Almighty God,
With hearts of thanksgiving, we lift up our new students before you today.
We thank you for your guidance in their lives so that they can be part of Divinity School and we become part of their lives.
We understand that it is not easy for anyone to embark on this new journey and commitment to study Theology and we can appreciate the many mixed feelings of excitement and anxieties, curiosity and expectations and joy that may overwhelm each one of them.
We therefore pray that your kind and gentle Holy Spirit to send your peace to the anxious and fearful hearts and mind; your calmness to feelings that are overwhelming. May you gird them with faith to trust and believe when they feel weak. May you send angels when help is in need. Grant us patience and kindness above all.
Gentle and righteous Spirit, inspire in our new students the curiosity and joy of learning and discovering new things, and the perseverance, diligence and integrity to complete assignments.
Gentle and kind Spirit, imbue your love to all of us, as our new students adjust to this diverse and multicultural community, learning different ways to worship and pray, live and study, have fun and suffer together, and contribute meaningfully to each other's lives -- as we, be woven together through your beautiful presence, become part of each other at Divinity School.
Thank you again, our dear God for your unceasing faithfulness to Divinity School and we look to you for your continuing mercy and grace to guide and lead us to new and exciting times ahead.
Through the power of the cross, in the name of Christ,
Amen!