blessing be their song of love. May your blessing strengthen their service to the
community. Accept Lord our song of thanks and praise they are your divine blessing to us
all. May this prayer rise to you, as we turn to You our Good Shepherd through this bhajan.

9. FINAL BHAJAN / BLESSING SONG: “Diya Tune ham ko vardhan” or any other
suitable hymn on the theme - A Blessing.

Edited with minor changes from a prayer from RAYS Magazine Vol. 27 July-August 2000 No. 1
Organized by: Amrut Dhara, Don Bosco Animation Centre Kapadvanj - Gujarat