A blessing of the backpacks is not just for children. Older students, University students, Teachers and Adults who work in Education can be invited too.
Invite your local community, not just your congregation! Encourage adults to bring their bags or briefcases as well as children and young people. If some people forget their bags, you can still invite them for the blessing.
You could create prayer tags or cards to give to people, or get the children, young people - and even adults - to colour in their own!
The Rev'd Sarah Newns, Curate at St John's Waterbeach, All Saints' Landbeach and Ely Cathedral, shares (below) the liturgy she has previously used during her backpack blessing services. There are other liturgies and ideas available online, just type "Blessing of the Backpacks" into your search engine.
The Blessing of the Backpacks
Creator God, we give you thanks for the new start which September brings.
We thank you for schools, colleges and universities, and all who learn, teach and serve in them.
Lord of life and love:
Be with us in our learning and serving
We thank you for places of work, for colleagues and clients, challenges and tasks.
We thank you for the opportunity to learn and grow at every stage; for the gift of making mistakes and trying again.
Lord of life and love:
Be with us in our stumbling and our soaring
We bring before you these bags, which through the year to come will carry the tools of learning and working.
We bring to you those days when these bags feel heavy and difficult, and those days when they feel light and easy.
Lord of life and love:
May we be blessed and be a blessing
Lord we ask you to bless these bags, all that they will contain, and your children of all ages who carry them.
Lord of life and love:
Send us to be you hands feet and hearts in our schools,colleges, universities and work places.
Amen