This Sunday at 10:30 am! A new school year is beginning, and we have a ritual to mark this milestone.

In this congregation are younger children starting school for the first time or starting a new year. There are teenagers and youth starting a new year of middle school, high school, GED programs, and early college. There are students in college, vocational schools, and graduate programs.

Of course, a school community is made up also of workers, and we salute them too: the teachers, professors, classrooms assistants and support staff; we give our thanks to the bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, counselors, and everybody else.

In recognition of this new year, we invite you to bring your backpack to the service for a blessing. Depending on your situation, you might have brought a briefcase or lunchbox, laptop or gym bag, or a keychain—whatever it might be that represents your life in school.