inaugural prayer service june 2014

*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values* PRAYER SERVICE FROM

AVEC

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019

Tel: 24154477 E-mail: [email protected]

AVEC PRAYER SERVICE RESOURCE

Inaugural Prayer Service for the Student community at the start of the Academic Year

Theme: Children must be taught how to think, not what to think- Margaret Mead. Quote: Education is a gift that none can take away - American proverb. Logo: You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream- C.S.Lewis Event: Inaugural Prayer Service at the start of the Academic year. Ritual: Symbol LOTUS for growth in harmony. Bloom where you are planted. Scripture: Book of Wisdom: 7: 17-21. Prayer Songs:

1. Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning. Refer: http://youtu.be/kt_4cTQw8y8 2. Walking with the Lord: http://youtu.be/o9nBK98i7WI

Requirements: (Time 15 minutes) A Teacher and 2/3 student leaders will take full responsibility for prior preparation:

1. Arrange and organize the prayer service, with prior preparation for the requirements. 2. Prepare the Lamp to be lit and the Lotus, quotes.. for display during the prayer service. 3. The choir to practice earlier the given songs and lead the assembly to sing. 4. Assign 8 readers to responsibly render their role; practice earlier to set the prayer tone

of devotion with reflective pauses to let the service flow without flaw. 5. Display Lotus flower, Posters, Quotes Bloom where you are planted

NOTE: {AVEC Prayer Services are comprehensive to conduct during the school assembly or class assembly. Pupil participation in preparation of Rituals, Poster, Singing, and Reading will enhance the effect. In case of time constraint, you are encouraged to condense and have it rather than miss its dynamism. Kindly spread the prayer for the benefit of others.}

Introduction: Lighting of the lamp: (A Kuthuvilakku / Samai is placed on the stage with 5 wicks test lighted to ensure that they stay lit. 2 candles and matchbox for lighting the Kuthuvilakku. 5 persons (Principal / Manager / two teachers (sec /pri), 2 students ( sec/pri: girl /boy) to light the lamp are positioned nearby). Reader1: Light represents the presence of God and is traditionally linked with knowledge and goodness. Light symbolizes the direction and guidance of God. Let us welcome the Divine Presence in our hearts, in our lives and in our midst as the choir and assembly sing Give me oil in my lamp while the lamp is being lit by honoured persons.(mention persons).


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Choir and the Assembly sing: Give me oil in my lampRefer: http://youtu.be/e5Y8SXsyRQA Reader 2: The past academic year 2013-14 has been eventful and exciting with significant learning and collective wisdom for each of us in the school community. Let us close our eyes to review the past to unfold the key events in the story of our life linking us to the coming year (2014-15) and beyond to shape us. We focus on what is good to appreciate each event/ experience for the insights gained, concepts formed, efforts made and the goals reached. We recall the fun and laughter, the joy and pain in the valued journey of life we shared in the school.

Reader3: I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday says Eleanor Roosevelt. The new academic year with endless possibilities is a fresh chance for a bright beginning to value and develop my self-worth. The value of education is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think to make visible what is hidden in us as a seed, for even a mighty tree starts from a tiny seed. The treasure and joy of learning accompany us everywhere. Trust the magic of beginnings and be willing to be a beginner every single morning (Meister Eckhart) to celebrate life and learning as we start anew in class for what we do today is important because we are exchanging a day of our life for it.

Reflective Time: (allot at least 5-7 minutes) Leader: We ask few self-directed questions: What are the highlights / insights / lessons of class during 2013-14? What is the joyful / painful event; hardest / greatest lesson; happiest/hurting memory? What do I love about the past year in grade / class What do I regret about the past year in grade / class

(after 2/3 minutes pause) At the cross road of life we need to forgive and forget the regretful past. A fresh year is a great time to turn over a new leaf / learn new things / end harmful habits and addictions. I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday says Eleanor Roosevelt. Focus on what is good in life with a smiling face, for confidence is something you create within yourself by believing who you are. You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream renew and trust the magic of beginnings. Be willing to be a beginner every single morning (Meister Eckhart).

(Reflective pauses after each question) What are my ambitions / desires / dreams / aims / goals for the class ... during the year 2014-15? What do I want to learn? What do I want to better? What is my target for class ? Decide one thing I would like to do differently in class 2014-15 to value life and learning. What can I do to make my home / school / society a better place?

(Give time to discover, decide and write down my daily action plan towards my life goal. Share the written action plan and the goal mutually and in the class)


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Ritual: Symbol Lotus: (Lotus flower in a pot/vase or cutout on a display board on a stage) Reader 4: The symbolism of Lotus Flower Lotus is a water lily rooted in soil in the body of water, with leaves and flowers floating on the water surface. The lotus flower begins as a small bud down at the bottom of a pond in the muck. It slowly rises persistently moving upwards to the light. Once it surfaces on water, the lotus bud blossoms into a beautiful flower. At night the lotus flower closes up to go underwater only to stand up in its splendor again at dawn. The Lotus leaves shade to cool the water permitting more dissolved oxygen. The roots, leaves, flower and seeds are edible and medicinal. Lotus cherished for its tranquility, symbolize divinity, fruitfulness, wealth, knowledge and enlightenment.

Reader 5: Lotus is a symbol of transformation where mud is transformed into an elegant flower of great beauty. Lotus even whilst growing in murky waters is untouched by its pollution. As a lotus flower is born in water, grows in water and rises out of water to stand above it unsoiled, so I, born in the world, raised in the world having overcome the world, live unsoiled by the world says Buddha. Let me like the lotus bloom where I am planted and be as the lotus, open to the rising sun, unaffected by the muddy depths of its birth or even the water which sustains it.

Reader 6: Wisdom can be defined as "applications of God's holiness in all we say, do and think". Like everything else in the world, wisdom has a single source - God. For God loves nothing so much as the man who lives with wisdom (Wis.7:28). Let us listen to the book of Wisdom Chapter 7 verses 17 to 21 on being blessed with wisdom. (Allow a pause of few seconds.)

Scripture Reading: Book of Wisdom 7: 17 21. For it is he who gave me unerring knowledge of what exists, to know the structure of the world and the activity of the elements; the beginning and end and middle of times, the alternations of the solstices and the changes of the seasons, the cycles of the year and the constellations of the stars, the natures of animals and the tempers of wild beasts, the powers of spirits and the reasoning of men, the varieties of plants and the virtues of roots; I learned both what is secret and what is manifest, for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me. (pause few seconds.)

Reader 7: Believe in God like you believe in the sunrise; not because you can see it, but because you can see all it touches (c.s.lewis). The deposit of limitless power - traits, abilities, talents and skills lie within us to discover and develop our passion. Lotus blooms in its purity even in contaminated water to inspire us that we have the potential, purpose and passion to blossom and flourish wherever we are. To ignite passion, we develop attitudes that find opportunities in every difficulty for the happiest people dont necessarily have everything; they just make the most of everything that comes their way.


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Reader8: Robert Collier says Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out, a journey not a destination. Consciously focusing on the process entails good planning, motivation, study skills, diligent work and efficiency to raise the bar for where attention goes, energy flows and results show. Worthwhile personal goals, task the brain to generate creative ideas, for all that you aspire and require lies within you. Do what you can with what you have and where you are(Eleanor Roosewelt). Every day let us trust in God to be present, see the good, stay positive, wear a little sparkle, capture the little moments, learn something new, work smarter, eat to nourish, enjoy life more, be inspired and inspire for the future is as bright as the promises of God.

Leader: Let us pray to God the Creator of universe and source of all knowledge and wisdom to bless the year ahead of us. Let us pray the prayer Our Father that we bloom where we are planted. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Let us conclude the prayer service sing Walking with the Lord with the Choir: Choir and Assembly: Walking with the Lord. Refer: http://youtu.be/o9nBK98i7WI

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Prayer Song: 1. Give me oil in my lampRefer: http://youtu.be/e5Y8SXsyRQA Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning / Give me oil in my lamp, I pray. Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning / Keep me burning till the break of day. Chorus: Sing Hosanna! sing Hosanna! / Sing Hosanna to the King of Kings.

Sing Hosanna! sing Hosanna! / Sing Hosanna to the King.

Prayer Song: 2. Walking with the Lord Refer: http://youtu.be/o9nBK98i7WI Chorus: Walking with the Lord / we are walking in the morning Lift up your hearts / for you are walking the with God Singing to the Lord / we are singing in the sunshine Lift up your hearts/ for you are singing to God

Hand in hand with everyone / we are walking, walking, Black and white and brown together / Walking, walking, Singing new songs now /living new lives, Building new bridges / walking distant miles, Well we are walking with the Lord.......

Rain and storm will not prevent us / walking, walking Faith and hope and love will send us / walking, walking Crossing all barriers / climbing all stiles Breaking, through fences / walking distant miles Well, we are walking with the Lord

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inaugural prayer service june 2014

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