Guidelines for the First Quarter Prayer Service

GUIDELINES FOR THE FIRST QUARTER PRAYER SERVICE

At the end of the first quarter of your second year in high school, it is important for us to remember where we came from (our study of the Old Testament in High 1), where we are right now (our topic for this year's CLE - Experiencing Goid's love in Christ), and where we aspire to be (application of the things we learned in our various topics and lessons). Hence, it is but fitting to "begin" our deeper understanding of the person and mission of Jesus in the next few quarters through a simple yet meaningful class prayer service.

This is a class activity where the members of the class are expected to help each other to make our prayer service solemn and memorable. Class officers (i.e. president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer) together with the class ministers (i.e. chaplain and porter) are tasked to supervise and distribute the workload from among the members of the class. Please appoint five point persons, who will form the Steering Committee, in-charge of overseeing the following:

a. the prayer text b. the music c. logistics (decoration and physical arrangements) d. presentation (powerpoint for prayer and responses) e. invitation (for class advisers, mentors, guidance counselor, etc.) e. the symbolic gesture (headed by the Class chaplain)

Below is a suggested format for the Prayer Service:

1. Opening Hymn – A familiar gathering song to begin the celebration, which can be sung by the class led by selected instrumentalists.

2. Introductory Speech/ Presentation – A reflection on beginning a year of experiencing God's love in Christ, delivered by the Class President and/or class porter.

3. Reading from Scripture – A gospel reading that would serve as your "food for thought" at the beginning of the year.

4. Symbolic Gesture – As a response to God’s Word, the students will decide on a symbolic gesture, related to their lesson, as a focal point of their prayer service. The idea is to be proposed and discussed by the Class Officers and Ministers to the CLE teacher, subject to his/her recommendations and final approval.

5. Intercessions – Intercessory prayers to be offered for various intentions. The following are especially recommended intentions: a. for the Church b. for the nation c. for the less fortunate d. for Xavier community. e.for the class

6. Final Prayer – The prayer service ends with the singing of the Lord’s Prayer and a short final prayer for the class to be led by an appointed member of the class.

7. Closing Hymn – A fitting song to end the prayer service.

Here are the criteria for grading the prayer service:

• The place/venue was suitably arranged and well decorated for the event: 2 POINTS
• The class established a prayerful atmosphere throughout the entire prayer service: 4 POINTS
• The symbolic gesture that the class members used was meaningful and carried out in an appropriate manner: 4 POINTS
• The class participated actively in singing and saying together the prayer responses: 3 POINTS
• Evaluation from teacher or mentor present in the celebration: 2 POINTS
  

Total: 15 POINTS

This Prayer Service will be rated as part of the students’ quarterly prayer service grade in CLE. Part of the grade (5 points) will be based on a copy of the text for the entire prayer service to be submitted by the Class President and Chaplain on or before Thursday, 13 August 2009 to the CLE teacher and part will be based on the actual prayer service on Friday, 14 August 2009.