Back to School

We were so inspired by House Church in Newtownards who hosted a ‘Back to School’ prayer room last week as a way to help their children transition back to school. This is something you could do in your own church or youth space, or if you’ve a relationship with the school already you could offer a space to help children as they navigate the new school year. We have loads of prayer activities relating to this topic on the prayer spaces in schools website.

There are so many prayer groups across Ireland who are committed to praying for schools throughout the year. Organisations like Moms in Prayer and Pray for Schools can help you get started and link you with local groups and resources. It all starts by gathering a few people and committing to pray for your local schools and pupils, then see where it takes you.

As schools start to settle back in there is a great opportunity to listen to them and serve them. Check in with the teachers and staff you know and ask them what their needs are and what ways you might be able to help serve them as a church this year. You could end up helping at a breakfast club, planning a fundraising event or praying specifically for the situations the school is facing.

The National Day of Prayer for Schools is happening on Friday the 27th September and why not consider joining in? Pais UK and Ireland and Youthscape are hosting the day for the 5th year running with collective prayers Zooms you can join in with. But why not consider getting a group together locally in person to pray for your schools, its teachers and the pupils they welcome each day. You could prayer walk the town or gather prayer requests before to focus your time.