May 23: Prayers for Academic Fulfillment

            As we take tests and turn in assignments, we pray for the fulfillment of all our efforts. We pray for the grades and accomplishments for which we have worked so hard. May we end the semester proud of what we have accomplished this year. May God also give us the comfort we need to accept whatever disappointments may come. Whatever the end results may be, may we leave campus this year feeling fulfilled by our efforts this semester and this year.

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January 9: Discovery of New Interests and Passions

          We ask God to keep our lives engaging and exciting by introducing us to new interests and passions. May God grant us the courage to explore new subjects and fields with curiosity and enthusiasm. We pray God introduces us to people who lead us towards new hobbies and activities. May our discoveries grant us a life of greater attention and investment. May we find new ways to interact with our community and our world and to enjoy the life God has given us.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18

October 5: Thankfulness for One’s Professors and Instructors

            We take this time to acknowledge that all our academic accomplishments are a result of the help God has sent us. We give thanks for all the professors who invest in our success. Though we often forget, we also celebrate our directors, instructors, and coaches, who help us pursue our passions beyond the classroom. We are also thankful for our peers, who collaborate with us in our learning, and for those who tutor us. We remember the teachers of the Bible, the Prophets, the Disciples, and Jesus, and we seek to discover those who emulate these teachers in our own lives.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18

September 29: Request for Open-Minded Learning

            In the midst of our studies, we ask for God to open our minds to new ideas and theories. We recognize that our academic pursuits, what we deem important to study, are often hindered by the prejudices of our society. We pray that our community continues to strive for a broader view of the world. May God give all of us the strength to challenge past conceptions and to allow new information to transform our perceptions. We acknowledge that we must sometimes admit past ignorance and misguidance in order to further our learning. We commit ourselves to incorporating new information, perspectives, and collaborators in order to better understand the world God has created.

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September 27: Thankfulness for Academic Discovery

Nobel Conference 2016

              In the midst of great excitement over academic discovery and scientific achievement, we take this time to acknowledge God’s delight in humankind’s progress. We thank God for the professors and collaborators who work together toward breakthroughs. We give thanks for discoveries made by our community and by communities all over the world. We give thanks for progress made in our own field and others. May we show our appreciation to God by using these discoveries to help all people who are in need.

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September 20: Discovery and Acceptance of Limitations

             Examination of our shortcomings often swings between two extremes: between despair over our faults and complete denial of them. We ask God for the maturity to honestly identify our limitations. We understand that as creatures we are both imperfect and incomplete, in need of both God and the rest of humanity. May God give us the peace we need to accept our shortcomings. May God guide us in improving the aspects of ourselves that we can improve and in learning to live with what we cannot change. We take comfort in the knowledge that while we have limitations, God also gives us the grace we need to accept them.

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September 12: Installment of Passion for Learning in Community

            In our world of mass productivity, our education can become a monotonous trek towards a degree. Keeping our goals in mind while we study, we also hope to maintain our passion for learning. We ask God to invigorate our campus community with drive and curiosity. May we find the challenges of our studies fulfilling rather than tedious. May this passion not only lead us towards our goals, but also give us joy and excitement in the daily process.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18