Prayer will be for good year

The Church of the Holy Comforter is hoping to get students and school workers off to a great start this school year with its annual Blessing of the Backpacks ceremony.

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The blessing will be part of the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday at Savannah Rapids Pavilion at the end of Evans to Locks Road in Martinez.

"What we try to do is mark the beginning of the school year with prayer," said the Rev. Cynthia Taylor, pastor of Holy Comforter. "We pray for a good year, for new beginnings."

Taylor said all students as well as school system personnel from teachers and administrators to cafeteria workers are invited to bring backpacks, briefcases, bookbags or anything that represents the start of school for a blessing.

Participants also will receive a memento, to "remind them of God's love and protection."

Taylor said participants are asked to bring school supplies that will be distributed to Columbia County students in need.

"We always try to make sure we're doing an outreach event. This is not just for us," Taylor said.

For more information, call the church at (706) 210-1133.