One of the really fun traditions at Our Savior is "The Blessing of the Backpacks" on the Saturday and Sunday before school starts. This year was no exception, as over 60 students, teachers and other people involved in education came forward for a blessing this past weekend. This year the blessing was given not only to our own, but to kids visiting from Ohio, Maryland, and Pennsylvania (that we know of). And one of our teachers said that in her lesson plan book which she brought forward to be blessed, she had a roster of all the students in her school included, so they all got a blessing too! In addition to students and teachers we had a school bus driver and other school administrators and workers come forward for a blessing. Along with the blessing, everyone received something like a luggage tag which had a picture of our stained glass window over the entrance to the church which says, "Let your light shine" and written next to it a quote from Matthew, "You are the Light of the world", as a reminder to our children and teachers as to who they are as they enter this new school year. In addition to the "Backpack Blessing" our "Intergenerational Summer Choir" sang and we celebrated the baptism of 10 day old Matthew Joseph Bernier! What a great way to begin this school year!
Also this past weekend we prayed for our newly elected bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (the largest Lutheran church body in America, of which Our Savior is a part). Her name is Rev. Elizabeth Eaton and the link below is a great short interview that will introduce her to you. As Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber "blogged" about this election, "I know that the big story is that a woman was elected, but what is equally remarkable is that the excitement about the new bishop was only matched by the affection for the out-going bishop." Isn't that a wonderful commentary on the state of the church! You can "meet the new bishop" on the following link:
Time Magazine Interview With Bishop Eaton
With the new school year starting, that means a number of things are coming up that you might want to put on your calendars: Sunday School get acquainted/registration/pizza night, Wed. Aug. 28; Florida Bahamas Synod Bishop's installation, Saturday Aug. 31, noon, Lutz, FL; Labor Day weekend (Aug. 31/Sept.1) last weekend of Summer Worship Schedule, (Sat. 6pm, Sunday 9:30am); September 7-8, ELCA wide 25th Anniversary service project following Saturday worship and during the Sunday School hour on Sunday Sept. 8. Watch for details on these and more in our Sunday bulletins and on our website. www.oursaviorelca.com.
Finally, as this new school year begins, may all students, teachers, administrators, parents and all involved in educating our children have a safe, healthy, and productive year as they continue to grow in God's grace and discover and develop the gifts God has given them. As we end each worship service during the summer: May the Lord go before you to guide you, above you to watch over you, behind you to encourage you, beside you to befriend you, and within you to give you peace. Pastor Jack +
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