Back to School Resources from the SC Bishops’ Public Education Initiative
Blessings of the Backpacks This blessing is suitable for a Sunday before school begins, and may be publicized for several Sundays beforehand. The ritual may be modified to include adults, who could be encouraged in advance to bring their laptops, PDAs, work boots, cell phones, or other tools of their trade. This blessing, however, focuses upon children starting the school year. Have the children come forward at the appointed time, wearing their backpacks. Mark 10:13-16, Romans 12:4-8, or another appropriate scripture passage may be read once the children have gathered. Dear God, as we get ready to start another year in school, we ask your blessing on these backpacks, and especially on these children who will wear them. As they do the very important work of being students, bless them with: eagerness to learn, that their world may grow large; respect for teachers and students, that they may form healthy relationships; love for nature, that they may become caretakers of your creation; happiness when learning is easy and stick-to-it-iveness when it is hard; faith in Jesus as their best teacher and closest friend. We ask that you would protect these, your own children. Watch over them and keep them safe as they travel to and from school. As they learn, help them also to discover the different gifts that you have given each one of them to be used in your work in the world. As they hear the many voices that will fill their days, help them to listen most carefully for your voice, the one that tells them you will love them always, no matter what. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Copyright © 2016 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SB129424. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Blessing the Backpacks is one way to celebrate the return to school. Weeks in advance invite students to bring their backpacks with them the Sunday before school starts. During the service, ask them to come forward with their backpacks. After a few words about going back to school, bless the students and the packs. It is most effective to bless each child and pack one at the time. Put one hand on the student’s head or shoulder and the other on the pack and say a blessing such as: God, bless this bag and the child who will use it. Be with him/her as he/she learns and grows this year. Show him/her how to serve you and help him/her to teach us all about your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen. In large congregations in which it would be unwieldy to bless the students individually during the service, the blessings can be done before and/or after the service. A minister meets, speaks briefly with each child about the coming year and blesses him or her. I heard of one congregation that sponsors a Back to School Festival with face painting, inflatable jump houses, treats, and a booth at which the blessings occur. Some congregations expand this blessing by inviting worshipers of all ages to bring the briefcases, totes, even diaper bags they take with them as they leave home each day for work/activities. The negative side of this is that it horns in on the kid’s back to school celebration. The positive side is that kids with their backpacks connect themselves and their school work with worshipers of all ages and their work. It emphasizes the vocational nature of their schoolwork. ~from Worshipping with Children Blog, Carolyn Brown
The above photo is the cover of the blog Worshipping with Children by Carolyn Brown All other photographs credited to The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina, Camp AIR 2016