How to support families around the new academic year
September is a great opportunity for the church to stay in touch with families and show continued support as children start school
A ‘BACK TO SCHOOL’ SERVICE could be a special way of showing support to families at this time of new beginnings and transition, often accompanied with anxiety and excitement.
Invite families who have had a baptism service in the last 1-3 years, especially those who don’t often come to church – and offer prayers and blessings. Extend the invitation wider through your usual publicity channels.
Nine ideas for a ‘back to school’ service
- The week before the new school term is an opportunity to host a service dedicated to offering a ‘back-to-school’ blessing. Prayers can include all those affected by the new academic year: parents, teachers, pupils and students, as well as nurseries.
- Hand out plain luggage labels for everyone to write out a blessing or prayer on. They can then take it home and tuck it into school bags etc for the first day of school. It reminds everyone that God is always with us. It’s a simple way to support faith at home.
- If you like the luggage label idea, it could also be used in a school assembly talk too. (For more support with school assemblies, visit the Church of England’s Going for Growth website.)
- Teachers, support staff and others whose work takes them into a school environment might also like to tuck a blessing card into a pocket/wallet OR find a small heart-shape (e.g. a stone, wooden template, gift card etc), and place it somewhere in their work space/equipment. Every time it is seen it will be a reminder of God’s love and his love for all in the school/college/nursery.
- This assembly suggestion from the Bible Assemblies website is great for new beginnings and times of transition.
- Prayer trees have all sorts of uses and could be used as another way to involve all those present at a service to pray for someone they know who is starting or moving up a class at nursery/school/college. Create a large tree ‘poster’ and use leaf shapes for people to write a prayer or name on, and then stick them to the tree.
- For those working in nurseries, schools, colleges, or other educational places this may be a prayer they can use for themselves. It could be given as a small prayer card/slip, or emailed:
God of wisdom,
Give me joy as I start work for this school year;
Give me love for those I meet,
Give me hope for those whose future I affect,
Give me strength for each day
And the knowledge of your presence by my side.
Amen. - By changing the words ‘me’ to ‘them’, ‘I’ to they’, and ‘my’ to ‘their’, the above prayer can be used by you to pray for others, or for teaching professionals to use to pray for their colleagues or students.
- Prayer idea for parents, school staff or those at nursery / working in childcare: Buy a small rabbit toy – a rabbit button badge or brooch would also work. Name it Prayer Rabbit. Place it in the car, in a coat pocket or pin to a coat. Every time you see the rabbit, you can ask God’s blessing on a child you’re thinking of, in whatever situation.
