Synod Day of Prayer

Bishop Constanze Hagmaier, and the South Dakota Synod staff, invite you and your congregations to participate in a synod-wide day of prayer for our schools, teachers, students, and staff as we enter into the new school year amidst the uncertainty around COVID-19.

Bishop Hagmaier has called for Sunday, August 2 to be a day where we pray for and bless our students and educators.

Below you will find a worship resource to use that includes a litany and a prayer petition. You are invited to use and adapt this resource as you would like in your context.

O God, wisest of all teachers, we give you thanks for the gift of reason and the opportunity for education. Bless all schools and districts in South Dakota. May it be a place of safety and learning. As the Coronavirus offers us the opportunity to discover new and safe ways to educate, we ask that you give us wisdom, patience, kindness, love, faith and hope as we wrestle with the hard issues that present themselves in these challenging times. We pause to give thanks for school administrators, school boards, educators, para professionals, support staff and all connected to the district. We entrust these dedicated individuals and communities into your care, knowing that you will provide as you see need. We lift up parents and students as their hearts are anxious. Care for them, shepherding God, calm their fears, ease their burdens and give them good courage. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.