Staff Devotions and Worship
Teaching and working with students of all ages can be incredibly rewarding but is also tiring and often challenging. Staff worship, in the form of regular devotions, retreats and personal times of prayer are powerful ways of meeting those challenges, while ‘filling your tank’ so you can share Jesus with your students.
Staff Devotions
Staff begin the day together around God’s word in staff devotions. This is a special time where staff come together to share, celebrate and pray about the joys and challenges of community life. It is an informal time that may occur in the staffroom or classrooms usually at the beginning of a day. Staff devotions may involve reading a Bible verse or story, viewing a video, reflection, praying and sharing. Each school or ECS will have their own ways of conducting and involving staff in devotions.
Organising Staff Devotions
There are several approaches to staff devotions. Please choose what works best in your learning community.
School pastors, chaplains or principals may lead staff devotions as an encouragement and support for staff. This could include devotional material that deals with the challenges of teaching and working in a school/ECS.
It can also be a time to reflect on the theme of worship/classroom devotions for the week, giving staff the confidence and understanding to go out and lead in their spaces.
Staff members may also be rostered on to take turns to lead devotions. This can have the advantage of hearing from a variety of voices, and empowering staff to express their faith and support each other.
Care should be taken to ensure that devotions are a time of encouragement and worship, rather than pressure and performance. While staff may like to write their own devotions, using prepared resources is perfectly acceptable, and may reduce stress, especially at busy times of the year. It is a good idea to have some devotional books on hand.
Ideas and Resources for Staff Devotions
It is important that staff devotions are based on the Bible. The Bible Story Resources on this site include videos, music and discussion questions suitable for staff. Devotions don’t have to have the same style every time. Check out the Creative Devotions page for some fun ideas.
Ideas from our learning communities
– A great idea from Lakeside College using devotion/staff meeting time to develop a staff prayer for the year. The final prayer was printed out for all staff to put up in their work spaces and in their classrooms.Resources from LEA
Creating devotions LEA Padlet
Other padlets with staff devotions and helping you create your own devotions
Gospel Reflections – almost two years of staff devotions written by Nev Grieger.
LESNW Devotions – monthly devotions written by staff.
Resources from the LCA
LCA Daily Devotions – subscribe for free and receive a devotion in your inbox each day. Written by a whole range of Australian and New Zealand Lutherans. You can also download and print out a week’s worth of devotions each Friday.
LCA Prayer Points – short prayers on topical issues in Australia and internationally.
LCA New & Renewing Churches – Videos Page – some good conversation-starter videos, especially the ‘Vox Pops’.
LCA Worship Planning Page – the Prayers and Devotions tab has some great resources including the Everyday and Seasonal Prayer devotion orders for free, links to good prayer resources and a series of Bible studies which may suit staff devotions. These are a little longer, so you could run them across the span of the week.
Lutheran Media Messages of Hope – excellent videos, podcasts and booklets on a range of issues including stress and depression. Short, practical and missional.
Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) Devotional Booklet for Teachers
Other Resources
While LEA does not necessarily endorse the content of these websites, you may find them helpful in your planning. It’s always a good idea to read/view a resource carefully before using it.
Bible Gateway provides an extensive list of devotionals. A 40 Day Journey with Dietrich Boenhoffer is especially recommended.
Lectio 365 – a free daily devotional app that helps you pray the Bible every day
Sacred Space is an Irish Jesuit website which provides a prayer reflection for each day.
The Fuelcast An inspirational discipleship video every weekday of the year.
The Skit Guys Subscribe/pay to download videos, play scripts and graphics.
The Work of the People has a range of multimedia resources. Some videos can be watched on the site, but most require a subscription.
Staff Worship
Resources for Staff Retreats, Start and End of Year Worship
Life in all its fullness – A retreat for any week padlet
Staff Vocation Reflection – provided by Pastor Joshua Muller from St John’s Lutheran School, Eudunda
from St Peter’s Indooropilly – could easily be adapted for a staff retreat.Please contact your regional Directors of Formation if you are interested in organising a staff retreat. They will be delighted to assist you!