Term 3 Staff Prayer – the Winter Season
Focus:
Leader:
A white cloth, a candle, a small bare branch and an icon of Jesus.
For each staff member: one small square of black paper (black A4
sheets cut into eighths) and one tea light.
May the love, warmth and peace of the Blessed Lord Jesus Christ
be with you all.
Response: And also with you.
Leader:
Creator God, it can be very hard at this time of the year to
celebrate. It is a cold, dreary and barren season. The life and
colour of the earth that was with us in the summer have gone and
we long for their return. As we light the focus candle today at the
beginning of this winter term, let its light be a sign of the belief
that we have as Christian people, that in times of darkness and
storm, Jesus is our warmth and light.
A reading from the Gospel of Matthew 14:22-33.
Any discussions/comments on the reading.
Leader: Please hold your piece of black paper. While looking at it, think of a
dark time, a time of turmoil, a ‘storm,’ that you have endured in your
life. A ‘winter season’ you have gone through.
People may want to share their thoughts on a ‘winter’ in their
lives.
(Allow time for any discussions.)
Leader: As Jesus restored calm to the wind and water and to the disciples’
fears, so he will do the same for us. He will bring peace and order
to us when we feel battered by events and far from a safe haven.
We turn to him, we call on him and he will reach out his hand to
uplift us.
We place our tea lights on our pieces of black paper and we light the
candles to symbolise Christ’s presence as the Lord who helps us
overcome our difficulties; the Light that overcomes the darkness.
Let us place them on the focus, as a community of his disciples in
this school.
Reader 1: God of winter let us catch a glimpse of your presence as a sign of
things to come. Help us to see what our eyes are blinded to
and what fear and worry keep us from feeling. In the silence of
the gloom, enter our cold lives with warmth and cheerfulness. Oh
glowing God, within this chilling world let your Spirit’s breath warm
our frozen faith and melt that which holds us down. Let winter’s
thaw bring hope and life again to us who wait. Teach us once again,
through the mystery of the seasons, to understand more deeply
the mystery of life and death. Lead us on to a glorious spring.
Leader: Let us pray together that we will use the blessing of winter that
God has given us to recognize the winter places in our lives so that
they can lead us to growth and change and gentleness.
Leader: The response to our prayer is
Fill our hearts with warmth and hope.
God of Winter we pray that Reader 2: As we begin this new term help us to be ever aware of your
presence in our classrooms and our lives.
Reader 3: In this time of inclement weather and cold days, help us to be
more warm and loving to those with whom we work.
Reader 4: As you brought calm to the wind and sea, bring a calm wisdom to
our hearts and minds to enable us to reach out with love to the
children in our care.
All pray: God of winter, in the midst of this lifeless time remind us
that you still live and that you are present in the grey bleak skies;
that your Spirit still lives in the coldness of winter. The wonder of
your being can be seen in the bare branch and the driving rain. Be
with us as we wait in hope for the greenness of your coming.