This is a compilation of ideas from a number of years of holding a Back to School Worship Service, in our church. You will not be able to use all the ideas in one service but it should give you some great ideas to start with.
When: Either the Sunday before school goes back or the first Sunday after school has started. We’ve often given out the invitations at the Celebration Service at the end of the year.
If inviting students/staff from local schools the invitations will need to go out before school finishes at the end of the previous year.
Our Back to School Services have always involved all generations. Sometimes we have stations that people can choose from rather than a sermon/message. Other times we’ve had a shorter all-age message.
General Ideas:
- Invite school students to wear their school uniform to worship
- Invite people to bring stationary to donate to local schools for students in need
- Invite people to donate to Kids Hope Annual Registration fee (even though paid later in the year this is an appropriate time to do this)
- Have a sheet available with a listing of students and what schools they attend for people to take as a prayer guide.
- This service may be an appropriate time to commission Sunday School Teachers/Kids Church leaders, Kids Club leaders, Kids Hope Mentors, Breakfast Club Volunteers or anyone who works with children in the life of the congregation.
- Have a milk break during the service and give everyone flavoured milk, have some dairy free alternatives.
- Invite 3 adults – a young adult, a middle aged adult and an older person to talk about their school days briefly.
- Have an adult write a blog post about their school days that goes up about the time of the service.
- If you have stations, ring a bell as a signal that it’s time to come back together.
As People arrive/mix the generations ideas:
- Have laminated signs with names of schools/learning institutions attended by all students in the congregation (Prep to University). Students sign-in upon arrival. Have post notes so congregation can add prayers to the signs. (this could be a station if you do this as part of your service)
- Take a name tag (possibly like a book label) which matches the decade you started school in/will start school in. Write your name on the name tag, year you started/will start school & the school where you started. While you’re waiting for church to start talk to someone with a different coloured name tag to yours about a memory from their first year at school or what they are looking forward to if about to start school.
- Invite everyone to bring a class photo from school, display with names and people have to find the person in the photo.
- Get into groups with at least 1 student in each group. Invite the student to share what grade they’re going into, as well as what they’re looking forward to or any concerns. Adults share a memory from the grade that the student is going into. (Can also prayer as a group.)
Prayer friends
Match each student with an adult/youth to write a message in a card (have cards available), to give to the student at the back to school service. Get that person to pray with the student at the back to school service.
Or take it further:
Assign each student (we did Prep to uni) with a prayer friend for the term. The prayer friend prays with the student at the service. They are to make regular contact and commit to praying regularly for the student.
Blessing Students, Parents & Teachers:
No matter what we’ve done this has always been part of the service. Either in the individual way with prayer friends or as a group. Have adults place hands on students near by as you bless them. Have students/others nearby place hands on parents as you bless them. Have all place hands on teachers near by as you bless them. Students can lead the blessing for parents and teachers.
- Litany of Blessing – https://thevicarofhogsmeade.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/litany-of-the-blessing-of-the-backpacks-and-backpack-blessing/
Take Homes:
It can be helpful to give students a tangible reminder that God is with them, a little gift that students can give to teachers or resources to help parents/other pray for or bless their students.
- A pencil, pen, eraser or ruler with a Bible verse or message on it. eg tag on a pencil “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” or tag for an eraser “Mistakes are opportunities for learning.”
- An apple with a message on it for teachers
- Student and Teacher Prayer Bookmarks – https://www.jeanettadarley.com/back-to-school-prayer-bookmarks/
- The ABC’s of Praying for Students – https://www.courageouschristianfather.com/abcs-praying-students/
Ideas for Specific Bible Readings/Themes
Psalm 27:1, 4-9 & Matt 4:12-23 (Year A)
- Psalm 27 reading with actions – http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2013/12/year-third-sunday-after-epiphany-third.html
- Stations
- Jesus Loves me paper game
- shrink dinks key rings (make a key ring to go on your bag)
- Sand Reflection p38 Multi-Sensory Prayer
- Boat making or fish symbol
1 Cor 12:12 27 (Year C)
You and I are needed alphabet activity – Hand out letters as people arrive. Hide I & U. At the time in the service invite all those with a letter to come out and get into alphabetical order. Notice that U & I are missing. Find the U & the I. Note that you and I are both needed – we’re all needed!
Read – Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge – Discussion in all age groups about memories evoked from the story
Stations: (see Activity Instructions)
- Memory baskets with different objects for people to share stories that come to mind
- Body Activity – What part of the body are you?
- Mr Potato Head – act out reading
- Twister – How can we work together in a way that glorifies God
- Dreams & Hopes or Fears & Frustrations – Think about the coming year
- Discussion Questions
- Spiritual Gifts – For each statement stand across the room in relation to how much it is true of you.
- Body Puzzle – Every piece is needed.
- Poldy Game – game to put the body together with the roll of dice.
Give out small packets of jelly babies with a body shaped tag on it – on one side 1 Cor 12:27 & on the other side “MAY WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER TO LEARN AND GROW AS TEACHERS, STUDENTS, PARENTS AND FRIENDS”
Theme: Being Called to Learn Luke 2:41-52 & Ps 139
Options as we prepare for worship: welcomers to explain options, blackboard with options & directions, Students to sign-in & then choose an option – ring the bell 9:15am as the signal that worship is about to begin.
- Kinaesthetic Corner – playdough, table tennis, skipping, hula hoops & Bubble Prayers – worries
- Sign blessing – Jesus loves me
- Sing-a-long using old ABC music books
- School Smell –scent pens, crayons etc
- Taste- name that sandwich
Blessing of the Students referring to senses.
Prayer for Students, to handout to Parents, adapted from http://www.icanteachmychild.com/a-back-to-school-prayer-for-our-kids/
Psalm 139 blessing bag to handout at the end of the service
Theme: Together in Faith Col 3:12-17 & Ps 78:1-4
Call to worship – Psalm 78:1-4 Leader v1&2 & Response v3&4
All-age Message/Discussion Idea: Have everyone get into small groups with at least 3 different coloured name tags or different generations in each group. Introduce the Colossians reading by clothing people (shirts with signs on them) and then have groups discuss “What does it mean to be clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness & patience? How do we put on Love?” Finish with discussion feedback and a short message to tie it together.
Colossians School Day Question Cards – Based on Fruits of the Spirits School Question Cards created by Christine Hides from Bless Each One
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