Blessings in the bag for pupils

As summer vacation winds down, pupils are praying for a couple more weeks of freedom. Teachers are praying for attentive classes and, well, a couple more weeks of freedom.

And, the Rev. Cynthia Taylor of Church of the Holy Comforter is just praying for pupils and teachers.

On Sunday at 10:30 a.m., Church of the Holy Comforter will hold its first Blessing of the Backpacks program during regular morning service at Savannah Rapids Pavilion. Pupils, teachers and all school personnel are invited to bring their backpacks or briefcases for a special blessing calling for goodwill in the upcoming school year.

"The new year really is when school starts," Taylor said. "We say it's Jan. 1, but it's really the start of the school year. So if last year wasn't that good, this year can be better."

According to the reverend, the idea for Blessing of the Backpacks came from a group of people from the West Coast she met at a recent conference. Taylor hopes the program will help alleviate the normal jitters of tackling new subjects and meeting new pupils and classmates.

For more information about Blessing of the Backpacks, call Church of the Holy Comforter's office at 210-1133.