We are looking forward to the Blessing of the Backpacks and School Year this Sunday! The start of a school year can bring new opportunities, friendships, adventures, and ways to care for each other and our world. It can also bring some nervousness, excitement, challenges, fun, new and renewed friendships and invitations to try something that opens a new perspective.
This Sunday brings me back to memories of my years as a teacher. I was fortunate to teach in a number of settings, and with learners from preschool and elementary school, to undergrads in college. I learned from them all, and particularly with a multi-age class of 5th & 6th graders in the late 1980’s. Most of the students were around 11 or 12 years old then, and they asked the best questions.
In our scripture passage this Sunday (from Luke 2:41-52), Jesus is said to be 12-years-old. He, and his family, were taking a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, with many others, for the Festival of the Passover. Instead of staying with his parents and relatives, Jesus remains in Jerusalem in the Temple with the teachers, sitting among them, listening to them and asking them profound questions.
This Sunday, we celebrate and recognize teachers and learners (of all ages), bus drivers and administrators, helpers in the office and those who bandage scraped knees with care, counselors and custodians, parents, grandparents and volunteers, and all who care for children and youth, and those who support adult learners.
During the Children’s Moment time, we will offer a special blessing for students, of all ages, who are starting a new year in learning environments (public, private or homeschool), and for all who teach, guide, support them, and learn from them. You are invited to bring your backpack, another school item- or just bring yourself to worship on Sunday (in-person or on livestream).
If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the livestream.
To connect to our livestream worship Sunday morning, click the link on our website www.smumc.church. The service starts at 10:30am. Livestream starts at 10:25am.