Prayers to Start the Day

(pick just one to say - perhaps over breakfast)

“We thank you, O heavenly Father, for the rest of this past night and for the gift of a new day. Help us live today in the perfect freedom of life with you so that in the evening we may again give thanks to you for this day. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”

“Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us safely to this new day. Guard us in your mighty power. Help us to follow you and to be strong even through hard things. In everything we do today, help us to live with patience and mercy towards others. Amen.”

“O God whose desire is that all the peoples of the world should be one human family, living together in harmony, grant that our home, by its worship and its witness, may help to hasten the day when your will is done on earth as it is in heaven.”

“Fill our hearts, O God, with your Holy Spirit that we may go forth this day in peace and joy, serving you eagerly in all we do, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”

St. Patrick’s “Breastplate Prayer” (modified) - try saying this prayer together with hand/full body motions (let the children create these!) as a brief meditation on Christ being with us in everything we do in a day:

“Christ be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye of that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. Amen.”