Along with the church program year getting underway soon, that is: Sunday school, Bible studies, and other fellowship and worship opportunities, our students and teachers in the church are getting ready to head back to school after their summer break. Look to future publications for more about these church activities.
A few weeks ago during worship, we blessed the backpacks and prayed for the students as they head back to school and return to the school routine. We all should remember to be kind and polite to all people. We do not know what they are going through in their personal lives. It is never okay to insult or put someone down, make fun of someone’s clothing or supplies, for their differences whether that is their height, weight, their skin tone, home life, or things they enjoy. Every student is at school to learn, and every teacher is at school to teach – that should be the focus.
Did you know that All Saints has students and teachers in many different districts in the area as well as a few college students? The local districts represented for the students and teachers that attend All Saints are Davenport Community School District, Pleasant Valley Community School District, Bettendorf Community School District, Riverdale Community Unit School District #100, students that are home schooled, and others.
The college students have headed back to their college campuses this week. Rhaena is attending their fourth year at Wartburg College and will complete their degree next spring in Music Education (K-12) and Trever will be attending University of Iowa’s REACH Program for the second year.
We also continue to keep Ryan and Tyler in our prayers as they have transitioned from public education to helping Anne serve others through our food pantry and other endeavors.
Please pray for all the students, teachers, and staff as the new year begins this week and next week.
Dear God, as we get ready to start another year in school, we ask your blessing on these backpacks, and especially on these children who will wear them. As they do the very important work of being students, bless them with: eagerness to learn, that their world may grow large; respect for teachers and students, that they may form healthy relationships; love for nature, that they may become caretakers of your creation; happiness when learning is easy and stick-to-it-iveness when it is hard; faith in Jesus as their best teacher and closest friend.
We ask that you would protect these, your own children. Watch over them and keep them safe as they travel to and from school. As they learn, help them also to discover the different gifts that you have given each one of them
to be used in your work in the world. As they hear the many voices that will fill their days, help them to listen most carefully for your voice, the one that tells them you will love them always, no matter what. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.