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Unitarian Universalist

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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

Share the Plate / Cause-of-the-Month: Dignidad Inmigrante en Athens (DIA)

During May Dignidad Inmigrante en Athens (DIA), an Athens organization with a mission to create and promote spaces for the liberation of undocumented immigrants in the United States, will receive one half of all undesignated offerings. For details contact justice@uuathensga.org

Help with Food Insecurity

Please continue to bring non-perishable food items to Fellowship Hall’s wicker baskets. While all CANtributions are appreciated, in May the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank is especially in need of white rice, Hamburger Helper, and dried pinto beans. To give by credit card, visit uuathensga.org/give and look for “Charitable Giving.” To give by check, make the check out to UUFA and put “CANtributions 1-8016” in the memo line. To learn more, contact  justice@uuathensga.org. If you are experiencing food insecurity or know someone in our UUFA community who is, please contact Rev. Pippin (revpippin@uuathensga.org).

UUFA Justice Partner Highlights

AADM Workplace Rights & Career Lab

AADM invites you to May 9’s Saturday School in partnership with Patrick Ihejirika and Pathwise NYC, a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals become more competitive for the careers they want. This free session will cover workplace rights and career development, helping you understand fair pay, safe working conditions, and how to advocate for yourself on the job. Participants will also take part in hands-on resume workshops and gain access to Pathwise’s career tools to strengthen resumes, identify skill gaps, build clear career plans, and stay organized throughout the job search process. Register here for the 10 to 11:30 am sessionat Oconee Street United Methodist Church: https://www.aadmovement.org/events/may2026-saturday-school

Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC) Meeting

All are welcome to attend the next meeting of the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition on May 15 from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Oconee Street United Methodist Church. For more information contact justice@uuathensga.org.