Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC

Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019 Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com

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The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul. G. K. Chesterton Theme: Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Event: Beginning of Calendar New Year - January 2012 Ritual: Calendar and Clock. Lamp/Candle to be lit and burn during the service. Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11 13: Prayer Songs:1. I have come 2 Thee 2 take Thy touch- Ref: Pray & Sing 426 OR J. Lips P3 2. We Thank Thee each morning - Ref: http://youtu.be/3pXzge4uhVs 3. My life is in You, Lord - Ref: http://youtu.be/F0M0NALW7EM Requirements: A Teacher and 2/3 student leaders will take full responsibility for prior preparation: 1. Arrange and organize the prayer service, with prior preparation for the requirements. 2. Prepare the Lamp to be lit and the Ritual for display during the prayer service wall clock and simple calendar (large numbers only) to be held when pertaining matter is read. 3. The choir to practice earlier the given songs and lead the assembly to sing. 4. Assign 5 readers to responsibly render their role; practice earlier to set the prayer tone of devotion with reflective pauses to let the service flow without flaw. 5. Display prominently The Theme, Quote and the Logo. NOTE: {AVEC Prayer Services are comprehensive to conduct once a month during the school assembly or class assembly. Pupil participation in preparation of Rituals, Poster, Singing, and Reading will enhance the effect. In case of time constraint, you are encouraged to condense and have it rather than miss its dynamism. Kindly spread the prayer for the benefit of others.} Prayer Service Introduction: Play the song We Thank Thee as the assembly gathers. Keep the Lamp/Candle ready to be lit. Leader: Let us close our eyes, take deep breaths and enter into Gods presence in the silence of our heart. We invite God to be in our hearts and in our midst as we surrender ourselves to His loving presence. As the lamp is lit by our principal let us pray that light of Gods love and wisdom guide us in the year ahead. (pause) Let us begin our prayer service with the prayer of R. Tagore sung by the choir as the lamp is lit. Choir: Prayer song 1: I have come to Thee - Refer: Pray & Sing No. 426 OR Joyful Lips P3
*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values* PRAYER SERVICE FROM AVEC

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC

Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019 Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com
Reader1: The New Year Day is symbolic of a new start of a new calendar year, marking that day and date from which all date their time. The New Year of the Gregorian calendar, in worldwide use, falls on 1 January, continuing the practice of the Roman calendar. There are numerous calendars that remain in regional use that calculate the New Year differently. Every farewell combines loss and new freedom. Bygone Year is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. This prayer service provides a perspective on looking back, looking within and looking ahead, taking a stock to reflect on the events and blessings of 2011 to put a closure on things we wish to leave behind. As we close the year 2011, let us count the blessings we enjoy - the precious gift of life, health, senses, faculties of mind, heart and soul, family, friends, earth system, seasons and festivals, flora and fauna, air and water, sunshine and moonlight, food and shelter, home and school, knowledge and education, talents and hobbies; and to crown it all the sacred gift of time each moment of each day of each year of our life. What is the story of my life in the history of the year 2011? The persons who made me feel great, the important events that made me happy, the comedies and tragedies, the place / position / situation /opportunities supportive to my growth in spite of my faults and failures, lethargy and limitations. (Pause). Let us say a big thank you to God as we sing We Thank Thee Lord. Choir: Prayer song 2: We Thank Thee - Refer: http://youtu.be/3pXzge4uhVs Ritual: Precious gift of Time - clock and calendar Reader 2: (a child displays the clock) Time is the greatest resource and a valuable gift of nature to humanity. Time is a capital which can be offered by one to another in thoughtful acts of kindness. The CLOCK is a physical mechanism that measures and displays the ongoing passage of time. In day-to-day life, the clock is consulted for periods less than a day. A clock denotes a beginning and an ending, a finite time period. The traditional Clock face (unlike the digital clock) has a hand that constantly sweeps round and round with a message: there will be another hour, another tomorrow, another season, another spring/summer and another phase. Things go round and start over again. The clock ticks and time passes away every moment without deference, giving everyone equal chance to use or lose it. Time offers opportunities with a sense of urgency to be alert and act at the appropriate moment. Time is precious gift bestowed with life. Each day is a little life. (Pause) Reader 3: (a child displays the calendar) The CALENDAR is a mathematical abstraction for calculating extensive periods of time longer than a day. It is a chart showing the days, weeks, and months of a particular year and is a time tool to specify the schedule of planned events/ activities indicating date and time as dates of birth, examination, lunar eclipse etc. Calendars express the cosmic cycles and rhythms. Calendar years
*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values* PRAYER SERVICE FROM AVEC

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC

Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019 Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com
measure time and space as rotation of the earth on its axis marks a day, earths motion around the sun marks solstices and year. Lunar phases give shape to weeks and months while suns zodiacal journey gives the year cycle. In this age electronic devices display both calendars and clocks simultaneously. The number (as on a clock dial or calendar) that marks the occurrence of a specified event as to hour or date The New Year 2012 invites us to look forward with a purpose. The days, weeks, months and seasons to come are God's gift carrying His plans, purpose and blessings for us. Our hope for the year is that all that was good in 2011 remain and all that was hurtful in 2011 quit. We commit the NY 2012 with its mysteries to God who holds out another chance to direct our life's energy and potential. (Pause) Let us listen to the scripture reading from Prophet Jeremiah chapter 29 verses 11 -13 in the Holy Bible. Reader 4: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Reader 5: (after a reflective pause) The objective of the New Year is that we should have a new soul, new heart, new ears and eyes to recognize Gods plan and design in our life. What is my purpose in life? Apple founder Steve Jobs spoke about making a dent in the universe leaving a legacy and today the world mourns his loss. Time is holy and precious as it is given by the Holy God; our eternity depends on how we spend life here on earth. All the money in the world cannot recover the wasted time because time cannot be purchased. Every morning we wake up by the grace of God who gives us time for that day. Life hands us a lot of choices to make each day and at the close of the day, remember gratefully the precious moments we have spent. (Pause) Let us trust God to give us the grace to live our days and years ahead as we sing My life is in You Lord. Choir: Prayer Song 3: My life is in You, Lord, Refer: http://youtu.be/F0M0NALW7EM Leader: (Teacher) Closing Prayer: Our Father and our God, as we close the door on this past year 2011, we thank You for Your goodness & mercy to us far beyond what we deserve - our health, family and friends, the things we've done and the joys we've had. Forgive our selfishness and pride. Release us from jealousy, anger and resentment that bind us. Dear God, as we begin the New Year 2012 we confess our need for your continued blessings of love, peace and joy on whole humanity. Give each of us a heart for you and generosity to reach out and
*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values* PRAYER SERVICE FROM AVEC

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC

Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019 Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com
make this world a better place. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart and be glad all the days of our life. . Prayer Song 1: I have come to Thee - Refer: Pray & Sing No. 426 OR Joyful Lips P3 Chorus: I have come to Thee to take Thy touch before I begin my day (2) 1. Let Thy eyes rest upon my eyes for a while 2. Let me take to my work the assurance of Thy comradeship my friend 3. Fill my mind with Thy music to last through the desert of noise Prayer Song 2: We Thank Thee - Refer: http://youtu.be/3pXzge4uhVs We thank Thee each morning for a new born day Where we may work the fields of new mown hay We thank Thee for the sunshine and the air that we breathe Oh Lord, we thank Thee Thank Thee for the rivers that run all day Thank Thee for the little birds that sing along the way Thank Thee for the trees and the deep blue sea Oh Lord, we thank Thee Oh yes, we thank Thee, Lord, for every flower that blooms Birds that sing, fish that swim and the light of the moon We thank Thee every day as we kneel and pray That we were born with eyes to see these things Thank Thee for the fields where the clover is grown Thank Thee for the pastures where cattle may roam Thank Thee for Thy love so pure and free Oh Lord, we thank Thee Oh yes, we thank Thee, Lord, for every flower that blooms Birds that sing, fish that swim and the light of the moon We thank Thee every day as we kneel and pray That we were born with eyes to see these things Prayer Song 3: My life is in You, Lord - Refer: http://youtu.be/F0M0NALW7EM My life is in You, Lord, My strength is in You, Lord My hope is in You, Lord In You, it's in You. (Repeat) I will praise You with all of my heart. I will praise You with all of my hope.
*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values* PRAYER SERVICE FROM AVEC

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC

Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019 Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com
With all of my life and all of my strength. All of my hope is in You. __________________________________ WISH YOU A BLESSED NEW YEAR 2012

*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values* PRAYER SERVICE FROM AVEC