PROSPERITY — Grab your bookbags Newberry County! Several churches in the community are partnering Sunday for an inaugural back-to-school blessing and celebration at 4:30 p.m. at Prosperity Town Park and Civic Center.
Adrienne Fink, associate pastor at Wightman United Methodist Church, said the church wanted to do something to celebrate what was happening in the community and let people know God cares about the education of youth.
After talking with family in North Carolina, Fink said she learned they have a celebration every year in August to bless bookbags plus give each youth a keychain for their bookbags as a reminder of the event.
Fink said she started thinking about Wightman and its desire to get involved with other churches.
“We all say we’re the body of Christ so we need to act like it and join up with other churches,” Fink said.
Fink called several churches in the area to see if they would be interested in partnering up, and all said yes.
“We got together and planned it out,” Fink said.
Grace Lutheran Church, Kingdom South Church, Prosperity Church of God and Shiloh A.M.E. will be joining Wightman on Sunday.
Pastor Michael Price of Grace Lutheran Church said they already hold a blessing of bookbags with their congregation and he thought it would be a neat way to partner with area churches.
“We’re all going to the same schools so it makes sense that our congregations would all pitch in, join together with one voice, and start the school year off with a blessing and God’s grace on it,” Price said.
Fink said she is excited to have several churches come together to perform the blessing. Each congregation has a copy of a flier and are responsible for letting their congregations know about the event.
Although several Prosperity area churches are involved, Fink said the event is not limited to those who attend the prospective churches.
“Everyone in the community can come,” she said. “We want them to come.”
As the daughter of a retired teacher, Fink said she understands the difficulty and challenges of teaching, but also the joy that comes out of it.
“We would love teachers, faulty and staff of any schools, and district personnel to come as well,” Fink said.
While students will be bringing their bookbags, Fink encourages those involved in any aspect of education to bring their work bags and briefcases to have prayers said over them.
The worship service will last around 30 minutes in the town park, ending around 6 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be moved inside. Music groups from each of churches will perform and lead worship.
Following the blessing and service, there will be a hot dog supper along with snow-cones and popcorn. The dinner is free for the community, she said.
“We ask that people bring picnic blankets and chairs,” Fink said.
McKeva Kinard Shelton, a member of Shiloh A.M.E., said church members will provide chili for the hot dogs and will have a praise dancer to perform.
“We love doing community stuff, just helping and serving,” Shelton said.