VICAR

Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine I trust that You are well. If You have children they will be back at school or perhaps heading for University soon. So this week I’d like to focus on education.

In fact today is Education Sunday. Churches Together in England have prepared resources for 2023 on the theme of The armour of light, inspired by the reading from Romans, below. They include sermon notes and all-age worship suggestions which You may find helpful.

Romans 13: 8-14
As servants working an estate
Darkness like a shroud covers the earth
*Help us, O Lord, to learn the truths
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love
Love divine, all loves excelling
Love will be our Hallelujah
Soldiers of Christ, arise

Education is more valuable than material things. Proverbs 16:16 says that having wisdom and understanding is better than having silver or gold. Nice and expensive items can be enjoyable, but there are very few things in life that can never be taken away, will never go out of style, and that truly make you a better person. An education is one of those things. Yes, we all go into higher education with the intention of getting great jobs and starting successful careers, but earning a degree offers much more than financial benefits. It enriches your mind and opens the door to new people, places, and ways of thinking. Don’t focus so heavily on the monetary perks of obtaining a degree that you overlook the most significant ones.

2 Timothy 2:15 tells us that we should study and show God that we understand truth. This verse refers to knowing God’s word and being able to point out false teachings and philosophies, but it applies to education as well. As a student, you should indulge yourself in your work and be the best you can be. Take your classes seriously by preparing for them and staying a step ahead in your work. Four years can go by pretty quickly, and when it’s all over, you want to look back knowing that you gave it your all.

Matthew 6:33 says that above all things in our lives, we should seek God, and everything else will be provided for us. As important as education is, it should never come before your relationship with God. When we put Him in front of all of our concerns and ahead of everything we do, we can trust that He’ll look out for the other things.

Encourage yourself with prayer and reading the Bible. From school to university/college and beyond, life is full of times that challenge us and demand us to be at our best. Never forget that God is near, He’s willing to listen, and He’s able to help.

Have another wonderful week ahead. God Bless You All.

God of love and life,

We pray for every member of our community, both close to home and globally, who is returning to school.

We pray for their places of education to be overflowing with creativity, inspiration and opportunity.

We pray for your peace to fill the classrooms and dining halls, the playgrounds and school buses, and the hearts and minds of those who are worried about returning to school.

We pray that you will equip the teachers and teaching assistants with the tools they need to help the children and young people in their care to fulfil their potential.

We commend our children and young people into your care.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.