This semester is the first day of classes at Gordon. This morning in chapel I led us in a responsive prayer, offering thanksgiving and petition to God at the start of a new semester. I offered the prayer in italics, then we all as one congregation read the bold responses.
For the start of a new semester and all the promise that it holds:
We give you thanks, our God.
For the joy we have in seeing friends for the first time in a month:
We give you thanks, our God.
For those with whom we live in dorms, apartments, and houses:
We give you thanks, our God.
For the chance to gather freely in worship:
We give you thanks, our God.
For all that we will learn: in the classroom, in this worship space, in Lane, in labs, in practice rooms, in the library, in relationships, on campus and off campus:
We give you thanks, our God.
For wisdom for all students, staff, and faculty, as we seek to offer God our very best in all that we do:
Lord, please be near us.
For family relationships that we’ve invested in over the last month but now step away from in some ways:
Lord, please be near us.
For perseverance and diligence in our studies:
Lord, please be near us.
For healthy sleep patterns, motivation to exercise, self-control in eating good, healthy foods:
Lord, please be near us.
For those areas of life in which we struggle, where we despair, and for those things of which we are ashamed:
Lord, please be near us.
Words on the Word 
love this!
🙂 It’s a good group of folks to pray with, too.
May I use this in my classes next week?
Of course! Source=me, though I certainly don’t feel a need to be named, if you just want to say it’s from a friend….thanks for asking!
I am an Incoming freshmen student of TUP so I need prayers to encourage me through ❤ Thank You for this. Would you mind if I am going to copy this prayer ? Thank You for this.
Sure! Glad it is helpful.