Back to School – Prayers & Blessing for our entire parish community

We all are aware that schooling this year is different, that we are at the beginning of a new phase of our common life in the midst of the pandemic. This truth touches the lives all students from pre-K to graduate studies, all teachers and instructors, and all staff and administrators. They all need our support, and we all need ways to express our hopes and concerns for them at this time.

In order to draw those we love into the powerful ministry of Christian prayer, the Saint Paul’s community will be invited this week via a special email to submit the names (first names only, not read aloud in the Prayers of the People) of all persons—students and their friends, teachers and their colleagues, staff and administrators—for whom we desire God’s intercession and blessing. These names will be carried in a basket and placed upon the altar during the entrance procession, offered to God with the Eucharistic elements and the week’s monetary offerings, and specially blessed following the post-communion prayer.

Additionally, for families, children, and teachers:

This week all families of school aged children in the parish and teachers will receive backpack tags and bookmarks and an invitation to submit names online to Fr. Jenkins for prayer when we gather Sunday morning on zoom at 10 AM (zoom details soon). Together we will hold our prayers, name our hopes and then bid God’s blessing upon the tags and bookmarks (plus backpacks, laptops, etc.) to be for us signs of God’s presence and the loving support of our church family.