Blessing of the Backpacks 2012

Here's the liturgy used at AUCC for the start of the 2012 school year.

Today is the Sunday before school starts here in Ankeny. A new school year, a new starts. For some this is simply another day of things that one has to do. For others it is full of excitement and new beginnings. However, you feel about the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year, it is a new beginning.
                                         
It is important that we, as a community of faith, come together to celebrate these new beginnings. Not only do we celebrate but we are called to bless them. We as a community of faith bless things and one another because we have been blessed. From the beginning of time our spirits resonate with the litany we hear in Genesis that we, along with all things created are “good” in the eyes of God. God has consecrated us, making us holy before we were known in this realm of time and space. Because of this love and because of our own “being set aside” it is only good and right of us to bless each other and those times that are milestones in our lives.

One of the oldest ways that communities of faith convey blessing to each other is through the laying on of hands. We call those forward who are to receive the blessing and then everyone becomes connected to each other so the whole community is actively involved in the blessing. So today we all will take part in the blessing. After I call forward those starting this school year I will ask that all of you remaining in the pews place your hand on the shoulder of the person next to you so that we are all connected to those heading to school. All of our spirits can be seen coming together in this act and as a community we lift up each other.

After the blessing I invite you all to leave your backpacks or school items at the table. This table before us is another sign of blessing and it is fitting that we share a meal with each other. A meal that not only provides literal food but also food that reminds of our spirit nourishment we find in being blessed. As a reminder of our continually part in the circle of being blessed and blessing I will invite those who received a blessing this morning to go out and serve the congregation to be their blessing.

So on behalf of God, I invite all who are in any level of school to come forward either as you are or with your backpacks or items that represent your journey into learning so that this community can raise you up with our prayers and love.

If you all would please join hands and make a shape that starts to go down the center aisle. I would invite all of you in the congregation to please stand and place your hand on the shoulder of the person next to you so that we are all connected to these people going to school.

Let us pray:

God of continual new beginnings, we ask you this day to bless all in this community and across the world who pursue education and those who make educational opportunities possible. Open minds, ears and hearts to not only learn the things that come from outside of themselves but also help them to learn about themselves and to develop that inner spark that resides within each person. May we all remember the importance of always continuing to learn and grow. May we support and encourage each other. May we know grace when we fall short and may we find what is good and sacred in this new beginning. “May God bless and keep you. May God's face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May God look upon you with kindness and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26, adapted) Amen.

Please come and place your items at the table and go out and be a blessing to others in our congregation this morning.