UUFA Athens

Unitarian Universalist

Fellowship of Athens

HOW DO I?

UUFA News

Back to all News

Don’t Miss the Backpack Blessing with Rev. Pippin Sunday, August 7!

UUFA will be holding a backpack blessing on Sunday, August 7th at 10:30 AM. All students are welcome to bring their backpacks to be blessed at an intergenerational service with Rev. Pippin.

Blessing of the Backpacks

More Unitarian Universalist congregations are holding backpack blessings at the beginning of the school and congregational year: each child (and an invited friend, sometimes!) brings their school backpack to worship on the appointed day, and the congregation “blesses” the children and their backpacks. In some congregations, children also receive a small token (like a special talisman) to clip to their backpack.

In the words of Carolyn C. Brown,* backpack blessings embody two important messages to children:

  1. They realize that they and their lives are important to the church. They see themselves as significant members of the congregation.
  2. They hear that God (or the Source of Love) is with them at school and that their church cares about what happens there. God and church are not “off to the side” or just a Sunday thing.

 

*Carolyn Brown is a Certified Christian Educator in the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA).

From https://www.uua.org/worship/holidays/blessing-backpacks

Highlights of Upcoming Special Events

Groups on hiatus for the summer include Book Talks Discussion Group and Second Lookers. Check with your group on Realm/Connect for updates.

August

  •  1st – Submission Deadline:  UUFA Justice Partner–AADM–Call for Presenters:  Ending the School-to-Prison Pipeline aadmovement.org
  •  2nd – Worship Playground, 1 – 3 pm. (Rev Pippin & Amber). Childcare provided, all interested/curious about co-leading any part of worship are encouraged to attend.
  •  2nd – Coven Craft Coven Lammas Gathering 3:00 pm
  •  3rd – First Sunday Forum–Meet Your Justice Partner:  Athens Pride and Queer Collective
  •  3rd – Singing Meditation AWE Rm 12:00 pm
  •  3rd – Priceless Sale in the Fellowship Hall after service.
  •  9th – AADM 2025 Dance for Justice: Line Dancing Fundraiser
  • 10th – Backpack Blessing service followed by ice cream social.
  • 10th – Back to RE family meetup
  • 11th – The Gathering from Side with Love (virtual here)
  • 13th – Simple Supper (Kahla)
  • 16th – 2025-26 Circle Supper Kickoff
  • 23rd – Leadership Summit 9 am to 12 pm
  • 24th – Religious Exploration volunteer training
  • 22nd – Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC), 5:30 to 7 p.m., Oconee St. United Methodist Church (OSUMC)
  • 23rd – UUFA Leadership Summit (2025-2026)  (9 a.m.-noon) Register here. 
  • 23rd – Justice Partner–Athens Pride and Queer Collection (APQC)– athenspride.org
  • 24th – Religious Exploration volunteer training
  • 24th – Book Discussion of UUA Common Read
  • 24th – Start of Family Promise Week (partnering with Holy Cross Lutheran Church)

September

  • Diaper Drive All Month
  • 7th – Annual Ingathering worship service
  • 7th – Priceless Sale
  • 7th – Food for Life Class
  • 8th & 9th – Artist Dropoff for Invitational Art Exhibit  
  • 9th – Second Lookers
  • 12-14th – UUFA Gathering at The Mountain! Register soon!
  • 13th – UUFA Justice Partner (AADM) Event–End School to Prison Pipeline Conference
  • 19th – Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC), 5:30 to 7 p.m., Oconee St. United Methodist Church (OSUMC)
  • 20th – Latinxfest, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
  • 21th – International Day of Peace – A Walk of Faith in Resistance to Mass Deportation (sponsored by the Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition) (Walk from Emmanuall Episcopal, have a ecumenical service at the federal courthouse, and then return.), 2 p.m.
  • 21th – Goddess Group and Spring Equinox Circle Dance, 2 p.m.

October 

  • 5 th – First Sunday Forum (sponsored by the Earth Ministry Team) featuring Glenn Donnahoe

November

  • 9th – Start of Family Promise Week (partnering with Holy Cross Lutheran Church)
  • 15th-16th – UU GA LAN (Legislative Action Network) Third Annual Conference

Looking for regular meetings? Join groups in Realm/Connect and check the summary on this page to the left.  Don’t know about Realm yet? Contact Meredyth at members at uuathensga.org to learn more.  

Rather see this as a calendar grid? Visit uuathensga.org/calendar .