This Sunday is our annual Blessing of the Backpacks Sunday! Lauren Wyeth’s column from this week’s newsletter is below; read the full issue of the latest Weekly Liberal by clicking here.

A Note from Lauren Wyeth,
Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministries

Dear Church,

This Sunday, we celebrate a Backpack Blessing service, gathering to witness and honor a fresh start for our children, youth, teachers, families and all who feel the shifting rhythms of life.

Church is the right place to gather across generations, to be reminded of where we’ve been and where we’re headed, remembering that each age and stage of life has its challenges and gifts.

Church is the right place to surround our young people in a circle of love, teaching them to approach transitions with courage and to navigate them with grace.

Church is the right place to pause, to notice and let go of what was, and to open our hearts to what might be.

Every person we meet — at school, at work, in our neighborhood, everywhere we go — each person was once a child full of possibility and potential, relying on the time, resources and care of adults to help them manifest their blessings in the world.

As the saying goes, “Be the person you needed when you were younger.”

Children and youth are invited to wear their backpacks to church, and will receive a little special something to carry with them to school. If you are able, please consider bringing a new backpack to donate to a student in need. These, too, will be blessed, and then delivered to our partner organization, Augsburg Fairview Academy.

The Summer Choir, Ron Parker and Tony Meysenburg will sing. We will raise our voices, move our bodies, and notice the invisible strings of love that connect us to one another. There will be confetti.

Come, let us worship together!

Warmly,
Lauren