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Rev. Paula Steinbacher starts the service by mentioning that the blessing of the backpacks is her favorite.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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Students weren’t the only ones to bring their backpacks, with Olive the dog sporting hers throughout the service.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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Before the blessing, the congregation danced to worship songs and listened to a sermon about trusting in God.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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Rev. Paula Steinbacher reads the blessing of the backpacks in harmony with the congregation while the students are gathered around.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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Rev. Paula Steinbacher and Madisen Larison pray together ahead of the sermon and blessing. This year, Larison gave the sermon.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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Madisen Larison gives the sermon ahead of the blessing. She spoke to trusting God’s plan and releasing your worries.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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A youth leader passes out the laminated tags to be hooked on backpacks.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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One student puts her backpack on after having her dad hook the laminated blessing on the top strap.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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Each tag reads “Peace be upon you.”
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
Three years ago, Madisen Larison was feeling anxious at being almost 1,200 miles from home on her own at the Presbyterian Youth Triennium in Louisville, Kentucky. She fidgeted with her hands and hair and then with her backpack straps, where a small laminated tag hung.
“Peace be upon you,” read the tag she had forgotten was on her bag.
“It’s something that you can wear and you don’t always think about it,” Larison, 19, said, “but you find it when you most need it.”
She hopes that same sense of comfort is extended to all of the students who had their backpacks blessed at the Sunday morning service at Church of the Eternal Hills in Tabernash.
A couple dozen families and students danced, prayed and blessed backpacks during the annual service, which focused on being grateful for an education, releasing back-to-school anxieties and having a positive mindset going into the new year.
Rev. Paula Steinbacher said the service is her favorite every year because all of the kids join her up front during the service and she gets the opportunity to bless the students and teachers.
“Someday, when you’re at school and look down and you’re having a horrible day or you miss your mom and dad … you will see that peace should be upon you,” she said to the gathered.
This year, Larison asked Steinbacher if she could give the sermon ahead of the blessing. When it came time, Steinbacher transferred her vestment to Larison, who spoke about not worrying and trusting in God.
The blessing thanked God, asked for curiosity, understanding and respect for each of the students and encouraged the students to see their backpacks as a symbol of having everything they need to learn and grow.
“Sometimes we forget we are already so incredibly blessed to have backpacks and the schools we attend,” Steinbacher said.
Following the sermon and blessing, the laminated tags were passed out and placed on backpacks, which were quickly discarded after the service when cake and ice cream were passed out in the community room.