Learning to Pray for Berkeley Schools
By Wendy Hu-Au
At the first Schools Prayer Walk on Sunday, September 21, 2014, a group of 15-20 of us gathered outside of Realm Middle School to pray. Pastor Rena Crocker instructed us to use the Lord’s Prayer as we learned how to pray. We split into three groups: One group went to Rosa Parks Elementary School, another went to Berkeley Adult School, and my group went to Realm High School. Oh, and of course, another faithful group took the small children to the 10th Street Park.
Our Father, who is in heaven, holy is your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
In the week before our prayer time, I had met with Nancy Williams, the campus manager at Realm High School. I was encouraged to hear how she saw God at work at Realm. This year she has seen God open up students to asking for and receiving help.
Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
At Realm High and several of the other prayer group sites, we prayed for God to heal and be with students who had experienced trauma in their lives. We also prayed for overworked staff and teachers to have their “daily bread”.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
One of the temptations I felt led to pray against was the temptation to despair. I never thought of despair as a temptation before. I always thought it was something that just happened to me. It was encouraging that each of the prayer groups during our prayer walks felt a renewed sense of hope.
For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
At the end of our prayer time at Realm High School, one person heard the verse from Amos 9:13: “The time is surely coming.” The Kingdom of God is at hand. The achievement gap will not always feel insurmountable. One who plows shall overtake the one who reaps. The children who have been experiencing failure in schools will not only succeed but experience overflowing life and joy. The breaches between communities will be healed. We will love one another across racial and socioeconomic divides. Those who have been devalued will experience restoration of dignity. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
