Yesterday in worship, in the spirit of a traditional “backpack blessing,” we offered a blessing of all the new and different supplies our kids will need for this upcoming school year. Today, I offer that same blessing as a devotion. Whether or not you know a child (or staff member!) heading back to school this year, I invite you to pray this prayer at some point today, covering our local school communities with prayer.
For many, today marks the start of a new school year. Yet this year… well, this year will look a little different.
This year, our kiddos will head “back” to school in different types of schedules. Some will go to school, in person, every day. Some will go on a hybrid schedule — in person a couple of days, online a few days. Some will go to school 100% online.
This year, our kiddos will get to school in different ways, too. Some will ride the bus. Some will get dropped off or picked up in a car. Some will walk to school… and others will only have to walk as far as the kitchen table.
It’s going to be a different kind of school year!
Because of that, our kiddos will need different kinds of stuff to get us through this school year. They’ll need computers and tablets and chromebooks and headphones. They’ll need chargers and routers and wireless hotspots. They’ll need hand sanitizers and wipes, thermometers and face masks. And so today, as they head “back to school” — regardless of what “school” likes — we ask God’s blessing over their school supplies, and over each of them.
Lord, we come to you in prayer at the start of another school year.
We come with prayers of thanks!
- Thank you for creating us with such big, awesome brains… capable of thinking and learning and imagining.
- Thank you for the chance to go to school — we know not everyone gets that chance.
Lord, bless our school stuff… all the stuff we’ll use to learn and grow and have new adventures.
Lord, bless our school stuff… all the stuff we’ll use to learn and grow and have new adventures.
- Bless our pencils, folders, erasers, and highlighters.
- Bless our chromebooks and laptops and chargers and routers.
- Bless the backpacks we’ll carry them in, the desks and tables we’ll use them on.
- Bless the headphones we wear over our ears and the masks we wear on our faces.
Bless all the teachers, administrators, aides, custodians, drivers, parents, caregivers, and students.
Bless all of us with patience and kindness, with safety and good health, with strength and hope.
Help us to remember that you are with us, and that Christ goes before us, even into this strange new school year.
And all God’s children said… amen.
Pastor Candy
Be in prayer for our schools today, friends… and remember:
Our God is bigger than coronavirus.
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too.
We are people blessing people.
We are Wesley Church.
Want to know more?
- Learn about our church and its ministries: https://wesleychurch.com/
- Make a gift to support our mission: https://wesleychurch.com/giving-2/
- View our recent messages: https://wesleychurch.com/sermon-message-on-video/
- View previous devotionals: https://wesleychurch.com/pastor-candys-devotionals-2/
