TEACHERS' DAY PRAYER
SERVICE
Prior Preparation
- Vermilion (Tilak)
- Grains of Raw Rice : Some coloured grains of raw rice to represent
the houses of the school
- A table spread with foods made of rice (eg: idli. poha, rice
noodles, handbread, rice chakalis)
- Children to be dressed as rice stalks
- Costumes of various professions for the children or a
Chart/cut outs to be prepared.
- A tray of soil in which rice or wheat has been planted. (This
must be done ten or fifteen days in advance. A bucket and two mugs to be placed near a table.
ENTRANCE PROCESSION
The teachers are welcomed by the manager with the vijay tilak which consists of the vermilion mark with a few
grains of raw rice. As each teacher is anointed, the manager says "May Your steadfastness and firmness of mind bring you success".
The teachers who are house mistresses are at the rear of the procession and each one is given a fistful of coloured raw
rice representing the houses they are in charge of. During the procession all sing the hymn: "This is the Day that the Lord
has made".
RITUAL
When all have assembled, the head-mistresses representing each section of the school (Kg., Primary, Secondary) light
the Samai. The house mistresses then sprinkle the coloured grains of rice around the Samai. (While the above is being done,
a Marathi hymn or Bhajan can be sung or played).
Introduction:
We have gathered together here tc celebrate Teachers' Day. As we are all aware this year 2004. has been declared by the U.N,
as the International Year of Rice. Rice is the staple food of more than half of the world's population. Our farmers all over
the world have a great responsibility in its production. It is only fitting that on Teachers' Day we have chosen to use grains
of rice as our symbol as we honour our teachers who play an important role in our formation as students.
Child 1 We children
are like rice plants. Our parents send us to this school which is like a field where we grow, (a few young children dressed
up like rice stalks could come on stage).
Child 2 Our teachers
from the K.G. to Std. X remind us of the hardworking and diligent farmer who toils in the scorching sun, ploughing the
field, sowing seeds, watering them and patiently waiting for them to grow. (One child dressed up as a farmer could move among
the rice stalks miming the actions of sowing, watering, etc.)
Child 3 And when
the rice is harvested and threshed and later cooked, various foods and delicacies are prepared like idli. poha, rice chaklis,
etc. as we see on this table. (Children bring in some of these delicacies made of rice and place them on a table.)
Child 4 Our teachers
through their hard work mould and shape us. As educators, they nurture and cherish those entrusted to their care so that we
grow rich in moral and ethical values and later we can be of service to society as doctors, engineers, pilots, police, social
workers etc.
(Children from Std. IX or X can be dressed up in the various professions and come on stage. OR a chart or cut outs
of the various professions could be brought forward or put on the backdrop at this stage).
Headboy/girl On this day. dear teachers,
we want to let you know how much we admire you. We thank God for giving us good, loving, conscientious and self-sacrificing
teachers and we would like to pray for you.
Prayers made my children :
Response after each prayer: Bless our teachers. Lord, Come by here (to be sung to the tune of Come by here;.
The Assistant Head boy/girl: Heavenly Father bless our teachers
that they may always be exemplary true in-I structors and educators conscious of their noble vocation.
Response :
Bless our teachers Lord...
1st House Leader :
Shower 0 Lord, we fervently pray, your grace and your blessings upon our teachers. Keep them from any harm,
material or moral.
Response :
Bless our teachers Lord...
2nd House Leader:
Favour, 0 Lord, our teachers with good health. Keep each one of them and their families in your loving care. Give them peace of mind.
Response:
Bless our teachers Lord...
3rd House Leader:
Lord, make all teachers aware that the teaching profession is very great and noble. Endow them with ail the patience,
love and understanding they need, in order to deal with us students effectively.
Response:
Bless our teachers Lord.
4th House Leader:
Lord help our teachers to find fulfillment and happiness through their teaching profession.
Response:
Bless our teachers Lord.
READING
Commentator: We will now listen to a reading from the Bible. Mt. 13:24-28a
Comm.: In the reading Jesus tells us about a good farmer who sows good seed into the soil but an enemy comes later and
sows weeds. The crop now has both corn and weeds growing up together.
Headmistress/Principal: This parable reminds us of the children we teach. We as teachers try to inculcate right values
and knowledge but so often, like the enemy who sowed weeds, other influences pollute the hearts and minds of our children.
On this day dedicated to us, let us bring our children to God Our Father and pray that He may make us fitting instruments
in helping our children to grow strong to counteract the forces that threaten our society.
PRAYER MADE BY TEACHERS
Response: Lord we need you (sung to
the tune of Come by here).
Teacher A : Lord, may we
selflessly give of ourselves, not just to improve the intelligence quotient, but also the emotional quotient and the
spiritual quotient, and thus care for the entire well being of the students entrusted to us.
Response:
Lord we need you. Come by here.
Teacher B : Lord, as teachers,
we sometimes feel inadequate. We have big ideas but many a time are unable to carry them out for various reasons and we feel
frustrated. Let your words encourage us to carry on the work you have given us, and not give it up very easily.
Response:
Lord we need you, Come by here.
Comm:
And now one of the teachers will bring forward a tray with soil in which some shoots have come up and place it on a
table. Each teacher will then come up in twos and take some water from the bucket near the table and water the plants as a
sign of their nurturing and moulding the students. During this time sing: 'Bind us together Lord".
- Mrs. Be//a Figueiredo
