Back to School Blessing
During the Children's Moment in All Services 8:30, 9:00 and 11:00 am, we will be blessing Students and Teachers into a new year. Bring your backpacks or bags if you wish.
We will be handing out Bag Tags, Stickers, and Milestones (for those who don't already have one at home)
Blessing:
Beloved child of God, you bring beauty to the world by being you. When you join together with others around tables, God creates a masterpiece and table of of God's love.
We will be handing out Bag Tags, Stickers, and Milestones (for those who don't already have one at home)
Blessing:
Beloved child of God, you bring beauty to the world by being you. When you join together with others around tables, God creates a masterpiece and table of of God's love.
Three Easy Faith Practices to Ease The Transition from Home to School
Returning to school is a huge time of transition for parents and children individually and families as a family unit. Tradition, ritual, and spiritual practice can help get you back on track. Here are three very simple faith practices you might try as you get your year off to a great start. All of these are from the book Faithful Families, Creating Sacred Moments at Home by Traci Smith
Returning to school is a huge time of transition for parents and children individually and families as a family unit. Tradition, ritual, and spiritual practice can help get you back on track. Here are three very simple faith practices you might try as you get your year off to a great start. All of these are from the book Faithful Families, Creating Sacred Moments at Home by Traci Smith
- End the night with a butterfly hug. Cross your hands and interlock your thumbs, like a butterfly. Put the tips of your fingers on your collarbone and tap them back and forth, one at a time. Tap, tap, tap.
- Step into the new year with footprints. Make footprints in the sand or with paint to think about how you’ll walk with the spirit this year. Save the prints from year to year and watch how you grow!
- End the night with a nightly examen. The examen is simply looking over and reviewing the day that has passed. Some people do this by asking about “highs and lows” and others talk about a “rose and thorn” or “joy and concern.” I like asking the question: “When did you feel close to God today” and “When did you feel far away?’
PRAYER for Back to School
O God, whose love encompasses all,
As we start this new school year, we offer ourselves to you. Work through us—through both our strengths and weaknesses—so that together we may be more than we are on our own. Connect us to others through your tables of love, which is the perfect bond of unity. The place where we are most surprised by your presence among us.
We pray for our students, teachers, school staff and administrators. Through all the ups and downs this year will bring, may they know your unfailing love and their connection to Palma Ceia church.
Like the multitude of colors and shapes that make up the Greatest Table, you have made each person unique and beautiful.
Help us to see how we fit together around your table, with no spot, more important than another, creating a place of love.
A place where all are welcome, all are fed, all are valued, all can learn, and all can serve.
As we go out into the world, let us feel connected to you-- the One in whom we live and move and have our being, the One who created all things, the One who loves us completely.
Amen.
-Allison Kelly
O God, whose love encompasses all,
As we start this new school year, we offer ourselves to you. Work through us—through both our strengths and weaknesses—so that together we may be more than we are on our own. Connect us to others through your tables of love, which is the perfect bond of unity. The place where we are most surprised by your presence among us.
We pray for our students, teachers, school staff and administrators. Through all the ups and downs this year will bring, may they know your unfailing love and their connection to Palma Ceia church.
Like the multitude of colors and shapes that make up the Greatest Table, you have made each person unique and beautiful.
Help us to see how we fit together around your table, with no spot, more important than another, creating a place of love.
A place where all are welcome, all are fed, all are valued, all can learn, and all can serve.
As we go out into the world, let us feel connected to you-- the One in whom we live and move and have our being, the One who created all things, the One who loves us completely.
Amen.
-Allison Kelly
LITANY FOR THE WHOLE CONGREGATION
One: Together we are the body of Christ,
All: and we belong to each other.
One: We can share our joy, laughter, and hope,
All We can share our fears, overwhelm, and sadness.
One: When we share what is good,
All: It is multiplied.
One: When we share what is hard,
All: The load is divided.
One: In our schools and communities,
All: May we learn and grow.
One: In our classes and groups,
All: May we show support and build each other up.
One: In our homes and families,
All: May we embody care and spark love.
One: Together we are the body of Christ,
All: And we belong to each other.
-Jo Going
One: Together we are the body of Christ,
All: and we belong to each other.
One: We can share our joy, laughter, and hope,
All We can share our fears, overwhelm, and sadness.
One: When we share what is good,
All: It is multiplied.
One: When we share what is hard,
All: The load is divided.
One: In our schools and communities,
All: May we learn and grow.
One: In our classes and groups,
All: May we show support and build each other up.
One: In our homes and families,
All: May we embody care and spark love.
One: Together we are the body of Christ,
All: And we belong to each other.
-Jo Going
