Beloved of Grace,

For many of us, next week is back-to-school week. Please know each of you are in my prayers as you begin a new school year.  Here at Grace, we want to mark that transition of a new academic year with the Blessing of the Backpacks and work bags this Sunday.
 
Please bring your backpacks/work bags/devices (all ages, not just children), and we will bless them, both at the 9 am Zoom service and the 10 am in person service.

Also, our last summer Sunday school is this weekend, we have a fun lesson planned for rising 1st-5th graders.
 
Here is a prayer for the first day of the school year:
 
Dear God, today is [child's name]'s first day of school, a happy, exciting, scary day. We pray that [child's name]'s teachers will be generous, wise and gracious. We pray for [child's name]'s classmates, so that true friendship may be found for all. Especially we pray for [child's name]. Keep him/her safe and well. Open his/her heart and mind to a world of learning, and may this be the first of a thousand days in which he/she knows the depth of your love and the constancy of your care. We pray in Jesus' name. - Amen.
 
Or this:
 
Child [Children] of my heart, may the blessing of the Holy Trinity go with you today. May God's strength keep you secure. May Christ our true wisdom guide your learning. May the Holy Spirit make you glad and good. May the enfolding of the Trinity hold you, and bring you, at day's end, safely home. Amen.  
 
 See you this Sunday at Grace: 9 am Zoom, and 10 am in person.
 
Faithfully,
Lauren
The Rev. Lauren Kuratko, Rector of Grace Church