Back to School Blessing

An Invitation to New Beginnings

Back to School Prayer

Officiant Let us pray.

God of wisdom and love, God who sees us, we give you thanks for schools and classrooms and for the teachers and students who fill them each day. We thank you for this new beginning, for new books and new ideas. Today we give you thanks for these your children and youth, and we ask you to bless them with curiosity, understanding, and respect.

But in this celebration of education and learning, we do not forget there are children and families and teachers who do not have the resources they need. When systems are unjust, the outcomes are unacceptable. Today we remember those who are beginning school this year: those who have what they need to learn and grow in safety and those who lack supplies, teachers, safe buildings, and accommodations for all needs and abilities.

May these backpack tags be a sign to remind them that they matter and that through you they have everything they need to learn and grow this year in school and in Sunday School. May they be guided by your love. All this we ask in the name of Jesus, who as a child in the temple showed his longing to learn about you, and as an adult taught by story and example your great love for us. Amen.

Officiant Together, let us pray:

O God, our lives are in your hand: Look on us with favor as we begin another school year. Lead us into life-giving rhythms of grace and light, where our regular routines become the framework for worship and blessing. We pray for health and wholeness, fun and growth, surprise, and amazement for this school year ahead, knowing you will hold us all the way through. Help us to trust in your goodness all the days of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

— adapt. from “Blessing of Backpacks” by Wendy Claire Barrie and “Blessing of the Backpacks and Back-to-School Worship Liturgy” by Illustrated Ministries

The Holy Communion

Offerings of alms and bread and wine are received.

At the Offertory

Anthem Thomas Mudd (c.1560-1632)

Let thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open unto the prayers of thy humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions make them to ask such things as shall please thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

— Collect for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity, “The Book of Common Prayer”, 1662

The Great Thanksgiving Eucharistic Prayer II, page 340

Sursum Corda S 112

Sanctus and Benedictus S114

Healey Willan (dates 1880-1968)

The Eucharistic Prayer continues page 341

Fraction Anthem S 152 Ambrosian chant

Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

Agnus Dei S 158 Healey Willan

The sacrament of Holy Communion has been precious to Christians for 2,000 years. It is a way in which many sense the reality of God’s forgiveness, our union with God and each other, and the eternal life to which we belong. Please know that you do not have to be an Episcopalian to receive Communion. To receive, you may kneel or stand at the altar rail. Receive the Bread in the palm of your hand and the Wine either by drinking from the cup or by intinction, touching the Bread to the Wine. Gluten-free Bread is available; simply ask at the altar rail. If you need Communion brought to you in the pew, please tell an usher.

At the Administration

Anthem William Byrd (c.1540-1623) arr. Alfred Whitehead (1887-1974)

I have longed for thy saving health, O Lord; thy law is my delight. O let my soul live and it shall praise thee, and thy judgments shall help me.

— Psalm 119:174-175

Prayer after Communion page 339

The Blessing

Hymn 397 Nun danket alle Gott

The Dismissal

Deacon Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. People Thanks be to God.

Closing Voluntary

Alla Marcia Henry Coleman (1888-1965)

Readings this Week from the Revised Common Lectionary

The Old Testament Genesis 45:1-15

Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God sent continued on next page continued from previous page me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.’ And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt, and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.

The Epistle Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

The Gospel Matthew 15: 21-28

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

The Book of Remembrance

This week we remember Audrey Jones Beck.

The Beauty of Flowers

The flowers on the Cathedral Altar are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Judy Mood and in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary by Rob Mood.

Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun. Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with an openly carried handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a handgun that is carried openly. Please be advised that our services are livestreamed to Vimeo and Facebook. Your participation in the service serves as your consent to the broadcast of your image and voice and to the broadcast of the image and voice of your participating minor children.