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

Share the Plate / Cause-of-the-Month:
Athens Pride & Queer Collective

During June Athens Pride & Queer Collective, an organization dedicated to the advancement of equity, affirmation, diversity and wellness of queer populations in the greater Athens area, will receive one half of all undesignated offerings. For details contact justice@uuathensga.org

Help with Food Insecurity through June CANtributions

Please continue to bring non-perishable food items to Fellowship Hall’s wicker baskets. While all CANtributions are appreciated, in June the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank is especially in need of cold breakfast cereals as well as dry pasta (spaghetti is the favorite) and saltine crackers. 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 Invites Everyone to Classic City Juneteenth Music & Arts Fest

The Classic City Juneteenth Music & Arts Fest is a vibrant, community-centered celebration honoring the legacy of Juneteenth through music, culture, art, food, wellness, education, and Black economic empowerment. Hosted by the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement and United GA Entertainment, the festival will take place on June 20th from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at Georgia Square Mall in Athens. Learn more here: aadmovement.org/events/2026-juneteenth-music-and-arts-festival. 

AADM Hosts Civil Rights Leadership Camp  

Youth 13-18 are invited to grow as leaders, find their voices, and understand how history connects to their role in shaping the future. The June 22-26 camp will blend civil rights education, public speaking training, leadership development, and experiential travel to historic sites connected to the struggle for equality and human rights. For details, registration and scholarship information visit https://www.aadmovement.org/events/youth-civil-rights-leadership-camp-athens-georgia. 

Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC) Meeting

All are welcome to attend the next meeting of the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition on June 19 from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Oconee Street United Methodist Church. For more information contact justice@uuathensga.org.