Many parishes have been asking the question “Where will you be this time tomorrow?” on Sundays. Four years ago, Canon Joe Hawes experienced a “Blessing of the Backpacks” service in the USA and tried a similar venture at All Saints.
Whilst the headline is ‘Blessing Backpacks’, and builds on the close link between the parish and their local school, the emphasis is on the common call all Christians share in to bear witness in their everyday lives, something the Diocese of London is seeking to emphasise as part of our Capital Vision 2020 of equipping and commissioning ambassadors. Parishioners are invited to bring in something that symbolises daily life and then pray a blessing over them. Each person receives a wristband with “All Saints, All People” and the year.
This year Revd Mary Hawes (National Advisor for Children and Young people in the Church of England) preached at both services, reminding how easy it is to lose our hold on faith when we leave church on Sundays. She urged the congregation to carry the blessing conferred on our backpacks (and stoles, and laptops, and marigolds) out into the world so that our Christian understanding might influence all dimensions of the way that we live, and work and have our being. 430 people including 150 children were included this year.
Penny Seabrook, Associate Vicar commented:
“Each time we are reminded of the diversity of talent in All Saints, and the breadth of God’s gifts. We give all those who came a simple wristband, a token to remember that their everyday lives, their work and rest and play, are all blessed. God’s blessing is not just for festivals and not just for Sundays, it is for everyday life”
Blessing of the backpacks is a whole family occasion for the church. Angela Henderson, who is a mother of three and attends All Saints Fulham, said:
“We were all very excited about the blessing of the backpacks service. Johnny was thrilled to be back at school last week and happily put on his backpack as if going to school. Edward literally can’t wait to start in reception next week and asks every day whether he can go to school today. Bertie is very excited to be joining nursery and was beyond proud to take his brand new book bag to church this morning.
“It was an inspiring way to reset, put the holidays behind us and prepare for a new term and school year. As for me, I started a new job in the City last week after taking a year out. I held up my shiny new blackberry. I want to do things differently this time, I really want to hear God’s voice when I hit a snag in the office, before I act, rather than seeking forgiveness after I act, for less than Christian thoughts and behaviours. I want God with me at work, not just on Sundays. Thanks to today’s service every time I look at my Blackberry I’m going to be reminded of God’s blessing.”
Fiona Mylchreest, editor of the Fulham parish magazine recounted, that in 2014, the Dean of St Paul’s blessed backpacks in a symbolic service. Fiona added:
“People came with schoolbags, Blackberries, diaries, volunteer cards, tools, a paintbrush and a blank sheet of paper to have their work, efforts and ideas blessed. In the sermon, the Dean asked individuals what they would be doing 24 hours later. – going to school, in the office, came the replies until one man, who had offered his bare hands for blessing, said he would be making beautiful wedding dresses.”
For some, the service means a time of reflection – What do I do? Is there really blessing in my work? Here is one such reflection by local parishioner, Emily Richardson.
“Jesus used ordinary, simple examples like the smallness of a seed or the everyday example of yeast baking in bread. Maybe my few hours a week at my desk are the mustard seeds – the little moments that may not feel like a lot, but have the power to change things. So, while I attend Blessing of the Backpacks with certain trepidation thinking, “well, I only do x,y, and z”, I keep going back to the day of small things, the small beginnings. Because maybe they hold the seeds of blessing.”
Does your church hold a Blessing of the Backpacks service? Or something similar? The Capital Vision team would love to hear your story. Find out more about This Time Tomorrow in the film below.
Written by Debbie Clinton.